People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do. Here are riveting accounts of the lives of ordinary americansfarmers, miners, barbers, hookers, box boys, stockbrokersdepicted. Studs terkels classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do. It is about ulcers as well as accidents, about shouting matches as well as fistfights, about nervous breakdowns as well as kicking the dog around. The great many, aside from someone like sonny, are had, they work as, they have jobs, regular jobs, construction workers. His first book, giants of jazz, was published in 1956.
Chicago to celebrate studs terkel during lets get working festival. Studs terkels working 1974 was one of the first attempts to chronicle the lives and attitudes of americas workforce. Pdf studs terkel explores the motivation to work in his classic book working, compiling more than. His 1974 book, working, in which as reflected by its subtitle people talk about what they do all day and how. In the early 1970s, author studs terkel went around the country with a reeltoreel tape recorder interviewing people about their jobs. Studs terkel s book interviews resurface as audio all this week on npr, youll hear the voices of people studs terkel interviewed in his book, working. Find out more at the working tapes is produced by joe richman, jane m. Sep 30, 2016 in the early 1970s, author studs terkel went around the country interviewing people about their jobs. Unlike underground, where murakamis subjects are intertwined by a single defining event, terkels subjects in working have only the most meager of commonalities.
Studs terkel interviewed more than one hundred people of all walks. I first encountered studs terkel s fascinating oral histories through his book working. A national book award finalist and new york times bestseller. My interviews are called conversations with history. Bettelheim experienced in children of the dream in certain kibbutz in israel, the schools there, that there was a diffusion, there too, the parent, the child has his mother and father of course, but the others also become. Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor.
Terkel interviewed hundreds of people across the united states for his book on the great depression of the 1930s. Thank you for your interest in the great books foundation studs terkel radio archive audio curriculum pilot program. People talk about what they do all day and how they. The best of studs terkel brings you a midcentury doubleheader with two trailblazing cultural icons.
Working by studs terkel paperback the original work used by stephen schwartz and his collaborators in creating the musical working a related item to working. In race, he creates a richly textured study of one of americas great obsessionsand taboos in the early 1990s. In 1973, he selected several interviews that were included in his book to be broadcast in eleven parts on the studs terkel program on wfmt radio chicago, il. His radio show was carried on stations throughout the country. For his next book, working, published in the spring of 1974 in the united states and the following year in britain, terkel would talk to more than 100 men and women about what they did.
The boston globe a national book award finalist and new york times bestseller studs terkels classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them. The pulitzer prize winners numerous bestsellers include the good war and working. Another group, just as diverse and varied, might say things unsaid here. The book also reflects terkels general idea that work can be difficult but still provides meaning. Studs terkel for better or worse, the world that studs terkel captured forty years ago in his brilliant oral history of american workers, working, no longer exists. Perhaps studs terkels bestknown book, working is a compelling, fascinating look at jobs and the people who do them. One of the greatest oral historians of the 20th century, pulitzer prizewinning author, actor, and broadcaster studs terkel was a national treasure and a beloved institution in his native chicago. First published in 1992 at the height of the furor over the rodney king incident, studs terkels race was an immediate bestseller. He received the pulitzer prize for general nonfiction in 1985 for the good war and is best remembered for his oral histories of common americans, and. This book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as the body.
The book is a collection of interviewsconversationspeople talking about what they do for a living. But until now, few of the interviews have ever been heard before. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do is a 1974 nonfiction book by the oral historian and radio broadcaster studs terkel working investigates the meaning of work for different people under different circumstances, showing it can vary in importance. Heres the text of some of his livelyhood interview. In his oneandahalf hour archive interview, studs terkel 1912 2008 relates the history of the chicago school of television including his relationships with burr tillstrom, fran allison and dave garroway. A pulitzer prize winner interviews workers, from policemen to piano tuners. Louis studs terkel 16 may 1912 31 october 2008 1 was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. Studs terkels book interviews resurface as audio all this week on npr, youll hear the voices of people studs terkel interviewed in. Studs terkel has spent his life interviewing ordinary people to chronicle his country.
Studs terkel, a pulitzer prizewinning author whose searching interviews with ordinary americans helped establish oral history as an important historical genre, and who for nearly half a century. Consisting of over one hundred interviews with everyone from a gravedigger to a studio head, this book provides a brilliant and enduring portrait of peoples feelings about their working lives. Studs terkel has made a living gathering the stories of ordinary people and presenting them to america. The ensemble cast of 10 talks and sings about what their characters do and how that feels. He received the pulitzer prize for general nonfiction in 1985 for the good war and is best remembered for his oral histories of common americans, and for hosting a longrunning radio show in chicago. I suppose that its important, before we begin hammering this book, to recall that it was written in the early 1970s. Urie bronfenbrenner discusses his book two worlds of. Working by by studs terkel this working book is not really ordinary book, you have it then the world is in your hands. The musical begins performances friday at the unicorn theatre in stockbridge, where it is scheduled to run through aug.
