In july 2009, the second city etc opened their 33rd revue, studs terkel s not working, honoring the writer in the year following his death. Working studs terkel introduction this book, being. Studs gets to the deeper heart of our history and our national life. Studs terkels working is a fat book stuffed with the words of americans. Working has been a book, a radio drama, a broadway musical, and now a gripping graphic novel. This book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about. Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster.
Browse our growing archive of more than 2,000 programs. The wfmt studs terkel radio archive a living celebration. In a way, terkels story is best told through that of hobart foote. They go to school to become a doctor, lawyer, or other high paying job, with money and social status as their only incentives. Louis studs terkel, the third son of russianjewish parents, was born in the bronx on 16th may, 1912. 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. 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. Analysis of studs terkel s book and the world of work essay.
Talking casually, sometimes disjointedly and hesitantly, or unleashing long suppressed feelings in an angry torrent, these are. After spending his early childhood in new york city, terkel moved with his family to chicago at age nine. Studs terkel s work was highly praised and recognized in the world of arts and letters. People talk about what they do all day and how they. He met studs terkel when he was a child, and began his national broadcast career working out of the wfmt studios, where terkel was legendinresidence. The story of our century by those whove lived it, which includes interviews with peo.
Terkel draws them out, guilt, irony, humor and pain intact. 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. The author has found working to be a useful vehicle for. Analysis of studs terkels book and the world of work. Studs terkel explores the motivation to work in his classic book working, compiling more than 100 interviews of workers across america. Oct 14, 2001 terkel, whose name is synonymous with oral histories, has written more than a dozen books, including working. I like the combination of the book and the street both. Studs terkel 19122008 was an awardwinning author and radio broadcaster. A graphic adaptation pekar, harvey, buhle, paul on. Studs terkel has 73 books on goodreads with 74510 ratings. Simon is also the author of eight books, including home and away. 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. The greatest thing about studs terkel was studs terkel.
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. Apr 22, 2020 or you could open working by studs terkel, which was published 46 years ago this spring, though like many of you right now, it bristles with familiar questions and complaints and aspirations. On breaking his hip, as quoted in how studs helps me lead my life in roger eberts journal 24 may 2008 the guardian interview 2002. Singersongwriter james taylor wrote a song called millworker which was released on his 1979 album flag. Working ended up as one of the finalists, but on shinners first go at the book, she wrote, torpor set in.
The book also reflects terkels general idea that wor. Introduction this book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as to the body. I really enjoyed hard times, and most things id seen about this book were. Adapted from the stage production by composer stephen schwartz, this 1982 american playhouse production has a pleasingly fluid structure that includes terkel himself as an onscreen. 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 musical adaptation of the studs terkel book examines the average workers viewpoint. A teaching guide paperback january 1, 2001 by rick ayers author visit amazons rick ayers page.
Quotations by studs terkel, american journalist, born may 16, 1912. The art of conversation in his 45 years on wfmt radio, studs terkel talked to the 20th centurys most interesting people. In 1952, terkel began studs terkel s almanac on radio station wfmt in chicago. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do and the. John peter jones talks with studs terkel about his book the feather pluckers apr.
A detailed biography of studs terkel that includes includes images, quotations and. 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. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do received a national book award nomination in 1975. Guilty people do not easily share with a stranger their memories of shame. 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. This book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violence to the spirit as well as to the body.
Rereading studs terkels working for pandemic chicago. Its hard to find a topic louis studs terkel, phb32, jd34, didnt cover in his. This edition published by arrangement with pantheon books. And there is something of a blank spot where the author should be. He was a member of the academy of arts and letters and a recipient of a presidential national humanities medal, the national book foundation medal for distinguished contribution to american letters, a george polk career award, and the national book critics circle 2003 ivan sandrof lifetime achievement award. Terkel compiled a series of books based on oral histories that defined america in the 20th century. Many people in todays society find themselves guilty of believing the common misconception that money can buy happiness.
Sep 29, 2020 regarding his 95th birthday in give em hell, mr. Explore the wfmt studs terkel radio archive a living. The voices of farmers, prostitutes, athletes, black and white cops, car assemblers and so many others are coaxed out and edited into coherency by studs turkel. Yoeli, obviously a doctor speaks like a poet, and you speak of the ideal circumstance, the ideal doctor, yet why is it, this is a question that often arises today, in the mid20th century, with all the medical and scientific discoveries, there seems a feeling among a great portion of the nonmedical population, that the doctor. The result is a sort of domesday book, st, peters ledger, with each citizens moral strength, or lack of it, laid out on the page for you to weigh and judge. Terkel, who performed a heroic job of work in his own grinding. He was the recipient of numerous book awards including the pulitzer prize for the good war 1985, the irita van doren book award, and two national book award nominations.
