There was this book I read part of in a magazine that was an oral history type of the white collar world. The time frame was between 1985 and 1988. I do not remember what the magazine was. Maybe Harpers or The Atlantic. But I did see the book in a book in D.C. during that time. Too many books, so little money.
The one thing I remember about the book was one story that concerned a technical writer. He was wondering how much another writer who was at the same level as him but in a different department. He talked about the writers responsibilities and the fact that he had been hired from outside the company.
The thing that made him wonder was that his daughter was getting married and he wanted to know how he was going to pay for it. His wife made the suggestion that the family might have inherited money. It ended with the man saying that he hoped that the bride’s father dropped dead at the dance.
Thank you in advance.
Was it non-fiction?
Your description brings a couple books to mind, though neither are really in the time frame you’re describing.
Working by Studs Terkel, and What Should I Do with My Life by Po Bronson.
Both have stories from real people about jobs and life situations.
Yes it was non fiction. The book I am talking about was published in the time frame I mentioned.