Studs Terkel RIP

[unbasslichkeit]

Today was a really lousy day. Now I know why, and if you are a writer, you will understand.

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-terkel1-2008nov01,0,7453979.story

 

[MatticusMania]

Still not as sad as the day I heard that Vonnegut died. RIP

 

[bongomania]

Vonnegut was great in a high school/college angst kind of way, I loved him when I was young, but his writing mostly illuminated how hateful and pathetic humankind can be. Terkel OTOH worked his entire life to use writing to show the full spectrum and depth of humanity, so that we might see each other better and understand each other more fully. More people revere Vonnegut because we like to think the worst of each other; but Terkel is more worthy of reverence because he made it difficult to think the worst of each other.

RIP Studs.

 

[GregC]

A brilliant man, a great interviewer with the ability to relate to anyone and everyone, and a Chicago icon. RIP Studs.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Fascinating guy. The books he wrote based on oral histories were wonderful. RIP, Studs.

 

[cdef]

That's sad news, but exiting at 96 is natural. American Dreams and Working are two of the books I return to again and again. Studs would've been worthy of the Nobel prize. A life well spent.

 

[hbarcat]

He was amazing. I think listening to him do an interview is way better than reading his books (not to take anything away from his books). A genuine warm and caring guy and he had a long productive life full of awesome.

 

[unbasslichkeit]

You Chicagoans will recognize Mike Royko, at right.

 

[roberthelpus]

I'm thinking about a reread of Hard Times as being relevant right about now. He could really bring stories out of folks. What a touch.