The influence of occupations upon the American character stretches from Melville's Moby Dick to Terkel's Working, from the development of the clipper ship to the skills involved in the construction of a modern skyscraper. And although we continue to be influenced by and identified through the work that we do, we know very little about the work done by others. By examining the broad categories of occupational "folklife" and the main ways in which it is expressed, it will be possible to gain a better understanding of its impact upon our lives.

Our occupations demand various kinds of skill and knowledge. Even though the basic techniques may be studied in the classroom or read from a textbook, the only realistic way to learn how to do a particular job is through experience. The separation of the work group from the rest of society, its internal cohesion, and the distinctions made between insiders and outsiders, in addition to the passage of work-related information from the experienced to the inexperienced workers defines an occupational "folk" group.