Working by studs terkel

The working in america initiative is dedicated in honor of studs terkel 19122008 and alan saks 19272005. Explore the archive by topic, people, date, or keyword. He was born louis terkel on may 16, 1912 in new york city. 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.

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. Some of those oral histories of everyday workers talking about their jobs became a bestselling book published in. This blackandwhite graphic adaptation, faithfully rendered by some of todays most prominent alternative cartoonists, brings a variety of professions into focus. 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. Studs terkel had a gift for connecting with people and collecting their stories. With studs terkel, barry bostwick, scatman crothers, barbara browning. The wfmt studs terkel radio archive a living celebration.

Perhaps studs terkels bestknown book, working is a compelling, fascinating look at jobs and the people who do them. 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. Oct 31, 2008 louis studs terkel was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. 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. 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. Introduction this book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violenceto the spirit as well as to the body. 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.

The concept is deceptively simple, but what it reveals about a common activity that unites all of humanity is often truly surprising. Thats what legendary interviewer, writer, radio broadcaster, and oral historian studs terkel may 16, 1912october 31, 2008 captures in working. Some of those oral histories of everyday workers talking about. Terkel attended the university of chicago and graduated with a law degree in 1934. Stories about work, with a nod to studs terkel the new yorker.

All this week on npr, youll hear the voices of people studs terkel interviewed in his book, working. Studs terkel american author and oral historian britannica. Listen to sydney lewis of transom, as she takes you on the journey. 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. Tim struby writes about working in america, a new exhibit in chicago about people and their jobs, inspired by studs terkels oral histories. 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.

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. Radio diaries the working tapes of studs terkel radio diaries. Explore the wfmt studs terkel radio archive a living. It is the kind of project that has to make every upandcoming comics writer wonder, why didnt i think of that. Terkel gets workers from waitresses and steel workers to dentists and ad executives to. Working by studs terkel and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Studs terkels working new jobs, same need for meaning. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they. Studs terkel on the dignity of work, why we do what we do, and. 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. 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. 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. 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. Watch the full version of this piece at media burn. 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 terkel opens working with one of the most stirring sentences i have read of late. 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. Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for. 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. Studs terkel s classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them. In honor of studs terkel, we celebrated his magic on the radio.

Studs terkels working new jobs, same need for meaning studs. Studs terkels working 1974 was one of the first attempts to chronicle the lives and attitudes of americas workforce. Louis studs terkel may 16, 1912 october 31, 2008 was an american author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. 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 terkels classic oral history working is a compelling look at jobs and the people who do them. Jun 10, 2017 studs terkels 1974 oral history working became a broadway musical. Oral historian studs terkel talks about the prime impulse of human beings. 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. But until now, few of the interviews have ever been heard before. People talk about what they do all day and how they. He died on october 31, 2008 in chicago, illinois, usa. Decades ago, author studs terkel traveled the country with a tape recorder, interviewing regular people about what they did for a living. 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 an actor, known for eight men out 1988, medium cool 1969 and american playhouse 1981. Will the circle be unbroken reflections on death, rebirth, and hunger for a faith studs terkel. Rereading studs terkels working for pandemic chicago. 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. Studs terkels classic book working is nothing more than a large volume of transcribed confessions of working people. People talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what. The musical is based on the studs terkel book working.

Sep 06, 2004 revisiting studs terkels working the quintessential book about labor day was published 30 years ago last spring. About studs terkel the wfmt studs terkel radio archive a. 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 book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violence to the spirit as well as to the body. Studs terkel was born on may 16, 1912 in new york city, new york, usa as louis terkel. Terkel interviewed hundreds of people across the united states for his book on the great depression of the 1930s. 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. 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. 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. 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. Exhibit working in america explores authentic, raw, and honest stories focused on the daily desire to survive, thrive. Working investigates the meaning of work for different people under different circumstances, showing it can vary in importance.

In 1974, oral historian studs terkel published a book with an unwieldy title. Studs terkels 1974 oral history working became a broadway musical. Studs terkel on the dignity of work, why we do what we do, and the extraordinary dreams of ordinary people. 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. A musical adaptation of studs terkel s book celebrating the lives of everyday working class people. For over forty years, studs explored a variety of themes, from architecture to rock music, from poetry to the intricacies of the labor movement. Studs terkel, byname of louis terkel, born may 16, 1912, new york city, new york, u.