Historian and author studs terkel shares his new book, coming of age. Studs terkel, everyman storyteller the university of chicago. Studs terkels 1974 oral history working became a broadway musical. You saw that, by the way no one knows more about eastern europe and the communist world than harrison salisbury, certainly not in the english language. Working was made into a shortlived broadway show of the same title in 1978 and was telecast on pbs in 1982. They offer details on how they spend their working hours, musings on their industries, and insights into the universal struggle for purpose. 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. Consisting of over one hundred interviews with everyone from a gravedigger to a studio head, from a policeman to a piano tuner, this book provides an enduring portrait of peoples feelings about their working lives. He died on october 31, 2008 in chicago, illinois, usa. An oral history of the great depression in america. Oct, 2010 studs terkel, working studs terkel s working is a truly great book, and worthy of the many accolades it has received over the years. Working first edition authorstuds terkel subjectworking class publisherpantheon books publication date 1974 dewey decimal 331. 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. Mar 21, 2016 terkel frames his inquiry with his characteristic uncottoned acuity.
With a new foreword by adam cohen of the new york times perhaps studs terkel s bestknown book, working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them. 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. Nov 01, 2008 in a way, terkels story is best told through that of hobart foote. In studs terkel s working, pekar offers a brilliant visual adaptation of terkel s verbatim interviews, collaborating with both established comics veterans and some of the comic undergrounds brightest new talent. The greatest thing about studs terkel was studs terkel the. March 28, 1974 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. 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.
The revue, like terkel s book, focused on the lives of ordinary people. In 1952, terkel began studs terkels almanac on radio station wfmt in chicago. 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 said, i came up the year the titanic went down, he said that often. By the time studs terkel published his oral history working, forty years. Yet it is also obvious that most of terkel s books would have been sharper and fleeter had he been choosierhe was not, after all, providing a public service step right up and tell your troubles to studs, but trying to put together a book. Studs terkel was born on may 16, 1912 in new york city, new york, usa as louis terkel. This may sound impossible, but if theres one thing that started me thinking, it was. Working has been a book, a radio drama, a broadway musical, and now a gripping. Studs terkels working new jobs, same need for meaning. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Studs terkel, american author and oral historian who chronicled the lives of americans from the great depression to the early 21st century. When one asked terkel which of all 9,000 interviewees he valued most, the answer was this one, which made it into a book, working.
Meir yoeli talks with studs terkel the wfmt studs terkel. A pulitzer prize winner interviews workers, from policemen to piano tuners. I was walking downstairs carrying a drink in one hand and a book in the other. Army private in world war ii, was one of the first american soldiers to cross the elbe river into germany and come facetoface with his counterparts in the red army. Feb 28, 1997 perhaps studs terkel s bestknown book, working is a compelling, fascinating look at jobs and the people who do them. Studs terkel, byname of louis terkel, born may 16, 1912, new york city, new york, u.
Authorradio hostactoractivist and chicago symbol louis studs terkel died friday afternoon in his home on the north side. The chicago steelworker at the start of the book was a working stiff. Jun 12, 2012 why studs terkel s working world no longer exists. Rereading terkels book is to be offered a glimpse of that lost world in which airline stewardess terry mason explains. 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. Aug 11, 2020 a bestseller in 1970, the book was one of nearly two dozen written by the cheerfully empathetic historian and journalist studs terkel. Roger ebert in the thirtyfive years since pulitzer prizewinner studs terkel s working was first published, it has captivated millions. Dec 01, 1999 but their voices form the songs and monologues of this plotless paean to the american working stiff, inspired by the bestselling oral history by studs terkel. There is always some percentage in a celebration of the working stiff, the honest guy, the salt of the earth.
About studs terkel the wfmt studs terkel radio archive a. A master of oral history, terkel published a number of astoldto books, including, in 1974, working. Here are riveting accounts of the lives of ordinary americansfarmers, miners, barbers, hookers, box boys, stockbrokersdepicted. Studs terkel american author and oral historian britannica. Feb 12, 1974 studs terkel opens working with one of the most stirring sentences i have read of late. Perhaps studs terkel s bestknown book, working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them.
Eleven years later the family moved to chicago where his father found work as a tailor. 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. Studs terkels working new jobs, same need for meaning studs. I cant speak for studs, but i suspect he would have been tickled to see it adapted by a former government file clerk and wage slave, who knows all about working. During the 1940s terkel became a familiar voice on radio working as a news. Stories about work, with a nod to studs terkel the new yorker. Based on a series of interviews with real working peopleconstruction workers, waitresses, firemen, secretaries, and cleaning women working is both an exploration of the individuals occupations and a lament for lost hopes and dreams. 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 was highly acclaimed. Topics included how the book was produced, the life of studs terkel, and life, work, and the.
Oral historian studs terkel talks about the prime impulse of human beings. Studs terkel its that aspect that because of that opening passage you read somewhere in the book, whether you like it or not, its one world. Memoir of a fan 2000 and the novels pretty birds 2005 and windy city 2008. Paul buhle and harvey pekar talked about their book studs terkels working. Interviewing chicago taxicab driver joseph polowsky, who as a young u. He was an actor, known for eight men out 1988, medium cool 1969 and studs place 1949. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do, published in 1974, became a smash hit in terkel s hands, the work lives of everyday people. A masterpiece of words, working is now adapted into comic book. Studs terkel on the dignity of work, why we do what we do. Aug 03, 2005 studs terkel is known for extensive conversations with americans from all walks of life that chronicle the profound changes in the nation during the 20th century.
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