Studs terkel before i ask you, about own own experiences, and throughout the book is filled with this, the various, the variety of of the ones who join. Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian. Studs terkels working 1974 was one of the first attempts to chronicle the lives and attitudes of americas workforce. Terkel died in his chicago home on friday, october 31, 2008 at the age of 96.
Already this winter, the hideout hosted a new episode of studs place, and the nightingale hosted a screening of experimental films and readings from terkels book working. 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. I first encountered studs terkel s fascinating oral histories through his book working. Terkel recorded more than interviews and the result was a book, working. Chicago to celebrate studs terkel during lets get working. The pulitzer prize winners numerous bestsellers include the good war and working. And after working came out, something surprising happened.
Urie bronfenbrenner discusses his book two worlds of. Louis studs terkel 16 may 1912 31 october 2008 1 was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. Thank you for your interest in the great books foundation studs terkel radio archive audio curriculum pilot program. Studs terkels book interviews resurface as audio all this week on npr, youll hear the voices of people studs terkel interviewed in. 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. In advance of the festival, organizers are hosting studs 101 events designed for participants to reengage or familiarize themselves with terkels work. Studs terkel has made a living gathering the stories of ordinary people and presenting them to america. 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. Studs terkel audio books, best sellers, author bio. 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.
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. Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. This later became the awardwinning, the studs terkel program. Sep 30, 2016 in the early 1970s, author studs terkel went around the country interviewing people about their jobs. When the immensely popular television comedian john stewart met this free spirit and creative genius he said, its truly an honor to meet you. But until now, few of the interviews have ever been heard before. Another group, just as diverse and varied, might say things unsaid here. All this is crucial to understand because it is one of studs terkels most. Working by studs terkel paperback the original work used by stephen schwartz and his collaborators in creating the musical working. 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. Find out more at the working tapes is produced by joe richman, jane m. 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.
American workers come into their own in musical, working. Studs terkels most popular book is the grapes of wrath. Studs terkel has spent his life interviewing ordinary people to chronicle his country. When she was studs terkels guest in 1964, they took turns reciting her intense, iconic prose. Keeping the faith in troubled times the new press, is an oral. Here are riveting accounts of the lives of ordinary americansfarmers, miners, barbers, hookers, box boys, stockbrokersdepicted. Studs terkel 19122008 was a free spirit, an outspoken populist, a pulitzer prizewinning author, a terrible ham, and one of the bestloved characters on the american scene.
After the program went off the air, terkel became one of. Studs terkels working new jobs, same need for meaning. The musical begins performances friday at the unicorn theatre in stockbridge, where it is scheduled to run through aug. First published in 1992 at the height of the furor over the rodney king incident, studs terkels race was an immediate bestseller. Studs terkel books list of books by author studs terkel. Studs terkels classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them. 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. In 1974, oral historian studs terkel published a book with an unwieldy title. And, my god, this is a conversation with history that were about to have. Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor. A few years back, studs terkel gave us his thoughts about the history of the eighthour day. 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. This independent teaching guide provides helpful suggestions for educators or directors who are presenting terkel s work, or the musical. The pulitzerprize winning author, activist, oral historian, and broadcast pioneer studs terkel was born on this day in 1912.
It spans the gamut of just about every profession you can think of farming, switchboard, actor, police, welding, salesman, business, housewife, broker, sports, executive, retirementthat is an incredibly short and incomplete list of. In his new book, working, terkel returns, as his subtitle suggests, to the. The great many, aside from someone like sonny, are had, they work as, they have jobs, regular jobs, construction workers. Working by by studs terkel this working book is not really ordinary book, you have it then the world is in your hands.
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. The benefit you get by reading this book is actually information inside this reserve incredible fresh, you. In race, he creates a richly textured study of one of americas great obsessionsand taboos in the early 1990s. Working by studs terkel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Perhaps studs terkels bestknown book, working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them. He speaks in detail about his own program, stud s place and his efforts to keep the show on the air after he was blacklisted. People talk about what they do all day and how they.
Studs terkel now coming back to your book i was impressed by one aspect thats remarkably similar to an experience dr. 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. Introduction this book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as to the body. Birthday of studs terkel naming the days spirituality. This blackandwhite graphic adaptation, faithfully rendered by some of todays most prominent alternative cartoonists, brings a variety of professions into focus. So lets put some background information on the table. A national book award finalist and new york times bestseller. Working investigates the meaning of work for different people under different circumstances, showing it can vary in importance.
Studs terkel pilot program the great books foundation. 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. Studs terkel interviewed more than one hundred people of all walks. Heres the text of some of his livelyhood interview. 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 1952 terkel began working for wfmt, first with the studs terkel almanac and the studs terkel show, primarily to play music. Perhaps studs terkels bestknown book, working is a compelling, fascinating look at jobs and the people who do them. In the early 1970s, author studs terkel went around the country with a reeltoreel tape recorder interviewing people about their jobs. The author has found working to be a useful vehicle for. Studs terkels classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do. Chicago to celebrate studs terkel during lets get working festival.
His 1974 book, working, in which as reflected by its subtitle people talk about what they do all day and how. 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. 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. A pulitzer prize winner interviews workers, from policemen to piano tuners. Terkel interviewed hundreds of people across the united states for his book on the great depression of the 1930s.
His first book, giants of jazz, was published in 1956. In his oneandahalf hour archive interview, studs terkel 1912 2008 relates the history of the chicago school of television including his relationships with burr tillstrom, fran allison and dave garroway. This collective portrait of america was based on more than a hundred interviews studs did around the country. I suppose that its important, before we begin hammering this book, to recall that it was written in the early 1970s. 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.
My interviews are called conversations with history. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do. 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. The book also reflects terkels general idea that work can be difficult but still provides meaning. The book is a collection of interviewsconversationspeople talking about what they do for a living. Bettelheim experienced in children of the dream in certain kibbutz in israel, the schools there, that there was a diffusion, there too, the parent, the child has his mother and father of course, but the others also become. Studs terkel has 67 books on goodreads with 66898 ratings. 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. Unlike underground, where murakamis subjects are intertwined by a single defining event, terkels subjects in working have only the most meager of commonalities.
His radio show was carried on stations throughout the country. 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. In the early 1970s, author studs terkel went around the country interviewing people about their jobs. The ensemble cast of 10 talks and sings about what their characters do and how that feels. Raised in chicago in the 1920s and 30s, gwendolyn brooks stands among the most influential and best known american writers of the 20thcentury. Born in new york in 1912, he lived in chicago for over eight decades. Studs terkel explores the motivation to work in his classic book working, compiling more than 100 interviews of workers across america. Studs terkels classic book working is nothing more than a large volume of transcribed confessions of working. 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 book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as the body. Consisting of over one hundred interviews with everyone from a gravedigger. Pdf studs terkel explores the motivation to work in his classic book working, compiling more than. This independent teaching guide provides helpful suggestions for educators or directors who are presenting. Nov 02, 2014 im unfamiliar with the work of bob greene but im very much a fan of studs terkel, in particular a book of interviews he wrote in the early 1970s called working.
303 769 300 725 1209 357 752 42 938 740 1389 99 818 957 1021 1241 208 1141 794 1177 439 689 173 580 307 909 70 534 482 483