Studs terkel now coming back to your book i was impressed by one aspect thats remarkably similar to an experience dr. Studs terkel audio books, best sellers, author bio. And after working came out, something surprising happened. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do is a 1974 nonfiction book by the oral historian and radio broadcaster studs terkel. Born in new york in 1912, he lived in chicago for over eight decades.
Studs terkels classic book working is nothing more than a large volume of transcribed confessions of working. Working by studs terkel paperback the original work used by stephen schwartz and his collaborators in creating the musical working. Studs terkel 19122008 was a free spirit, an outspoken populist, a pulitzer prizewinning author, a terrible ham, and one of the bestloved characters on the american scene. The author has found working to be a useful vehicle for. This later became the awardwinning, the studs terkel program. Studs terkel pilot program the great books foundation. American workers come into their own in musical, working. Terkel died in his chicago home on friday, october 31, 2008 at the age of 96. This collective portrait of america was based on more than a hundred interviews studs did around the country. Studs terkel has 67 books on goodreads with 66898 ratings. Studs terkel explores the motivation to work in his classic book working, compiling more than 100 interviews of workers across america. Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian. Working by studs terkel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
The benefit you get by reading this book is actually information inside this reserve incredible fresh, you. Chicago to celebrate studs terkel during lets get working. This independent teaching guide provides helpful suggestions for educators or directors who are presenting terkel s work, or the musical. In 1952 terkel began working for wfmt, first with the studs terkel almanac and the studs terkel show, primarily to play music. In advance of the festival, organizers are hosting studs 101 events designed for participants to reengage or familiarize themselves with terkels work.
In his new book, working, terkel returns, as his subtitle suggests, to the. Studs terkels classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them. Nov 02, 2014 im unfamiliar with the work of bob greene but im very much a fan of studs terkel, in particular a book of interviews he wrote in the early 1970s called working. Perhaps studs terkels bestknown book, working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them. He received the pulitzer prize for general nonfiction in 1985, and is best remembered for his oral histories of common americans, and for hosting a longrunning radio show in chicago. This blackandwhite graphic adaptation, faithfully rendered by some of todays most prominent alternative cartoonists, brings a variety of professions into focus. Already this winter, the hideout hosted a new episode of studs place, and the nightingale hosted a screening of experimental films and readings from terkels book working. In the early 1970s, author studs terkel went around the country interviewing people about their jobs. All this is crucial to understand because it is one of studs terkels most. Jun 12, 2012 studs terkel for better or worse, the world that studs terkel captured forty years ago in his brilliant oral history of american workers, working, no longer exists. His awardwinning books, based on conversations with americans from all walks of life, form a unique chronicle of a nation in the throes of socio. This series is a part of the larger initiative working in america, which has an exhibit featuring images from pulitzer prizewinning photographer lynsey addario traveling the country right now.
It spans the gamut of just about every profession you can think of farming, switchboard, actor, police, welding, salesman, business, housewife, broker, sports, executive, retirementthat is an incredibly short and incomplete list of. In studs terkels working, pekar offers a brilliant visual adaptation of terkels verbatim interviews, collaborating with both established comics veterans and some of the comic undergrounds brightest new talent. Consisting of over one hundred interviews with everyone from a gravedigger. So lets put some background information on the table. A few years back, studs terkel gave us his thoughts about the history of the eighthour day. Working investigates the meaning of work for different people under different circumstances, showing it can vary in importance.
Studs terkels working new jobs, same need for meaning. In 1974, oral historian studs terkel published a book with an unwieldy title. This independent teaching guide provides helpful suggestions for educators or directors who are presenting. Studs terkel books list of books by author studs terkel. After the program went off the air, terkel became one of. Introduction this book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as to the body. Studs terkel before i ask you, about own own experiences, and throughout the book is filled with this, the various, the variety of of the ones who join. Birthday of studs terkel naming the days spirituality. Jun 10, 2017 for his next book, working, published in the spring of 1974 in the united states and the following year in britain, terkel would talk to more than 100 men and women about what they did all day and. The pulitzerprize winning author, activist, oral historian, and broadcast pioneer studs terkel was born on this day in 1912. Keeping the faith in troubled times the new press, is an oral. Raised in chicago in the 1920s and 30s, gwendolyn brooks stands among the most influential and best known american writers of the 20thcentury. When she was studs terkels guest in 1964, they took turns reciting her intense, iconic prose. When the immensely popular television comedian john stewart met this free spirit and creative genius he said, its truly an honor to meet you.
Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. Studs terkels most popular book is the grapes of wrath. Terkel recorded more than interviews and the result was a book, working. He speaks in detail about his own program, stud s place and his efforts to keep the show on the air after he was blacklisted. And, my god, this is a conversation with history that were about to have. Consisting of over one hundred interviews conducted with everyone from gravediggers to studio heads, this book provides a timeless snapshot of peoples feelings about their working lives, as well as a relevant and lasting look at how work fits into american life.
932 245 1387 8 1481 203 963 871 822 333 802 1371 1070 597 91 82 691 590 1090 1110 1005 324 1280 222 1178 372 1037 1457 1173