9 August 2010. The team of sociologists surrounding Franz Schultheis, Berthold Vogel and Michael Gemperle give a voice to gainfully employed people in their research project. In numerous interviews, they paint a picture of the changes affecting the modern world of work above and beyond political machinations and sensational hype. For their book Ein halbes Leben [Half a Life], the researchers talked to more than 50 gainfully employed people from a wide variety of trades and professions in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Interviewees included a senior hospital consultant, a civil servant, a cleaning operative, a lawyer, a crèche manager, an industrial worker and many more.

Understanding working people’s experience
With Ein halbes Leben [Half a Life],Franz Schultheis and his colleagues present an anthology of testimonials from a world of work undergoing radical change. In their endeavour, they have been committed to an understanding sociological method. “Don’t pity anyone, don’t laugh at anyone, don’t loathe anyone, but understand them!” (Pierre Bourdieu) is the motto of this type of sociological research.

Invitation to the book presentation and reading
Media representatives and the general public are invited to the presentation
of the publication "Ein halbes Leben"
Place: Comedia Buchhandlung, Katharinengasse 20, 9004 St. Gallen
Time: Thursday, 19 August 2010, 5.30 - 7.00 p.m.; free admission
Please register by Monday, 16 August 2010, with: Kommunikation Universität St.Gallen, annkathrin.heidenreich@unisg.ch, Tel: +41 71 224 37 11