Work and Life

Work—whether in field, factory, home or office—is central to the life of all Americans. Linking the unit’s sessions is the theme of change in work and work methods over the last century and the general questions of how these changes have affected the quality of life. Sessions deal with topics such as: the range of work within every community; types of work identified with particular regions; attitudes toward work; definitions of success; work and self-image; conflicts between work and personal values; and work experiences from the first job through retirement.

Readings include excerpts from the autobiographies of Thomas Hart Benton, Mark Twain, Harry S. Truman, Helen Hayes, Leo Durocher, Althea Gibson, and Eleanor Roosevelt. Readings are also taken from American short stories, poetry, and novels. The text is richly illustrated with photographs, cartoons and paintings. The readings are supplemented with cassette tapes of folk songs and other sound recordings.