Studs Terkel

I was sad to hear of the death of Studs Terkel!

He was a giant - in listening to others and eloquently and simply stating their words - telling their stories so brilliantly in many of his books.

He was also a "total person" in so many ways.

His first book, Giants of Jazz, was published in 1956. Ten years later his first book of oral history interviews, Division Street : America, came out. It was followed by a succession of oral history books on the 1930s Depression, World War Two, race relations, working, the American dream, and aging. His latest book, Will the Circle Be Unbroken : Reflections on Death, Rebirth, and Hunger for a Faith, was published in 2001. 

( http://www.studsterkel.org/bio.php )

He talked of classism, racism and other serious issues through the people he talked with - in their words - and avoided the pontificating - "I know it all" - attitude we often have, particularly when we feel aggrieved or under pressures from others.

Reading the bio - above - I discovered that we shared a common birthday - he - 39 years older than me.

Thanks!