People talk about what they do all day and how they. Studs terkel american author and oral historian britannica. 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 and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violence to the spirit as well as to the body. Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. The interviews became a book called, working, and it struck a chord with readers because it revealed the dignity in the lives of everyday people. Watch the full version of this piece at media burn. Rereading studs terkels working for pandemic chicago. Studs terkel on the dignity of work, why we do what we do, and.
Terkel gets workers from waitresses and steel workers to dentists and ad executives to. The concept is deceptively simple, but what it reveals about a common activity that unites all of humanity is often truly surprising. Oct 31, 2008 studs terkel, oral historian and radio legend, 96 terkel, who came of age during the great depression, often said america suffered from what he called a national alzheimers disease. Studs terkel 19122008 was an awardwinning author and radio broadcaster.
In 1974, oral historian studs terkel published a book with an unwieldy title. All this week on npr, youll hear the voices of people studs terkel interviewed in his book, working. In the early 1970s, author studs terkel went around the country with a reeltoreel tape recorder interviewing people about their jobs. He died on october 31, 2008 in chicago, illinois, usa. He was an actor, known for eight men out 1988, medium cool 1969 and american playhouse 1981. 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. He was born louis terkel on may 16, 1912 in new york city. Introduction this book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as to the body. About studs terkel the wfmt studs terkel radio archive a. 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 the extraordinary dreams of ordinary people. Exhibit working in america explores authentic, raw, and honest stories focused on the daily desire to survive, thrive. Written by harvey pekar and edited by paul buhle a graphic adaptation of studs terkel s working seems like such an obvious idea once someone else has put it on the market. Studs terkel, byname of louis terkel, born may 16, 1912, new york city, new york, u.
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. Perhaps studs terkels bestknown book, working is a compelling, fascinating look at jobs and the people who do them. 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. 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. Oral historian studs terkel talks about the prime impulse of human beings. Working is a musical with a book by stephen schwartz and nina faso, music by schwartz, craig carnelia, micki grant, mary rodgers, and james taylor, and lyrics by schwartz, carnelia, grant, taylor, and susan birkenhead. Nov 28, 20 based on studs terkel s bestselling book of interviews with american workers, working paints a vivid portrait of the men and women the world so often takes for granted. 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. But until now, few of the interviews have ever been heard before. Radio diaries the working tapes of studs terkel radio diaries. 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. This blackandwhite graphic adaptation, faithfully rendered by some of todays most prominent alternative cartoonists, brings a variety of professions into focus. Oct 31, 2008 louis studs terkel was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. In the first trade paperback edition of his national bestseller, pulitzer prizewinning author studs terkel presents the real american experience chicago daily news a magnificent book a work of art.
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. 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. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they. Studs terkel had a gift for connecting with people and collecting their stories. Studs terkels working new jobs, same need for meaning. 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 others, the power of his intent resonates through. 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. Terkel attended the university of chicago and graduated with a law degree in 1934. Studs terkels working 1974 was one of the first attempts to chronicle the lives and attitudes of americas workforce. Studs terkel was born on may 16, 1912 in new york city, new york, usa as louis terkel.
With studs terkel, barry bostwick, scatman crothers, barbara browning. 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. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what. 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. It is the kind of project that has to make every upandcoming comics writer wonder, why didnt i think of that.
Studs terkel opens working with one of the most stirring sentences i have read of late. The working in america initiative is dedicated in honor of studs terkel 19122008 and alan saks 19272005. Feb 12, 1974 studs terkel opens working with one of the most stirring sentences i have read of late. For decades, the tapes were packed away in studs home office.
Terkel interviewed hundreds of people across the united states for his book on the great depression of the 1930s. Thats what legendary interviewer, writer, radio broadcaster, and oral historian studs terkel may 16, 1912october 31, 2008 captures in working. Studs terkels classic book working is nothing more than a large volume of transcribed confessions of working people. Stories about work, with a nod to studs terkel the new yorker. Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for. 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. Some of those oral histories of everyday workers talking about. Explore the wfmt studs terkel radio archive a living. Studs terkels 1974 oral history working became a broadway musical. Sep 21, 2016 tim struby writes about working in america, a new exhibit in chicago about people and their jobs, inspired by studs terkels oral histories. Decades ago, author studs terkel traveled the country with a tape recorder, interviewing regular people about what they did for a living. In honor of studs terkel, we celebrated his magic on the radio.
Jun 10, 2017 studs terkels 1974 oral history working became a broadway musical. Explore the archive by topic, people, date, or keyword. The wfmt studs terkel radio archive a living celebration. Tim struby writes about working in america, a new exhibit in chicago about people and their jobs, inspired by studs terkels oral histories. 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. The musical is based on the studs terkel book working. 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. Sep 06, 2004 revisiting studs terkels working the quintessential book about labor day was published 30 years ago last spring. Studs terkel s classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them.
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. Will the circle be unbroken reflections on death, rebirth, and hunger for a faith studs terkel. Listen to sydney lewis of transom, as she takes you on the journey. 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. Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor. Studs terkels classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them. Some of those oral histories of everyday workers talking about their jobs became a bestselling book published in. For over forty years, studs explored a variety of themes, from architecture to rock music, from poetry to the intricacies of the labor movement. Working investigates the meaning of work for different people under different circumstances, showing it can vary in importance.