American Dreams: Lost & Found

by Studs Terkel

Book Overview

In this unique exploration of the most pervasive of national myths, Studs Terkel brings together a multitude of voices to articulate widely different versions of "The American Dream." From farm kids longing for the city to city kids determined to get out, from the Boston Brahmin to the KKK member, from newly arrived immigrants to families who have lived in this country for generations, American Dreams highlights the hopes and frustrations of people...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0394507932
• ISBN13: 9780394507934
• Release Date: August 1980
• Publisher: Pantheon Books
• Length: 470 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Interesting look at America by Americans

Gritty journalist/author Studs Terkel (1912-2008) spent decades letting people tell their stories, and the result is more than a dozen solid oral histoires. This 1980 effort is one of his best, with over 100 Americans talking about their lives and that ever-elusive American Dream. Most interviewees try defining the dream, but focus more effectively on their work, successes, and (often) frustrations. Ms. USA (1973) discusses the shallowness of her title. Frank Wills describes a lack of opportunities after uncovering the Watergate break-in. Anti-nuclear activist Sam Lovejoy describes opposing new power plants in Massachusetts. Businessman Ted Turner discusses his upcoming news network (CNN), while a football lineman confesses using false anger to inspire his game. We hear from business leaders, liberal activists (a Terkel staple), the poor of Appalachia, and aged children of immigrants (who also remember their parents). Also chipping in are street-wise community workers, a 1963 Civil Rights marcher, and politicians as diverse as Detroit Mayor Coleman Young and right-wing Senator Jesse Helms (both are less embarrassing than expected). As usual, many of Terkel's interviewees are from Chicago (plus Kentucky, Oregon, and New England) and on balance they tilt a bit leftwards with skepticism towards the establishment. Still, this is an interesting look at, about, and from ordinary Americans. Readers should also see Terkel's other top efforts, such as WORKING, THE GOOD WAR (World War II), and HARD TIMES (Great Depression).

Interesting look at America by Americans

Blue-collar journalist/author Studs Terkel (1912-2008) spend decades letting people tell their stories, and they certainly do here in one of his best efforts. We hear from a cross-section of Americans in mid-late 1970's talk about the USA, life in general, and that ever-elusive American Dream. The interviewees try to define the dream, but spend far more time describing their life stories, successes, and (more often) frustrations. Ms. USA (1973) discusses the shallowness of her title. Guard Frank Wills describes his lack of opportunities after uncovering the Watergate break-in, while anti-nuclear activist Sam Lovejoy describes striving to stop a new power plant in Massachusetts. Businessman Ted Turner describes his coming new network (soon called CNN), and a football lineman describes the false anger he brings to inspire his game. Powerful business people describe their jobs and frustrations, as do the ever-present activists, the poor of Appalachia, and now-elderly children of immigrants (who also remember their parents). We hear from street-punks turned community workers, a participant in the 1963 Civil Rights March, and politicians as diverse as Detroit Mayor Coleman Young, Denise "The Menace" Kucinich, and right-wing Senator Jesse Helms (who seems less embarrassing here). As in other Terkel efforts, many interviewees are from Chicago (also Kentucky, New England, Oregon, etc.) and the cross-section slants a bit towards the left, activists, and social critics. Still, this book provides an informative look at and from ordinary Americans. Readers should also take a look at Terkel's other top oral histories, including WORKING, THE GOOD WAR (World War II), and HARD TIMES (Great Depression).

Down The Streets Of Broken Dreams

As I have done on other occasion when I am reviewing more than one work by an author I am using some of the same comments, where they are pertinent, here as I did in earlier reviews. In this series the first Studs Terkel book reviewed was that of his "The Good War": an Oral History of World War II. Strangely, as I found out about the recent death of long time pro-working class journalist and general truth-teller "Studs" Terkel I was just beginning to read his "The Good War", about the lives and experiences of, mainly, ordinary people during World War II in America and elsewhere, for review in this space. As with other authors once I get started I tend to like to review several works that are relevant to see where their work goes. In the present case the review of American Dreams: Lost And Found serves a dual purpose. First, to reflect on the lives of working people (circa 1980 here but the relevant points could be articulated, as well, in 2008): the recent arrivals to these shores hungry to seek the "streets of gold"; those Native Americans, as exemplified by Vince Deloria's story, whose ancestors preceded our own and who continue to bring up the rear; those blacks and mountain whites who made the internal migratory trek from the South and, in some cases, found more in common than in difference; and, others who do not easily fit into any of those patterns but who nevertheless have stories to tell. And grievances, just, unjust or whimsical, to spill. Secondly, always hovering in the background is one of Studs' preoccupations- the fate of his generation- the so-called "greatest generation". Those stories, as told here, are certainly a mixed bag. Thus, there is no little irony in the title of this oral history. One thing that I noticed immediately after reading this book, and as is true of the majority of Terkel's interview books, is that he is not the dominant presence but is a rather light, if intensely interested, interloper in these stories. For better or worse the interviewees get to tell their stories, unchained. In this age of 24/7 media coverage with every half-baked journalist or wannabe interjecting his or her personality into somebody else's story this was, and is, rather refreshing. Of course this journalistic virtue does not mean that Studs did not have control over who got to tell their stories and who didn't to fit his preoccupations and sense of order. He has a point he wants to make and that is that although most "ordinary" people do not make the history books they certainly make history, if not always of their own accord or to their own liking. Again, kudos and adieu Studs.

It opened my eyes

A wonderful reflection of the diversity of dreams and realities of so many people. Terkel collects people from all walks of life and probes there dreams--what they are, what they were, how they've changed.He engages them to tell there stories of success and failure, hardship and longing, understanding and transformation.I never felt more in touch with the unique nature of America than when I was reading this book. I would recommend it to anyone.