Perhaps studs terkel s bestknown book, working is a compelling, fascinating look at jobs and the people who do them. Anna deavere smith frequently credits studs terkels book working for revealing to her the dramatic power of spoken language, and for inspiring her plays such as fires in the mirror and let me down easy. Terkel compiled a series of books based on oral histories that defined america in the 20th century. Working by by studs terkel this working book is not really ordinary book, you have it then the world is in your hands. Will the circle be unbroken reflections on death, rebirth, and hunger for a faith studs terkel. A tape marathon of the depression days, edited by a chicago radio man who employed the same approach with considerable success in a portrait of his city and its ills called division street. Sep 30, 2016 taped interviews that studs terkel used for his book working had been packed in boxes for decades. 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. The first revised and updated version of this 1970s cult classic. 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. For the first time in terkel s work, his people are present in all the full radiance and frightfulness of their individuality, wrote. Aug 31, 20 i am currently in the writing stage, and in the process of figuring out how i am going to answer this question. Terkel adds, perhaps it was this kind of lost, grownup childhood that inspired one of billie holidays most touching songs, god bless the child.
It was a music program in the beginning, and interviews were only later added to the show. As an oral historian, he has won almost every award from the pulitzer down for recording the lives of workingclass. Watch the full version of this piece at media burn. Studs terkel has spent his life interviewing ordinary people to chronicle his country. 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.
Other books by studs terkel, title page, dedication, acknowledgments, foreword, note, a personal memoir, book one, the march, the song, sgt. 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. Heres the text of some of his livelyhood interview. Working by studs terkel paperback the original work used by stephen schwartz and his collaborators in creating the musical working. 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. 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. In 1952, terkel began studs terkels almanac on radio station wfmt in chicago.
It is an exploration of what makes work meaningful for people in all walks of life, from lo. An oral history of world war two by studs terkel, is one of the most memorable, comprehensive records of personal stories of world war ii in literature. Louis studs terkel was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. In recording this oral history, studs terkel interviewed over 100 individuals who shared their thoughts or experiences of the great depression. 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 terkel as you say that, you, when you did fires in the mirror, which i hope we can see here sometime, and maybe youll do excerpts from that during your performance at rubloff. Studs terkels interviews with 1970s working people resurface. Theatre works fullcast performance featuring eileen barnett, orson bean, harry groener, kaitlin hopkins, michael kostroff, kenna ramsey, vickilyn reynolds, vincent. Patrick sees great societal and especially personal value in a firemans work. 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 book is a collection of interviews done by terkel following world war two.
So lets put some background information on the table. Immediately download the studs terkel summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching studs terkel. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the good war. 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. I have always found this style of presentation appealing. Oral historian studs terkel talks about the prime impulse of human beings. Studs received lifetime achievement awards from the national book critics circle in 2004 and the dayton literary peace prize in 2006. Studs terkel on the dignity of work, why we do what we do, and.
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. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. During a strike in the steel industry for union recognition, chicago police opened fire on an unarmed demonstration of workers and their families. 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. 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. This independent teaching guide provides helpful suggestions for educators or directors who are presenting terkel s work, or the musical. Studs terkel, american author and oral historian who chronicled the lives of americans from the great depression to the early 21st century.
Oct 31, 2008 louis studs terkel was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. Studs terkel opens working with one of the most stirring sentences i have read of late. His first book, giants of jazz, was published in 1956. When she was studs terkels guest in 1964, they took turns reciting her intense, iconic prose. Gary younge talks to us oral historian studs terkel books. Anna deavere smith discusses and demonstrates her unique character portrayals from her works fires in the mirror and twilight. My interviews are called conversations with history. Talking casually, sometimes disjointedly and hesitantly, or unleashing long suppressed feelings in an angry torrent, these are. Nov 01, 2008 studs terkel was born in the bronx on may 16, 1912, the third son of samuel terkel, a tailor, and the former anna finkel, who had emigrated from bialystok, poland. To keep the two straight, the director of the production gave terkel the nickname studs after the fictional character about whom terkel was reading at the timestuds lonigan, of james t. Peppers lonely hearts club band, hard travelin, the big money, man and boy, god bless the child, bonnie laboring boy, three strikers, book two, old families, member of the chorus, high life, at the clinic. Anna deavere smith discusses her career the wfmt studs.
