It is significant that studs terkel has dedicated working to jude. Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. 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. Studs terkels most popular book is the grapes of wrath. Jonathan katz discusses his book gay american history.
Working and the good war, winner of the pulitzer prize in 1985. Everybody whos nobody and the nobody whos everybody. Will the circle be unbroken reflections on death, rebirth, and hunger for a faith studs terkel. 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. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do received a national book award nomination in 1975.
Introduction this book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as to the body. This independent teaching guide provides helpful suggestions for educators or directors who are presenting. 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. When she was studs terkels guest in 1964, they took turns reciting her intense, iconic prose. 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. Perhaps studs terkels bestknown book, working is a compelling, fascinating look at jobs and the people who do them.
Rereading studs terkels working for pandemic chicago tribune. This blackandwhite graphic adaptation, faithfully rendered by some of todays most prominent alternative cartoonists, brings a variety of professions into focus. Studs terkels book has become a radio drama, a shortlived broadway musical, a telecast on pbs in 1982, and a graphic depiction. At one end of the spectrum, theres the sort of raw interview transcript or narrative that studs terkel used for books like working. The best of studs terkel brings you a midcentury doubleheader with two trailblazing cultural icons. Studs terkels book interviews resurface as audio all this week on npr, youll hear the voices of people studs terkel interviewed in.
As a university oral historian, it was studs terkels books that made my work possible, credible in the academic setting that swept further and. 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. This book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violence to the spirit as well as to the body. In 1952, terkel began studs terkels almanac on radio station wfmt in chicago. Studs terkels working 1974 was one of the first attempts to chronicle the lives and attitudes of americas workforce. The quintessential book about labor day was published 30 years ago last spring. Working by by studs terkel this working book is not really ordinary book, you have it then the world is in your hands. She explained what she did for a living, how and why she came to do it, what she liked and disliked. Browse our growing archive of more than 1,200 programs. 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.
I am currently in the writing stage, and in the process of figuring out how i am going to answer this question. Talking casually, sometimes disjointedly and hesitantly, or unleashing long suppressed feelings in an angry torrent, these are. This is a book, usually put together by an author who has traveled up and down the country, in which a variety of people of every age, class, race, creed, etc. Studs terkel wanted to write a book about working for a living. Working by studs terkel overdrive rakuten overdrive. Peter ustinov discusses his career in the arts jan. It is an exploration of what makes work meaningful for people in all walks of life, from lovin al the parking valet, dolores the waitress, the fireman, to the business executive. Studs terkel had a gift for connecting with people and collecting their stories. Seven thousand tape recordings of terkels interviews and broadcasts are in the chicago history museum. Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor.
America is the book that first made studs terkels reputation as the countrys foremost oral historian, as more than a writer. In this invaluable record of one of the most dramatic periods in modern american history, studs terkel recaptures the great depression of the 1930s in all its complexity the new york times. Rereading studs terkels working for pandemic chicago. Studs terkels working new jobs, same need for meaning. 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. America, revived one of the favorite literary forms of the front period, what i will call the wethepeopletalk book. There is hardly an interviewer, commentator or probing journalist among us who can elicit so much grief and passion, so many forlorn hopes and decayed dreams, so much of the tedium and frustration of daily existence from his subjects as studs terkel. 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. 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. Studs terkel, working studs terkels working is a truly great book, and worthy of the many accolades it has received over the years. Dont be worry working can bring any time you are and not make your tote space or bookshelves grow to be full because you can have it inside your lovely laptop even cell phone. Introduction this story is about jonathan livingston seagull by richard bach.
Analysis of studs terkels book and the world of work. Read working online by studs terkel books free 30day trial. So he sat down with a grocery store cashier and interviewed her about her job. Decades ago, his book changed how we see workers in america. 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. A visual treat with a visceral impact, studs terkels working will delight terkel fans everywhere, and introduce his most powerful work to a new generation. Retooled working still feels dated but formidable cast. Consisting of over one hundred interviews with everyone from a gravedigger. In terkels 1974 book working, he captured people talking about their jobs but. Raised in chicago in the 1920s and 30s, gwendolyn brooks stands among the most influential and best known american writers of the 20thcentury. Studs terkel opens working with one of the most stirring sentences i have read of late. Terkel compiled a series of books based on oral histories that defined america in the 20th century. Explore the wfmt studs terkel radio archive a living. 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. From the pulitzer prizewinning author of the good war.
Find out more at the working tapes is produced by joe richman, jane m. Studs terkel introduced by scott simon the fascinating working lives of ordinary people are revealed in studs terkels masterful chronicle of american life, published. Talking to alan wieder about his book, studs terkel. The book also reflects terkels general idea that work can be difficult but still provides meaning for workers. 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. 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 first revised and updated version of this 1970s cult classic. The chicago legend studs terkel excelled at creating space for people to open up about their lives. 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 classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them. A pulitzer prize winner interviews workers, from policemen to piano tuners.
It is just barely possible that the attitude reflected in the epigraph above, and in the introductory essay and series of interviews that make up the book, was actually prevalent at that time. 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. He was widely known as the author of the hugely popular 1970s best sellers jonathan livingston seagull, illusions. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. Studs terkel, introduction to working i suppose that its important, before we begin hammering this book, to recall that it was written in the early 1970s. Some of those oral histories of everyday workers talking about their jobs became a bestselling book published in. Studs terkel has 67 books on goodreads with 66898 ratings. Here are riveting accounts of the lives of ordinary americansfarmers, miners, barbers, hookers, box boys, stockbrokersdepicted with unsurpassed dignity and frankness. Read working by studs terkel for free with a 30 day free trial. 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. Working ended up as one of the finalists, but on shinners first go at the book, she wrote, torpor set in. Simply put, the book is an oral history of americans telling of their jobs both the specific responsibilities involved and the meaning derived from work.
Buy working book online at the folio society from the worlds most extensive. Studs terkels interviews with 1970s working people. The wfmt studs terkel radio archive a living celebration. Paul buhle and harvey pekar talked about their book studs terkels working.
I have always found this style of presentation appealing. Writer of studs terkel biography started with a story in his head. In his 45 years on wfmt radio, studs terkel talked to the 20th centurys most interesting people. 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. Theatre works fullcast performance featuring eileen barnett, orson bean, harry groener, kaitlin hopkins, michael kostroff, kenna ramsey, vickilyn reynolds, vincent tumeo and. A rousing musical with a cast of twenty, working is for anyone who has ever punched a clock, a cow or a supervisor or wanted to. Studs terkel has spent his life interviewing ordinary people to chronicle his country. The greatest thing about studs terkel was studs terkel. 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. When chicagos goodman theatre staged the musical adaptation of writer studs terkels bestselling 1974 book working. The fascinating working lives of ordinary people are revealed in studs terkels. He was part of 141st fighter squadron in asaf as a f84f pilot. The book also reflects terkels general idea that work can be difficult but still provides meaning.
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