Pulitzer Prize-winning oral historian Studs Terkel's "greatest hits." Terkel's oral histories have been enjoyed by millions of Americans, and have earned him a Pulitzer Prize, induction into The American Academy of Arts and Letters, The National Humanities Medal, and The National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, among other honors. My American Century collects the best of his interviews and the introductions from each of his eight classic books, along with a major new introduction to Terkel's work by Robert Coles. It is a both stellar collection of portraits and a panoramic chronicle of America from the 1920s onward.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Now in his eighties, Studs Terkel brings us My American Century, a collection of his most memorable interviews from all eight classics. Robert Cole's foreword lays out a brief history of America's economic power, from the Great Depression on. The details that remain unchanging are the insecurities endured by working men and women. "Such a vulnerability informs the life of even those lucky to be hard at work, as anyone interested in talking with ordinary working people will soon enough learn. But precisely who has had such an interest?" Fans of Studs Terkel know the answer. A writer supremely in touch with his world, Terkel's gift is in transforming the raw clay of people's lives into a simultaneously respectful, curious, and kind narrative.
"My turf," says Terkel of this latest volume, "has been the arena of unofficial truth--of the noncelebrated one on the block, who is able to articulate the thoughts of his/her neighbors, inchoate, though deeply felt. I confess to never having been privy to highly reliable sources." And what an amazing and impartial approach to subject matter. This informative volume, full of personality, is a wonderful introduction to the work of Studs Terkel, a writer who, time and again, gives voice to the querulous, difficult questions--the ones that always threaten to get swept away in the rapids of the American Dream.
From Library Journal
This book is a collection of Terkel's encounters over his long career as the nation's premier oral historian. Described by Terkel as a "jazz work," it is made up of material taken from the author's major books: Hard Times (LJ 4/15/70), Working (LJ 3/1/74), The Good War (LJ 9/1/84), Chicago (LJ 1/87), and The Great Divide (LJ 1/88). Turkel's greatest accomplishment in all his books is his ability to concentrate on the individuals telling their story, a technique that leads to a deeper understanding of history as seen through the eyes of ordinary people. The packaging of Terkel's work in one volume makes for a convenient and accessible title that recognizes the human side of history. Recommended for all libraries.?Robert J. Favini, Bentley Coll. Lib., Waltham, Mass.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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More About the Author
Studs Terkel (1912-2008) was a free spirit, an outspoken populist, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, a terrible ham, and one of the best-loved characters on the American scene. Born in New York in 1912, he lived in Chicago for over eight decades. His radio show was carried on stations throughout the country.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Many Voices,
By Johnny Inkspot (Atlantic City, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: My American Century (Paperback)
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.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Real People, Real History,
This review is from: My American Century (Paperback)
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.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A thought-provoking, painless way to study history,
By A Customer
This review is from: My American Century (Hardcover)
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
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