Early on, Ehrenreich was having a conversation with Lewis Lapham about whether she was willing to write a book about workers in today's society. In order to conduct proper research, she decided she would do some old-fashioned journalism and try to fit in with the working class herself. To get a real-life experience, he decided to go to Key West, Florida, and plans how much money he needs to earn and spend to survive. He finds an apartment for $500 a month and then immediately applies for various jobs, but soon learns about the application process for low-wage jobs. She is hired in a small restaurant, where she calls Jerry's, and during the meeting she reveals that she seems unqualified, because the work seems difficult and physically