Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression

As a former grad student in History, I found this book fascinating. Author Studs Terkel interviews people who lived through the Depression and gets their takes on that difficult period. We hear the experiences and memories of those who lived through it from multiple points of view. The book was published in 1970 and much of the research was accordingly done during the second half of the '60s which was also quite a turbulent time in the United States. Accordingly, a question which Terkel most frequently asks his subjects is how people would react to a Depression at that time. Most thought little of the ability of those coming of age or boomers during the '60s to weather the travails of the Depression. Many also thought that a worse Depression was coming. That would seem not to have been the case although it would seem that since the publication of this book, the economic standing of the large majority of Americans has actually decreased. With the current economic troubles in the United States (and the world), it was interesting to read of the difficulties experienced by many people during the Depression. It was also very interesting to read of the strong anti-Roosevelt-ism among many business magnates and the highest ranks of the upper-middle class. It was also intriguing to read of the belief of some that the Depression did not extend past 1936. Having not studied much Depression history in nearly 20 years, at least not in any great depth, and certainly not having heard people offering their own accounts of their experiences during the Depression, this book was tremendously enlightening. Terkel interviews old retired farmers. He interviews men who were factory workers during the Depression. He interviews those who worked in social services attempting to alleviate some of the pains of the Depression. As mentioned, he interviews business magnates. He interviews many who were help during the '30s-many of whom were black. By virtue of his speaking to such a wide variety of people, one does not believe that one has a limited understanding of the range of experiences had by people during this time period. We see history from the point-of-view of those with a wide variety of economic backgrounds. This allows the reader to see the subjectivity of history and introduces points of view (the poor, women, black and Latino people) which one might not read of in a textbook. The stories and their specificity of recall are fascinating. This really is a gem of a book. It expands the range off thinking about the '30s and I am sure opened avenues of thinking to historical researchers who wanted to broaden the scope of recollections about the Depression. If you think you're only getting a limited perspective about the experiences of the '30s, please read this book.

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!

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!

Studs Terkel has assembled a great collection of oral histories from a pivotal period in the twentieth century. Don't look here for a detailed analysis of the economics of one of this country's worst downturns. Instead, one should read this to get a glimpse of the despair that seemed to capture nearly everyone in its grasp while no one seemed to know what was causing it nor how to fix it.There are a lot of terrific stories in this book, covering everything from union strikers, farmers to business men and college students. This book is a must-have for any serious student of this era.