In 1974, Studs Terkel sat down with more than a hundred Americans — a Ford spot-welder, a waitress named Dolores Dante, a Brooklyn firefighter, a gravedigger, a piano tuner — and let them talk until the talking turned into something closer to confession. He barely interrupts.

What emerges across the book’s nine parts is less a survey of professions than a portrait of dignity under pressure: the small rebellions, the private pride, the exhaustion people carry home and rarely name out loud.

Working by Studs Terkel is an insightful look into the lives of ordinary people with strong and extraordinary voices that we might not get to hear every day.

Categories: Non-fiction, Oral History.

“This book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violence — to the spirit as well as to the body.”
— Studs Terkel, opening lines of Working

“I have to be a waitress. How else can I learn about people? How else does the world come to me?”
— Dolores Dante, waitress

The book is organized into nine “Books,” each covering a cluster of professions:

• Book One – Farmers, miners, and factory workers
• Book Two – Receptionists, switchboard and telephone operators
• Book Three – Sanitation workers, doormen, and police officers
• Book Four – Assembly-line workers at a Ford plant
• Book Five – Barbers, hairstylists, bank tellers, and mail carriers
• Book Six – Bookbinders, pharmacists, and piano tuners
• Later books – Waitresses, firefighters, teachers, actors, and business executives

Louis “Studs” Terkel (May 16, 1912 – October 31, 2008) was an iconic American author, broadcaster, and oral historian renowned for his extraordinary ability to capture the essence of everyday people’s lives. Born in New York City, Terkel grew up in Chicago, a city that would later become the backdrop for much of his work. His given name, Louis, was replaced with the nickname “Studs” during his teenage years, a reference to the fictional character Studs Lonigan from a trilogy by James T. Farrell.

Terkel’s career spanned over seven decades, during which he explored the diverse tapestry of American society through the intimate stories and experiences of its ordinary citizens. His groundbreaking book, “Division Street: America” (1967), was one of his earliest works that showcased his unique approach to oral history.

One of Terkel’s most acclaimed works is “Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do” (1974). In this book, he interviewed people from various professions, revealing the human side of work and the dreams, frustrations, and aspirations that come with it.

Throughout his career, Terkel continued to use his platform to address significant societal issues. He was a vocal advocate for civil rights and social justice. His book “Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression” (1970) illuminated the struggles faced by Americans during the Great Depression.

Terkel’s body of work earned him numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for “The Good War: An Oral History of World War Two” (1985), in which he chronicled the personal experiences of people involved in the war effort. His other notable books include “Race: How Blacks and Whites Think and Feel About the American Obsession” (1992) and “Hope Dies Last: Keeping the Faith in Troubled Times” (2003).

Studs Terkel’s legacy extends beyond his writing. His radio show, “The Studs Terkel Program,” provided a platform for him to engage in thoughtful conversations with a diverse range of guests.

Discover all books from Studs Terkel

The book itself was never awarded a Pulitzer or National Book Award outright, though it was nominated for the latter in 1975. Terkel got his Pulitzer a decade later, in 1985, for The Good War — but Working remains the book people quote first.