This book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as the body. Best of all, if after reading an e book, you buy a paper version of working. Studs terkel opens working with one of the most stirring sentences i have read of late. In terkel s 1974 book working, he captured people talking about their jobs but more than that, about their attitudes toward working itself and how their work did or didnt define. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition.
So he sat down with a grocery store cashier and interviewed her about her job. Raised in chicago in the 1920s and 30s, gwendolyn brooks stands among the most influential and best known american writers of the 20thcentury. I suppose that its important, before we begin hammering this book, to recall that it was written in the early 1970s. 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. Conversations with america studs terkel s multifaceted life produced an equally rich and varied legacy of research materials. Rereading terkel s book is to be offered a glimpse of that lost world in which airline stewardess terry mason explains how. Perhaps studs terkels bestknown book, working is a compelling, fascinating look at jobs and the people who do them. Based on studs terkel s bestselling book, working celebrates our search for meaning and satisfaction in the daily grind. From the book by studs terkel adapted by stephen schwartz and. American dreams, lost and found pdf free download epdf.
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 book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violence to the spirit as well as to the body. After spending his early childhood in new york city, terkel moved with his family to chicago at age nine. Oct 31, 2008 studs terkel, oral historian and radio legend, 96 terkel, who came of age during the great depression, often said america suffered from what he called a national alzheimers disease.
And although terkel s voice and narration are only present for the following pages of the introduction, giving way to 600 pages of the voices of. Studs terkel s most popular book is the grapes of wrath. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. Sheila hetis top 10 books that began as speech the guardian.
People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do 1974, which has interviews with people from different regions and occupations. Studs terkel on the dignity of work, why we do what we do. A wonderful and important piece of thinking and reporting. Tapping into that dream, i approached the format of this book as a. Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. In 1952, terkel began studs terkels almanac on radio station wfmt in chicago. Studs terkel wanted to write a book about working for a living. Whites bestselling here is new york, chicago is a tribute to the second citypart history, part memoir, and 100% studs terkelinfused with anecdotes, memories, and reflections that celebrate the great city. Working by studs terkel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
So lets put some background information on the table. Once again, turkel has created a rich and unique document that is as simple as. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do by studs terkel in djvu, doc, fb3 download e book. When she was studs terkel s guest in 1964, they took turns reciting her intense, iconic prose. Louis studs terkel was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster.
Studs terkels classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them. Her major books are slowly making their way into english. Introduction studs terkel 19122008 was an awardwinning authorcontinue reading. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do. Originally published under the title the spectator, this knowledgeable and perceptive library journal look at show business presents the actors directors, playwrights, dancers, lyricists, and others who. For the first time in terkel s work, his people are present in all the full radiance and frightfulness of their individuality. Perhaps studs terkel s bestknown book, working is a compelling, fascinating look at jobs and the people who do them. Studs terkels 1974 book, is a thing of simple beauty. Studs terkel pilot program the great books foundation. It was a music program in the beginning, and interviews were only later added to the show. Studs terkel, american author and oral historian who chronicled the lives of americans from the great depression to the early 21st century. Sarah oconnor and the team discuss the 1974 classic and its relevance to today. Americas greatest talkshow host studs terkel, says in the introduction to his 1984 book, the good war, that the disremembrance of world war. Nevertheless, it showed terkels perspective getting deeper and more complex.
Film and theater collects the pulitzer prizewinning oral historians remarkable conversations with some of the greatest luminaries of film and theater. And yet, if terkel gets closer than ever to the popular front vision in this book, he also diverges from it more radically than ever or else, maybe, carries the vision to new heights and depths. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading working. 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. 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.
Retooled working still feels dated but formidable cast. After graduating from university of chicagos law school in 1934, terkel pursued acting and appeared on stage, in radio, and in the movies. Thank you for your interest in the great books foundation studs terkel radio archive audio curriculum pilot program. Terkel draws them out, guilt, irony, humor and pain intact. This teleplay is bookended with speeches from the author of the source material, studs terkel.
Working share book recommendations with your friends, join. He was an actor, known for eight men out 1988, medium cool 1969 and studs place 1949. Taking the form of verbatim interviews with americans. Working investigates the meaning of work for different people under different circumstances, showing it can vary in importance. Terkel compiled a series of books based on oral histories that defined america in the 20th century. Oral historian studs terkel talks about the prime impulse of human beings. The musical is based on the studs terkel book working. They give better care to that machine than they will to you. Studs terkel s classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them.
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. She learned that it wasnt just go to work in the morning and punch a time clock. In 1952, terkel began studs terkel s almanac on radio station wfmt in chicago. See all books authored by studs terkel, including the good war. Alexievich is an investigative journalist who compiles, in studs terkellike fashion, dense.
In her book the anarchy of empire, kaplan analyzes the american national. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do received a national book award nomination in 1975. The fascinating working lives of ordinary people are revealed in studs terkel s masterful chronicle of american life, published as an illustrated edition for the first time by folio. Basically a collection of several dozen monologues and songs, it doesnt necessarily translate well to the screen large or small.
The book, terkel writes in the introduction, is about the search for daily. We asked some of our favorite journalists, scholars, and critics to recommend books and other works that could help the next. Meet some of the voices from working then and now taped interviews that studs terkel used for his book working had been packed in boxes for decades. In 1952 terkel began working for wfmt, first with the studs terkel almanac and the studs terkel show, primarily to play music. Working in america is inspired by, celebrates, and brings forward the tradition and humanity of studs terkel from his influential book working.
