What is the author's style in Nickel and Dimed: On Not Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich?

This work is composed like a sort of diary, without actual daily entries, but still recording the feelings and experiences of the author in a linear progression. The author does not describe the people she meets in detail unless their physical appearance or behaviors somehow affect the way she will do her job, the choices she makes, or the way she feels. For example, she may mention the actions of dishonest manager Stu, without ever describing if he's black or white, tall or short. This carefully edited structure keeps readers focused on the actions of the people rather than the stereotypes they may hold of people who look a certain way or hold a certain job.

The book is written as if from memory and notes. Many months of experience are boiled down into a short 200 plus pages. There are two good reasons for this. First, one gets the impression that the author has had time to think and mull over her experiences and make sound judgments about what has occurred. Secondly, the author can highlight only the most important moments and conversations that stick out in her memory. These tend to be "ah ha" moments where the author realizes something that she has been suspecting or has only had a general feeling about all along.