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Working
people talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do
First published 1972 · 762 pages
A rich, conversational tapestry of everyday voices revealing the profound fears, joys, and meaning found in daily labor.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting down for a series of intimate, unvarnished conversations with people from every walk of life. The pace is steady and grounded, allowing the reader to fully absorb the candid voices of everyday workers as they share their likes, dislikes, fears, and happinesses on the job. The mood is deeply humanistic and reflective, stripping away artifice to reveal the subtle, heartfelt realities of the working class. Its prose mirrors the simplicity of natural speech, yet builds into a rich documentary of social conditions and human dignity. It is a perfect read for those who are drawn to oral history and sociology, offering a profound look at how we spend our days and what it all means.
- Mood
- intimate
- grounded
- contemplative
- humanistic
- Tone
- conversational
- earnest
- empathetic
- candid
- reflective
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- the meaning of work · working class realities · everyday fears and joys · social conditions · human dignity
- The writing
- Simple, conversational, and deeply rooted in the authentic, unvarnished voices of everyday Americans.
- The arc
- Moves through the varied fears, problems, and happinesses of everyday people, culminating in a heartfelt reflection on the meaning of our lives.
- Who it's for
- Readers who appreciate oral history, sociology, and intimate conversations about the realities of daily life and labor.
Content notes
- workplace stress
- financial anxiety
About the book
Studs Turkel 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, Turkel has created a rich and unique document that is as simple as conversation, but as subtle and heartfelt as the meaning of our lives.
Description from Open Library.
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