The Studs Terkel Reader: My American Century

by Studs Terkel

Book Overview

A new addition to the collection of elegant reissues of the Studs Terkel oeuvre

The Studs Terkel Reader, originally published under the title My American Century, collects the best interviews from eight of Terkel's classic oral histories together with his magnificent introductions to each work. Featuring selections from American Dreams, Coming of Age, Division Street, The Good War, The Great Divide, Hard Times, Race, and Working, this greatest...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1595581774
• ISBN13: 9781595581778
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: New Press
• Length: 560 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

What better way to celebrate a remarkable life....

...than to re-read, in this inspired anthology, the best of Studs Terkel's oral histories (which is to say the best of the best)? This volume samples interviews/oral histories from Mr. Terkel's remarkable books, each a different perspective on an aspect of American life. Overall, his interviews pose a paradox--not a troubling one, but a reassuring one---perhaps expressed best as a question: How is it that we, each of us as individuals, how is that we each are so full of foibles, fallacies, oddities, meanness, illusions, and yet so full of wisdom, grace, insight, joy, and compassion? The genius of his work, for me, is that this isn't some kind of sentimental claptrap, but an ongoing lively pulse built into the people to whom he gave voice. Mr. Terkel's life and work showed more than anything else that those two sets of attributes are not exclusive but rather are interdependent, necessary complements. Is it too much to compare this kind of achievement to Shakespeare's or Milton's or Bach's? Yep, absolutely. But even so .... May this icon of Chicago, yet son of New York City (he was born in the Bronx) rest in eternity's solace. May we remain moved by what this gentle and great man was able to help us reveal. In the end, Studs, ora pro nobis.

Many Voices

Terkel's genius is in letting others speak. This book is an amalgam of his other books, all "written" by average Americans who have had ordinary, yet unique, American experiences. It blends the best of his other works, including stories of the American workforce from CEO's to auto assembly line workers; oral histories of the Depression from people who remember bread lines and hunger pangs; thoughts on the division between poor and rich from the "haves" and the "have nots"; remembrances of WWII from front line soldiers and the loved ones they left behind; and reflections on racism from Black, White, and mixed race people. This book makes for excellent bedtime reading, as it is separated into five to ten page vignettes. At times, it can be infuriating, at others, it can move you to tears. This is an authentic record of being American in the twentieth century, put together by a man who shows great sympathy and affection for his subjects.

Real People, Real History

After reading Mr. Terkel's book, I realized our great country is shaped by the average folks next door (unless you live in Beverly Hills!). I was drawn to this book in a desire to read about how average Americans live their lives and make decisions that affect us all. I get tired of hearing about the rich and famous (athletes, entertainers, etc.) who really add little to our lives. How can they relate to parents who do their best to raise children without obscene amounts of money at their disposal? I showed this book to my 80-year mother who loved it! She relayed some WWII stories of her own when she worked in Long Beach at an aircraft manufacturing firm (McDonnell-Douglas). A wonderful book...do your mind a favor and read it.

Should be a must read for everyone under 50

What a wonderful book! Reading this is almost as good as sitting down with your grandparents to discuss the changes they have seen in America over the past hundred years. From the Depression to WWII to race problems to the grind of the working man. Mr. Terkel has captured real Americans living real lives. I finished this book with a new appreciation for all those that have lived before me, and a new understanding of the uniquely American culture.

A thought-provoking, painless way to study history

I want to recommend a book I've read by Studs Terkel entitled My American Century. It's a collection of edited interviews with a wide-ranging assortment of people, organized by major time periods/topics (for example, the Depression, WWII, the American dream). It is remarkably well done, allowing each person to tell his or her own story. Terkel is adept at letting the individual's voice come through, and the stories are sometimes startlingly interesting. For example, one man talks about his personal journey from leadership in the KKK to reaping kudos for human rights activism. It's a painless way to understand the history of the United States in this century, brought to you by the people who lived it. It's as good a read as any novel