The Boss of Me: Conversations with the Self-Employed
Join us for an evening of insight into what it is like to be your own boss. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Studs Terkel's classic oral history, Working, author Mark Larson offers a contemporary perspective in his new book, Working in the 21st Century: An Oral History of American Work in a Time of Social and Economic Transformation. Larson talks to people from across the socioeconomic spectrum as they share their experiences with work—the good, the bad, the mundane, and the profound. The collection takes its inspiration from the candid and moving portraits of Terkel’s classic, which appeared at a time when Americans were emerging from a decade roiled by seemingly endless war, devastating assassinations, the Watergate scandal, and outspoken social movements.
Drawing from his experiences as a Terkel interviewee and from his own interviews for this book, Larson presents candid reflections from recorded interviews with a diverse range of self-employed individuals including a broom squire, a real estate entrepreneur, a street performer, a chocolatier, and a visionary behind her own construction company.
Presenter
Mark Larson is the author of Ensemble: An Oral History of Chicago Theater, for which he conducted over 300 interviews with Chicago theater artists, past and present. He is a retired educator with over 30 years of experience including teaching high school English, and educational leadership positions at the Field Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo, and National Louis University. He holds a doctorate in educational leadership. Larson’s new book, Working in the 21st Century: An Oral History of American Work in a Time of Social and Economic Transformation was released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Studs Terkel’s Working. He is currently working on Ed Asner: A Composite Portrait.
Early Praise for Working in the 21st Century
"We’ve needed this book for a long time. Much has changed in the fifty years since Studs Terkel published Working, and Mark Larson explores the new world of work with the same sensitivity and patience, the same ability to lead people to revelations both bright and tragic about what their work is, what it means to them, and to all of us.” —Thomas Dyja, author of The Third Coast and New York, New York, New York
"Mark Larson's superb and robust oral storytelling brings new light to the life of work. His book explores the intricacies of people working in these 21st Century times and shows that while work has been transformed, it is also becoming more relevant and powerful than ever." —Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune contributing columnist and ABC-TV political analyst.
"Written in the tradition of Chicago great Studs Terkel, "WORKING IN THE 21ST CENTURY" is an expansive and impressive work of oral history that explores how Americans are struggling to make a living in a new era of upheaval. Each intimate interview Mark Larson conducts with people in jobs ranging from nurses and teachers to firefighters and funeral directors probes at the question about what work means to them and consistently uncovers stories of heartbreak and hope. Coming to us on the fiftieth anniversary of Terkel’s "Working," Larson’s "Working in the 21st Century" is sure to be a more than worthy follow-up and a modern classic in the form." —Chicago Review of Books
"Larson covers an impressive range of workers with oft-fascinating anecdotes. Best suited to being leafed through a few sections at a time, this is a comprehensive look at the challenges faced by today’s workers." — Publishers Weekly
BPL’s Business & Career Center is generously supported by Dime Community Bank, Lead Funder of the PowerUP! Business Plan Competition, Dr. Beverly S. Jacobs, Ridgewood Savings Bank, and Data Axle Reference Solutions.
Join us for an evening of insight into what it is like to be your own boss. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Studs Terkel's classic oral history, Working, author Mark Larson offers a contemporary perspective in his new book, Working in the 21st Century: An Oral History of American Work in a Time of Social and Economic Transformation. Larson talks to people from across the socioeconomic spectrum as they share their experiences with work—the good, the bad, the mundane, and the profound. The collection takes its inspiration from the candid and moving portraits of Terkel’s classic, which appeared at a time when Americans were emerging from a decade roiled by seemingly endless war, devastating assassinations, the Watergate scandal, and outspoken social movements.
Drawing from his experiences as a Terkel interviewee and from his own interviews for this book, Larson presents candid reflections from recorded interviews with a diverse range of self-employed individuals including a broom squire, a real estate entrepreneur, a street performer, a chocolatier, and a visionary behind her own construction company.
Presenter
Mark Larson is the author of Ensemble: An Oral History of Chicago Theater, for which he conducted over 300 interviews with Chicago theater artists, past and present. He is a retired educator with over 30 years of experience including teaching high school English, and educational leadership positions at the Field Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo, and National Louis University. He holds a doctorate in educational leadership. Larson’s new book, Working in the 21st Century: An Oral History of American Work in a Time of Social and Economic Transformation was released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Studs Terkel’s Working. He is currently working on Ed Asner: A Composite Portrait.
Early Praise for Working in the 21st Century
"We’ve needed this book for a long time. Much has changed in the fifty years since Studs Terkel published Working, and Mark Larson explores the new world of work with the same sensitivity and patience, the same ability to lead people to revelations both bright and tragic about what their work is, what it means to them, and to all of us.” —Thomas Dyja, author of The Third Coast and New York, New York, New York
"Mark Larson's superb and robust oral storytelling brings new light to the life of work. His book explores the intricacies of people working in these 21st Century times and shows that while work has been transformed, it is also becoming more relevant and powerful than ever." —Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune contributing columnist and ABC-TV political analyst.
"Written in the tradition of Chicago great Studs Terkel, "WORKING IN THE 21ST CENTURY" is an expansive and impressive work of oral history that explores how Americans are struggling to make a living in a new era of upheaval. Each intimate interview Mark Larson conducts with people in jobs ranging from nurses and teachers to firefighters and funeral directors probes at the question about what work means to them and consistently uncovers stories of heartbreak and hope. Coming to us on the fiftieth anniversary of Terkel’s "Working," Larson’s "Working in the 21st Century" is sure to be a more than worthy follow-up and a modern classic in the form." —Chicago Review of Books
"Larson covers an impressive range of workers with oft-fascinating anecdotes. Best suited to being leafed through a few sections at a time, this is a comprehensive look at the challenges faced by today’s workers." — Publishers Weekly
Brooklyn Public Library - Central Library, Business & Career Center, Classroom MM/DD/YYYY 60