Rereading terkels book is to be offered a glimpse of that lost world in. About studs terkel the wfmt studs terkel radio archive. For the first time in terkel s work, his people are present in all the full radiance and frightfulness of their individuality, wrote. The pilot introduced the actual voices from terkel s field interviews for the acclaimed book, working, for the first time ever. Studs said, i came up the year the titanic went down, he said that often. The book also reflects terkel s general idea that work can be difficult but still provides meaning. Jonathan katz discusses his book gay american history. 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.
The good war by studs terkel meet your next favorite book. This book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as to the body. 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. Louis studs terkel was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. But in the event, the book which emerges is the product of terkel s particular talent, which can be called interviewing, but is really something more than asking questions and listening for answers. In his 45 years on wfmt radio, studs terkel talked to the 20th centurys most interesting people. Browse our growing archive of more than 1,200 programs. He was an actor, known for eight men out 1988, medium cool 1969 and american playhouse 1981.
A pulitzer prize winner interviews workers, from policemen to piano tuners. 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. Working by studs terkel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Studs terkel reads a mike royko column on working in chicagos city hall by danieljbmitchell. Terkel interviewed hundreds of people across the united states for his book on the great depression of the 1930s. Studs terkel books list of books by author studs terkel. Will the circle be unbroken reflections on death, rebirth, and hunger for a faith studs terkel. But i can look back now and say, i helped put out a fire. In advance of the festival, organizers are hosting studs 101 events designed for participants to reengage or familiarize themselves with terkel s work. Studs terkels working new jobs, same need for meaning studs. In 1974, my mother brought this book home from the library and i, then 10 years old, snatched it to read terkel s interview with a baseball player. 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. When she was studs terkel s guest in 1964, they took turns reciting her intense, iconic prose. Working by by studs terkel this working book is not really ordinary book, you have it then the world is in your hands.
Thats what legendary interviewer, writer, radio broadcaster, and oral historian studs terkel may 16, 1912october 31, 2008 captures in working. Not working by terkel, studs and a great selection of related books. Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian. But i can look back and say, i helped put out a fire. Raised in chicago in the 1920s and 30s, gwendolyn brooks stands among the most influential and best known american writers of the 20thcentury.
His 1974 book, working, in which as reflected by its subtitle people talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do, also. 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. Rereading studs terkels working for pandemic chicago. 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. Books blog studs terkel s fine art of interviewing xan brooks. Or you could open working by studs terkel, which was published 46. Terkel s working, with the apt subtitle people talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do, was originally published in 1974. Taped interviews that studs terkel used for his book working had been packed in boxes for decades. Studs terkel explores the motivation to work in his classic book working, compiling more than 100 interviews of workers across america. Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor. Inspired by the great oral historian studs terkel, whose working dominates the canon of american social history, not working is a book of burning importance for america today, a critical intervention in an election year when stubbornly immovable 9% unemployment is certain to be the central issue.
Studs terkel was born on may 16, 1912 in new york city, new york, usa as louis terkel. Studs terkel, byname of louis terkel, born may 16, 1912, new york city, new york, u. In it, the oral historian provided a wealth of interviews with people from all walks of lifefrom businessmen to athletes to a prostitutedigging into what makes the professions significant. Oral historian studs terkel talks about the prime impulse of human beings. The master reporter was more than just a great oral historian, he was a great writer published. Already this winter, the hideout hosted a new episode of studs place, and the nightingale hosted a screening of experimental films and readings from terkel s book working. To my surprise, i ended up staying for the bus drivers, strip miners, and school teachers. Studs terkels 1974 oral history working became a broadway musical. 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.
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. The wfmt studs terkel radio archive a living celebration. Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. Read working by studs terkel for free with a 30 day free trial. Studs terkels working new jobs, same need for meaning. The best of studs terkel brings you a midcentury doubleheader with two trailblazing cultural icons. Rereading studs terkels working for pandemic chicago tribune. Stories about work, with a nod to studs terkel the new. Consisting of over one hundred interviews with everyone from a gravedigger. In 1952 terkel began working for wfmt, first with the studs terkel almanac and the studs terkel show, primarily to play music. Read working online by studs terkel books free 30day trial. 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.
Studs terkels classic book working is nothing more than a large volume of transcribed confessions of working people. Decades ago, his book changed how we see workers in america. 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. 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. 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. 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. Watch the full version of this piece at media burn. America, revived one of the favorite literary forms of the front period, what i will call the wethepeopletalk book. A musical adaptation of studs terkel s book celebrating the lives of everyday working class people. Studs terkel on the dignity of work, why we do what we do, and. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do. The interior is clean and book has a solid binding.
And yet, at the same time, terkel both diverged from and heightened this political vision. 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. With studs terkel, barry bostwick, scatman crothers, barbara browning. The quintessential book about labor day was published 30 years ago last spring. Studs terkels working new jobs, same need for meaning books. This book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violence to the spirit as well as to the body. Then and now, launched with the pilot broadcast labor day 2014, with tremendous response. The benefit you get by reading this book is actually information inside this reserve incredible fresh, you. Introduction this book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as to the body. 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. Everybody whos nobody and the nobody whos everybody. 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 american author and oral historian britannica. An exlibrary book and may have standard library stamps andor stickers. 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. This is the first comfortable job ive ever had in my life and it is absolutely despicable. Now 92, he is turning one of his passions music into a new book. 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. 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. Terkel published a number of astoldto books, including, in 1974, working. Perhaps studs terkel s bestknown book, working is a compelling, fascinating look at jobs and the people who do them. That night i checked my copy of working, and yup, there it was, exactly as i remembered, an interview with a chicago supermarket cashier, telling terkel in the. His first book, giants of jazz, was published in 1956. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. Although born in new york, chicago became studs terkels home and the. This later became the awardwinning, the studs terkel program.
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