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Rating: 
Summary: a hilariously demented look on life
Review: Gig is a wonderful book that gives you an insight to who people are and what they do. Some of the people are very well-known, but most are not, which can make it better because you get an insight into the lives of the common man, and what we all go through in our everyday lives. This book comes highly suggested, as it the perfect book for those who aren't sure what they want to do with their lives, or those who just want a good laugh.
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Summary: Not to be confused with actual vocational guidance
Review: I couldn't get enough of this book. I've always enjoyed the idea of Studs Terkel's WORKING and fantasised about perhaps writing an updated version. But, someone beat me to it (Thank Goodness, cuz it was never gonna get done otherwise).WORKING is a little antiquated, however, so not entirely enjoyable. I had to take everything with the thought, "Yeah, well, this was 30 years ago." Thank you John Bowe et. al. It's voyeristic to read this book, yes, but it's also comforting to see people talk about their jobs with love and hate: the same mixed feelings everyone has. We do need love and work in order to be happy. If a human has something to do, s/he atleast has something to think about (good or bad). Idleness is horrorific. I reccomend this book highly.
Rating:
Summary: awesome, awesome read
Review: I only read one entry a night to drag it out. It's that good. Not only is there much hilarity, you actually learn insider info about how things work--excellent cocktail conversation. I must have told 20 people things I've read in here, and I"m only a third finished. I've actually confirmed some of the comments with people who really have those jobs--and they're true!
Rating:
Summary: awesome, awesome read
Review: I only read one entry a night to drag it out. It's that good. Not only is there much hilarity, you actually learn insider info about how things work--excellent cocktail conversation. I must have told 20 people things I've read in here, and I"m only a third finished. I've actually confirmed some of the comments with people who really have those jobs--and they're true!
Rating: 
Summary: You think you hate your job?
Review: Then you should read this book. Gig is an unexpectedly engaging collection of vignettes of diverse American workers. It makes you think long and hard about your job...as well as all those jobs that someone has to do, but that no one really wants to. (What does the garbage man really think about when he's riding the back of the truck?) My favorite profile: man who runs a company that cleans up murder scenes and homes where people are simply found dead from natural causes.
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Summary: It?s Not Just an Adventure. It?s a Job.
Review: There are three fundamental questions about work. * What do other people do? * Who actually does that? * Is their job better than mine? As it happens, all three questions have the same answer: you'd be surprised. After collecting years of a column on "Work", the editors of Word.com can tell you exactly what Americans do all day, and those jobs are both more bizarre and more mundane than you might imagine. As _Gig_ demonstrates, Americans are working as florists, lemonade salesmen, clutter consultants, smokehouse pit cooks, paparazzi, Elvis Presley interpreters, buffalo ranchers, heavy metal roadies - and in most cases, loving it. _Gig_ is fascinating for its variety alone. But more importantly, _Gig_ is inspiring. It's hard to read this book and not be impressed: impressed by Americans' creativity, by their insight, even by their dedication. A receptionist echoes the voices of the 120-plus interviewees when she says that "I take pride in my job. I really - it's my baby, you know? That front desk is my baby. I just take a lot of pride in what I do." There's no one way to read _Gig_. You can turn to the oddities. (Yes, crime scene cleaner is a real job.) You can look for the parallels and contrasts. (Temp, preceded by CEO, preceded by slaughterhouse human resources director.) You can flip around for anecdotes. (The systems administrator's tale is riveting.) Or you can take heart in homespun philosophy. A steelworker says that "you work with people you like, and they like you because you do your work, and you're with them. You're together." A lawn maintenance man articulates his dream to "finish up school. And then maybe I'll try to get one of those jobs where you can wear khaki pants and relax." At times the editors try too hard to keep the interviews raw; the constant punctuation of "[Laughs]" can wear thin. But overall _Gig_ is extraordinary: part entertainment, part oral history, part homage to the work of Studs Terkel. _Gig_'s editors pay explicit tribute to Terkel's 1972 _Working_, yet the collection will remind you too of _Hard Times_, his brilliant collection of interviews on the Great Depression. If _Gig_ is a documentary, then it's a documentary in which the central participant shapes the structure and uncovers the meaning. Not unlike a job.
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Summary: Fascinating nonfiction -- different from "Working"
Review: These are fascinating little glimpses into other people's lives. It's similar in format to "Working", but I don't think the comparison is valid -- Studs Terkel is a sociology writer, and he purposely elicited his subjects' feelings on the sociological and political aspects of their work. My guess is that most people don't think about their work much in those terms (and certainly less today than they did in the Studs Terkel era) and that comes through.
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Summary: Escapism that gives U Ideas!
Review: This is by far the best book i've read in 2 years. The stories are perfectly edited, so they are either concisely funny or heart-wrenching or appalling (mostly funny). YOu never know what you're going to get when you start one of the 3-page nuggets. Not only was this fabulous escapism during the recent Horrors, it gave me truly useful ideas of how to better use MY life in a way that is rewarding and of use to the planet!! And how to appreciate the value, the contributions, and/or the sheer hilarity of my many jobs, past and present.
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Summary: A truly fascinating survey of people from all walks of life
Review: This is the kind of book I try to ration to keep from reading cover-to-cover during the first sitting, but end up devouring anyway. Each one of the stories in it is immediately intriguing, and each one you read makes you more curious about the next. The stories are full of fascinating tidbits of information and insight into the everyday lives of Americans from all walks of life. It's the kind of information you can't and don't get from the media, even in in-depth articles and reports. If you've ever wondered what goes on in the lives of people you interact with only tangentially, buy this book. It makes for an amazingly engrossing and enjoyable read.
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