Studs terkels most popular book is the grapes of wrath. The musical is based on the studs terkel book working. The best of studs terkel brings you a midcentury doubleheader with two trailblazing cultural icons. Studs terkels 1974 oral history working became a broadway musical.
In his 45 years on wfmt radio, studs terkel talked to the 20th centurys most interesting people. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do received a national book award nomination in 1975. 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. 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. 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. 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 how they felt about it. Based on studs terkels bestselling book of interviews with american workers, working paints a vivid portrait of the men and women the world so.
In the 70s, studs terkel talked to an ad executive, who explained. Nevertheless, it showed terkel s perspective getting deeper and more complex. Mar 12, 2020 perhaps studs terkels bestknown book, working is a compelling, fascinating look at jobs and the people who do them. Studs terkel s classic book working is nothing more than a large volume of transcribed confessions of working people. The book, terkel writes in the introduction, is about the search for daily. After spending his early childhood in new york city, terkel moved with his family to chicago at age nine. Studs terkels fascinating history helps us understand not just what war is like, but the way that it shapes peoples ideas. Terkel would talk to more than 100 men and women about what they. About studs terkel the wfmt studs terkel radio archive.
Studs terkels interviews with 1970s working people. Read working by studs terkel for free with a 30 day free trial. 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. Stories about work, with a nod to studs terkel the new. 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. Many old working class women have an habitual gesture which illuminates the years of their life. Nevertheless, it showed terkels perspective getting deeper and more complex. 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. In the early 1970s, author and radio host studs terkel went around the country with a reeltoreel tape recorder interviewing people about their jobs. About studs terkel the wfmt studs terkel radio archive a. Working by by studs terkel this working book is not really ordinary book, you have it then the world is in your hands. Studs terkels classic book working is nothing more than a large volume of transcribed confessions of working people. 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 book interviews resurface as audio september 25, 2016 all this week on npr, youll hear the voices of people studs terkel interviewed in his book, working.
In 1974, the radio broadcaster studs terkel published a book of profiles to have people talk about what they. Consisting of over one hundred interviews with everyone from a gravedigger. 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. Personally, my favorite is still division street because it introduces all of the issues that follow in his subsequent books. Studs terkel, american author and oral historian who chronicled the lives of americans from the great depression to the early 21st century. Cleve jones talks about the names project foundation and aids quilt. 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. 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.
Based on studs terkels best selling book of interviews with american workers, working paints a vivid portrait of the men and women that the world so often takes for granted. 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. From his first book, division street america, through the 17 that followed, studs stood up for working people and against corporate and political power. He could have taken his epigraph from earl robinson and john latouches archetypal popular front composition, ballad for americans. Nov 28, 20 based on studs terkels bestselling book of interviews with american workers, working paints a vivid portrait of the men and women the world so often takes for granted. Everybody whos nobody and the nobody whos everybody. Studs terkel s classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them. The benefit you get by reading this book is actually information inside this reserve incredible fresh, you. When she was studs terkels guest in 1964, they took turns reciting her intense, iconic prose. The concept is deceptively simple, but what it reveals about a common activity that unites all of humanity is often truly surprising. Based on studs terkels bestselling book of interviews with american workers, the musical working paints a vivid portrait of the men and women that the world so often takes for granted. 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. Studs terkel american author and oral historian britannica.
Will the circle be unbroken reflections on death, rebirth, and hunger for a faith studs terkel. The mysterious rise of the nonworking man the atlantic. Studs terkel has 67 books on goodreads with 66240 ratings. Sep 21, 2016 stories about work, with a nod to studs terkel. Men and women from every walk of life talk to him, telling him of their likes and dislikes, fears, problems, and. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do public library a remarkable oral history of the extraordinary dreams of ordinary people and of working life. Together, the four oral histories detail the careers of a. Raised in chicago in the 1920s and 30s, gwendolyn brooks stands among the most influential and best known american writers of the 20thcentury. Studs talks to everybody about their work, holding nothing backthe book leaves you with the feeling that people do the best they can, and its done with warmth and candor. 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. 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. This blackandwhite graphic adaptation, faithfully rendered by some of todays most prominent alternative cartoonists, brings a variety of professions into focus.
Browse our growing archive of more than 1,200 programs. Introduction this book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as to the body. Studs terkels working new jobs, same need for meaning books. In 1952, terkel began studs terkel s almanac on radio station wfmt in chicago. Studs terkel opens working with one of the most stirring sentences i have read of late. Here are riveting accounts of the lives of ordinary americansfarmers, miners, barbers, hookers, box boys, stockbrokersdepicted. Once again, terkel has created a rich and unique document that is as simple as conversation, but as subtle and heartfelt as the meaning of our lives. Terkel compiled a series of books based on oral histories that defined america in the 20th century. Feb 12, 1974 studs terkel opens working with one of the most stirring sentences i have read of late. A master of oral history, terkel published a number of astoldto books, including, in 1974, working. In his new book, working, terkel returns, as his subtitle suggests, to the classic format of the wethepeopletalk book. 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. Thats what legendary interviewer, writer, radio broadcaster, and oral historian studs terkel may 16, 1912october 31, 2008 captures in working. Working investigates the meaning of work for different people under different circumstances, showing it can vary in importance.
Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do, the book. And how could a guy named studs terkel not do a cool book. Studs terkels working new jobs, same need for meaning.
Working by studs terkel, stephen schwartz, nina faso. 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. A pulitzer prize winner interviews workers, from policemen to piano tuners. People talk about what they do all day and how they. The good war, for many who took part, should have been the last war. Studs terkel s working 1974 was one of the first attempts to chronicle the lives and attitudes of americas workforce. Studs terkel, byname of louis terkel, born may 16, 1912, new york city, new york, u. Twentyfour men and women were profiled for the exhibit, including a. 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. The fact it was not is an indictment of those at the top of society far more. In 1952, terkel began studs terkels almanac on radio station wfmt in chicago.
Women at work interviews with a receptionist, a factory worker, and others about life on the job. 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. Studs terkels book interviews resurface as audio all this week on npr, youll hear the voices of people studs terkel interviewed in. Stories about work, with a nod to studs terkel the new yorker. 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. Nov, 2016 from his first book, division street america, through the 17 that followed, studs stood up for working people and against corporate and political power. Studs terkels working at meadow brook starting feb. Jonathan katz discusses his book gay american history.
This book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violence to the spirit as well as to the body. This interview and others that terkel recorded for his 1974 book, working. 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. Mar 08, 2020 based on studs terkels best selling book of interviews with american workers, working paints a vivid portrait of the men and women that the world so often takes for granted. 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. Studs said, i came up the year the titanic went down, he said that often. The wfmt studs terkel radio archive a living celebration. Find out more at the working tapes is produced by joe richman, jane m.