Studs terkel has 66 books on goodreads with 65188 ratings. I liked western novels better because of the bitches in them, the. An exlibrary book and may have standard library stamps andor stickers. A book about divorce written by a man whos never been married should be ridiculous. 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. Studs terkels interviews with 1970s working people resurface on npr the famed chicago author and radio host left behind boxes of tapes after he died in 2008. Oct 31, 2008 in 1956 he authored his first book, giants of jazz. Studs terkel s working new jobs, same need for meaning. He could have taken his epigraph from earl robinson and john latouches archetypal popular front composition, ballad for americans. Studs terkels chicago by studs terkel, hardcover barnes. Studs terkels working new jobs, same need for meaning. In 1952, terkel began hosting studs terkel almanac on wfmt in chicago later to be the studs terkel program.
People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do kindle edition by terkel, studs. Published in 1972, this groundbreaking book by the great american oral history genius documented americas relationship with work. Buy working book online at the folio society from the worlds most extensive selection of beautifully illustrated books. Studs terkel s classic book working is nothing more than a large volume of transcribed confessions of working people. Terkel interviewed hundreds of people across the united states for his book on the great depression of the 1930s. I remember being at school after that, with my head held high thinking, im an other, bitches. The musical was first staged at the goodman theatre in chicago from.
Studs terkels classic book working is nothing more than a large volume of transcribed confessions of working people. Studs terkel books list of books by author studs terkel. When she was studs terkels guest in 1964, they took turns reciting her intense, iconic prose. The wfmt studs terkel radio archive a living celebration. Studs terkel american author and oral historian britannica. Studs said, i came up the year the titanic went down, he said that often. Everybody whos nobody and the nobody whos everybody. 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. Feb 12, 1974 studs terkel opens working with one of the most stirring sentences i have read of late. One of my alltime favorite books is called working by studs terkel. 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. A television institution for years, a radio staple for decades, a literary lion since 1967, when he wrote his first bestselling book at age 55, louis studs terkel was born in new york on may 16, 1912. 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. One of my great heroes, studs terkel born louis terkel adopted the name studs because he was so affected by this book.
The boston globe a national book award finalist and new york times bestseller studs terkel s classic oral history working is a compelling look at. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do 1974. In his new book, working, terkel returns, as his subtitle suggests, to the classic format of the wethepeopletalk book. And although terkels voice and narration are only present for the following pages of the introduction, giving way to 600 pages of the voices of. Studs terkels interviews with 1970s working people resurface. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Stories about work, with a nod to studs terkel the new. Louis studs terkel 16 may 1912 31 october 2008 1 was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. Studs terkel was born on may 16, 1912 in new york city, new york, usa as louis terkel. Up and coming chicago writer samantha irby is known for her blog bitches gotta eat. We are so pleased that you have volunteered to take part in the pilot of our new materials, and we appreciate your help. Working is looked at as a wonderful show with eclectic music and only the most tenuous of connective matter.
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. Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Studs terkels most popular book is the grapes of wrath. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what. A pulitzer prize winner interviews workers, from policemen to piano tuners.
And, my god, this is a conversation with history that were about to have. Studs terkels book interviews resurface as audio all this week on npr, youll hear the voices of people studs terkel interviewed in his book, working. Working by terkel, studs and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The concept is deceptively simple, but what it reveals about a common activity that unites all of humanity is often truly surprising. Although born in new york, chicago became studs terkel s home and the source of the material that made him famous. Jun 12, 2012 why studs terkels working world no longer exists. This independent teaching guide provides helpful suggestions for educators or directors who are presenting terkel s work, or the musical. Jan 04, 2010 oral historian studs terkel talks about the prime impulse of human beings. Men and women from every walk of life talk to him, telling him of their likes and dislikes, fears, problems, and happinesses on the job. He died on october 31, 2008 in chicago, illinois, usa. The best of studs terkel brings you a midcentury doubleheader with two trailblazing cultural icons. Sophia roe talks happiness, why wellness can make us sick. Introduction this book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as to the body. 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.
Of the more than seventyfive war correspondents whose work has been preserved in the. My interviews are called conversations with history. A book about divorce written by a man whos never been married should be. For more studs terkel, check out the studs terkel radio archives. About studs terkel the wfmt studs terkel radio archive. 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. Even their laughter, abrupt and nervous, will make you wince because in terkel s words, this book, being about work is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as to the body. 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. It is about ulcers as well as accidents, about shouting matches as well as fistfights, about nervous. This later became the awardwinning, the studs terkel program. The greatest thing about studs terkel was studs terkel.
Not working by terkel, studs and a great selection of related books. Peters ledger, with each citizens moral strength, or lack of it, laid out on the page for. The book also reflects terkel s general idea that work can be difficult but still provides meaning. Then he bitches that nbc has scooped him in broadcasting the. His first book, giants of jazz, was published in 1956.
Working by studs terkel paperback the original work used by stephen schwartz and his collaborators in creating the musical working. As an oral historian, his interviews with everyone from quiet heroes to. Terkel frames his inquiry with his characteristic uncottoned acuity. Work today looks very different than it did in the wake of the 2008 recession and even more so than it did in 1974, when studs terkel interviewed a diverse range of individualsfrom the farmers to newspaper boys, limo drivers, factory workers, phone operators, police officers, doctors, press agents and athletes for his influential book, working. People talk about what they do all day and how they.
581 1360 795 1475 1129 1188 1228 1511 919 1067 1323 173 1257 644 398 562 360 1238 740 735 797 1443 37 1152 411 233 1354 643 641 1086 1023 372 1165