Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do

Studs Terkel records the voices of America. Men and women from every walk of life talk to him, telling him of their likes and dislikes, fears, problems, and happinesses on the job. Once again, Terkel has created a rich and unique document that is as simple as conversation, but as subtle and heartfelt as the meaning of our lives.... In the first trade paperback edition of his national bestseller, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Studs Terkel presents "the real American experience" (Chicago Daily News)--"a magnificent book . . .. A work of art. To read it is to hear America talking." (Boston Globe). more

Price Range:$5.89 to $13.56 | 5 stores
Product Rating:

23 Reviews
Info:
Set Price Alert Save to Wish List

Write a product review

ProductReviews

1-10 out of 23

From: Amazon
Posted: Dec-02-2008

Studs Terkel's Working People

As I have done on other occasions when I am reviewing more than one work by an author I am using some of the same comments, where they are pertinent, here as I did in earlier reviews. In this series the first Studs Terkel book reviewed was that of his "The Good War": an Oral History of World War...

Read full review | Report as inappropriate

From: Amazon
Posted: Oct-26-2008

Actors note: Character studies abound!

I was actually recommended this book by my advanced acting teacher as a senior in college. We had been talking about different places to find monologues for auditions other than plays. I had heard of the musical "Working" that had been inspired by this book, but had never looked into the literary...

Read full review | Report as inappropriate

From: Amazon
Posted: May-27-2008

This book changed my life

I read Working in 1986, when I was 23, and chose my profession based on one of the interviews (I'm a piano tuner/repairman). I am so grateful to Mr. Terkel and his subjects; without them I may have floundered in life, but because of their inspiration, I found work which I have enjoyed and learned...

Read full review | Report as inappropriate

From: Amazon
Posted: May-17-2008

A time capsule of American labor and culture

This culturally significant novel is a must for anyone interested in American studies, labor issues, oral history, etc.. The author, Studs Turkel is a prominent Chicago figure that has interview 9,000+ people about their jobs. This is well worth the read. Turkel interviews a variety of...

Read full review | Report as inappropriate

From: Amazon
Posted: Apr-06-2008

Life-altering perspectives

This book changed my life. I read it when it was new, at a time when I was becoming incredibly discontent in my first real career position job. What struck me about the people in this book was that almost all of them are busy doing work they don't really care for, and which many of them downright...

Read full review | Report as inappropriate

From: Amazon
Posted: Jan-17-2007

Book was STOLEN from Chicago Public Library

The book was in great condition, with one MAJOR catch: it had a Chicago Public Library bar code on it. I called the library, read them the bar code, and they asked me to please return it, as it had been taken without their permission. Amazon kindly sent me another book, and the stolen edition...

Read full review | Report as inappropriate

From: Amazon
Posted: Jan-14-2007

how people see their job tells a lot about them

What's engaging about this is the stories. Studs is known for his work getting people to tell their stories. This is one of his contributions to the cultural history of America, told first person, in a way that is timeless and just as relevant today as when it was written. One way to sum it up...

Read full review | Report as inappropriate

From: Amazon
Posted: Apr-05-2006

an epic of America--

This is a fascinating book. Filled with brief, antecdotal stories of people narrowing down their lives to reflections on their jobs, the very souls of many of these people shine through. People good and bad, generous and selfish, greedy, self-absorbed, charitable and open-hearted, Terkel has...

Read full review | Report as inappropriate

From: Amazon
Posted: Mar-31-2006

MAGNUM OPUS!!

Studs Terkel wanted to write a book about working for a living. So he sat down with a grocery store cashier and interviewed her about her job. He didn't ask very many questions; he just turned on a tape recorder and let her pour her heart out. She explained what she did for a living, how and why...

Read full review | Report as inappropriate

From: Amazon
Posted: Jun-05-2005

The dreams and experiences of ordinary working folk

Labor history students will easily recall Studs Terkel's Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day And How They Feel About What They Do to be a landmark charting the dreams and experiences of ordinary working folk: add a new foreword by Adam Cohen of the New York Times to Terkel's classic...

Read full review | Report as inappropriate

Write a product review

1 2 3 Next