Studs terkel s classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them. From bookbinders to miners to waitresses to firefighters, terkels people speak to some of the most elemental and. Politics, culture, but mostly conversation counterfire. When working first came out in 1974, the new york times stated that it followed a classic wethepeopletalk format often employed by the nations popular front movement. Working, by studs terkel recruiters turn to ai algorithms to spot highfliers think like a supermodel if you want to win from the gig economy. Read working by studs terkel for free with a 30 day free trial. Aug 28, 2018 as stated in the book s intro, terkel s mission was to open the dammed up hurts and dreams of the regular people who make society happen when working first came out in 1974, the new york times stated that it followed a classic wethepeopletalk format often employed by the nations popular front movement. Terkel was acclaimed for his efforts to preserve american oral history. Studs terkels classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them. Studs terkels working is a truly great book, and worthy of the many accolades it. The book also reflects terkels general idea that work can be difficult but still provides meaning for workers. An oral history of world war ii ebook written by studs terkel. Working by studs terkel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster.
This digital edition was derived from acls humanities e book s online version of the same title. Oct 31, 2008 in 1956 he authored his first book, giants of jazz. As stated in the books intro, terkels mission was to open the dammed up hurts and dreams of the regular people who make society happen when working first came out in 1974, the new york times stated that it followed a classic wethepeopletalk format often employed by the nations popular front movement. 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. 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 jobs and the people who do them. Working by studs terkel overdrive rakuten overdrive. The best of studs terkel brings you a midcentury doubleheader with two trailblazing cultural icons. Taped interviews that studs terkel used for his book working had been packed in boxes for decades. Pdf studs terkel explores the motivation to work in his classic book. As an oral historian, he has won almost every award from the pulitzer down for recording the lives of working class.
This blackandwhite graphic adaptation, faithfully rendered by some of todays most prominent alternative cartoonists, brings a variety of professions into focus. This independent teaching guide provides helpful suggestions for educators or directors who are presenting terkels work, or the musical. And, my god, this is a conversation with history that were about to have. And yet, at the same time, terkel both diverged from and heightened this political vision. But i can look back and say, i helped put out a fire. After spending his early childhood in new york city, terkel moved with his family to chicago at age nine. Introduction this book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as to the body. Peppers lonely hearts club band, hard travelin, the big money, man and boy, god bless the child, bonnie laboring boy, three strikers, book two, old families, member of the chorus, high life, at the. This book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violence to the spirit as well as to the body. At one end of the spectrum, theres the sort of raw interview transcript or narrative that studs terkel used for books like working. A pulitzer prize winner interviews workers, from policemen to piano tuners. 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.
Feb 12, 1974 studs terkel opens working with one of the most stirring sentences i have read of late. I am currently in the writing stage, and in the process of figuring out how i am going to answer this question. 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. The greatest thing about studs terkel was studs terkel. Jan 04, 2010 oral historian studs terkel talks about the prime impulse of human beings. Studs terkel american author and oral historian britannica. The benefit you get by reading this book is actually information inside this reserve incredible fresh, you. Studs terkels classic book working is nothing more than a large volume of transcribed confessions of working people. America 1967, this attempt to get the story of the holocaust. In 1952 terkel began working for wfmt, first with the studs terkel almanac and the studs terkel show, primarily to play music. In 1956 he authored his first book, giants of jazz. A few years back, studs terkel gave us his thoughts about the history of the eighthour day. Studs terkel was born in the bronx on may 16, 1912, the third son of samuel terkel, a tailor, and the former anna finkel, who had emigrated from bialystok, poland.
Consisting of over one hundred interviews with everyone from a gravedigger to a studio head, this book provides a brilliant and enduring portrait of. 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. 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. This digital edition was derived from acls humanities ebooks online version of the same title. People talk about what they do all day and how they.
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. 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. But i can look back now and say, i helped put out a fire. Anna deavere smith frequently credits studs terkel s book working for revealing to her the dramatic power of spoken language, and for inspiring her plays such as fires in the mirror and let me down easy. This later became the awardwinning, the studs terkel program. Raised in chicago in the 1920s and 30s, gwendolyn brooks stands among the most influential and best known american writers of the 20thcentury. Read working online by studs terkel books free 30day trial. The trailblazing actor and author spoke with studs in 1995. Studs terkels working 1974 was one of the first attempts to chronicle the lives and attitudes of americas workforce. Talking casually, sometimes disjointedly and hesitantly, or unleashing long suppressed feelings in an angry. In 1952, terkel began hosting studs terkel almanac on wfmt in chicago later to be the studs terkel program. On the occasion of his ninetieth birthday, may 16, 2001, studs and his son dan announced the formation of the studs and ida terkel author fund.
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