Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression

What impact did “race” have on American life during the Depression? What elements of “racial” experience still existed in the 1960s when the book was written? What, if anything, had changed?

Do you think the United States came close to experiencing a social and political revolution during the Depression? Why or why not?

How would you describe the Depression’s psychological effects on the people who experienced it? What measures, if any, do you believe could have addressed these effects?

What is the significance of war in Hard Times? How does it shape the perspectives of those whom Studs Terkel interviewed?

Why do you think some Americans either did well financially during the Depression or did not suffer because of it? What are some of the similarities and differences between Studs Terkel’s wealthy interviewees and those who experienced poverty firsthand?

Why do you think President Franklin D. Roosevelt occupies such a prominent place in the memories of those who lived through the Depression? How is his leadership depicted? Do you think his leadership was effective? Why or why not?

Based on the recollections of Studs Terkel’s interviewees, what do you consider to be the Depression’s most destructive feature?

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Studs Terkel’s approach to the subject matter and of oral history in general?