Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

First published in 1970, this classic of oral history features the voices of men and women who lived through the Great Depression of the 1930s. It includes accounts by congressmen C. Wright Patman and Hamilton Fish, as well as failed presidential candidate Alf M. Landon, who recalls what it was like to be governor of Kansas in 1933:

Men with tears in their eyes begged for an appointment that would help save their homes and farms. I couldn't see them all in my office. But I never let one of them leave without my coming out and shakin' hands with 'em. I listened to all their stories, each one of 'em. But it was obvious I couldn't take care of all their terrible needs.

The book includes also the perspectives of ordinary men and women, such as Jim Sheridan, who took part in the 1932 march by World War I veterans to petition for their benefits in Washington, D.C., where they were repelled by army troops led by General Douglas MacArthur. Or Edward Santander, who was a child then: "My first memories come about '31. It was simply a gut issue then: eating or not eating, living or not living." Studs Terkel makes history come alive, drawing out experiences and emotions from his interviewees to the degree few have ever been able to match. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

A huge anthem in praise of the American spirit. -- Saturday Review

A huge anthem in praise of the American spirit.

(Saturday Review )

An invaluable record. -- The New York Times

An invaluable record.

(The New York Times )

Anybody who wants to know where we were and how we got to where we are now—read this book.

(Arthur Miller )

Anybody who wants to know where we were and how we got to where we are now—read this book. -- Arthur Miller

Open [it] to almost any page and rich memories spill out....Read a page, any page. Then try to stop.

(National Observer )

Open [it] to almost any page and rich memories spill out. . . . Read a page, any page. Then try to stop. -- National Observer

Open [it] to almost any page and rich memories spill out....Read a page, any page. Then try to stop. -- National Observer

Wonderful! ....It will resurrect your faith in all of us to read this book. -- Newsweek

Wonderful!....It will resurrect your faith in all of us to read this book. -- Newsweek

Wonderful!....It will resurrect your faith in all of us to read this book.

(Newsweek )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: New Press (November 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565846567
• ISBN-13: 978-1565846562
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,161 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required Reading For The 21st Century Depression, December 18, 2002

By	E. Richards "Herself" (Alone with my thoughts) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a compilation of oral recountings of the Great Depression of the 20th Century, taken by Studs Terkel. The book can be regarded as an excellent primary source of information from a historical point of view. These are anecdotes from people ranging from sharecroppers on up to highly placed executives, politicians, and professionals. Terkel leaves no stone unturned, as these stories (grouped by occupation and social stratum) show how the Depression affected people in all walks of life in the United States.

No secondary source is going to prove as truthful as the stories themselves. No high-flying armchair analysis by a detached political commentator, PhD or windbag is going to give you the true flavor of what our country went through after October, 1929.

We are in the midst of an economic downturn that has 800,000 American citizens without unemployment insurance, a looming health crisis among unemployed members of the middle class, and a war on the horizon. If you want to be prepared and to understand the ramifications of this situation, I urge you to not only read this book cover to cover, but also to go out and find people who lived through this time and listen to their stories. Go to your grandparents, parents, elderly relatives, the old guy on the porch across the street, the local senior centers. Ask them to talk.

Understanding history helps us understand the future.

Studs Terkel's book is a recounting of the past, but is also a story of our coming future.

Read it!

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Harder for some than for others ..., December 13, 2001

By	doc peterson (Portland, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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Studs Terkel interviewed dozens of people for his oral history, "Hard Times." What you get is a very good overall picture of the Great Depression in America.

Terkel interviewed the rich, gangsters, southern sharecroppers, Oakies and Arkies, the rural poor, young and old (in the 1930's as well as in the 1960's when he was interviewing people.) The perceptions of the Depression by each is as individual and as varied as America itself. What struck me most, however was the inequitability of the Depression.

When I thought of the "Depression" images of soup lines and "Hoovervilles" sprang to mind. And yes, many remembered those as well. But there were several interviewees who never saw a bread line, a shanty town, or felt the sting of economic crash. To my suprise, there were even a few individuals who became RICH as a result of the Depression.

Another interesting aspect of the book (which was totally unexpected) was the reflection of the "present" while looking back at the Deperession. Terkel assembled the book in the late 1960's; as you may imagine, the social turbulence and youth culture of the day was often brought up in the various interviews ... fascinating.

All in all an interesting and engaging read - if nothing else, it certainly puts things in perspective relative to the "hard times" the nation faced in the 1930's. The book is not for everyone, but I do recommend it.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The voices of a nation........during the Great Depression., November 1, 2001

By	American_History_Rocks (Southeastern Michigan) - See all my reviews

Studs Terkel's "Hard Times" offers an excellent look into the 1930s from a multitude of Americans, including: the young/old, rich/poor, and new immigrant/old stock Americans were all coved in "Hard Times". Their stories will change you and your understanding of the Great Depression will be enhanced from what you learn from these readings.

Interestingly, the interviews were conducted in the late 1960s, so you also have a comparative oral history of the 1960s as well.

However, Stud Terkel's book would be greatly enhanced if he had included an index and a bibliography for interesting and important subjects. Maybe he will include an index and a bibliography in the next edition.

Overall, an excellent book!