Super Short Summary

Hard Times by Studs Terkel is an oral history of the Great Depression, featuring interviews with 160 individuals from varied backgrounds, including migratory workers, union organizers, and government officials. Through these personal recollections, Terkel explores themes such as labor strife, race, political turmoil, and the psychological impact of the Depression, while contrasting the experiences of those who lived through it with the perspectives of younger generations. The book includes depictions of suicide, mental health issues, and extreme stress.