# Is "Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day..." by Studs Terkel a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day... by Studs Terkel (Pantheon Books, 1974) is identified by: Cloth-backed boards; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page (Pantheon, a division of Random House — first-printing number lines in this house may end in 2 rather than 1); first-state dust jacket priced. US Pantheon Books (New York), a division of Random House, true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Cloth-backed boards; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page (Pantheon, a division of Random House — first-printing number lines in this house may end in 2 rather than 1); first-state dust jacket priced
- Publisher imprint reads Pantheon Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Studs Terkel |
| Publisher | Pantheon Books |
| Year | 1974 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Cloth-backed boards; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page (Pantheon, a division of Random House — first-printing number lines in… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
Cloth-backed boards; 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page (Pantheon, a division of Random House — first-printing number lines in this house may end in 2 rather than 1); first-state dust jacket priced.

## Is this the true first?
US Pantheon Books (New York), a division of Random House, true first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club issue lacks the 'First Edition' statement and the jacket price.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day...* by Studs Terkel a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/working-people-talk-about-what-they-do-all-day
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.