Pitman shorthand

A Forgotten Skill

A New Review of Pitman Shorthand
Coombs
1970 (reprint 1975)

I took shorthand a century ago and nearly failed. The scratches never looked like anything sensible and I never got near to the speed classmates seemed to manage. I dropped the course. I can’t think of the last time I remember anyone talking about or using shorthand. Even when I was doing office work in the 1980s, it was starting to fade as a required skill for administrative or secretarial jobs. This book seems to be more about refreshing skills for a dictation test rather than hard core instruction. I remember when every woman was given a typing test, regardless of the position. Shorthand was also always around as well.  Anyone out there still able to take dictation with shorthand?

Getting Fired - cover

Getting Fired in 1974

Getting Fired
An American Ordeal
Tarrant
1974

Note the publication date. Yes, it was still on the shelf of a medium public library as of this writing. As many of you know, old career and job information just chaps my MLIS.

The author has a book sprinkled with personal accounts, some career advice and even marriage advice (cuz the little woman at home woman at home won’t understand). The best story from this chapter comes from a guy that hid the firing from his wife and banked his severance until he had another job. God forbid,  if his wife found out and he was regulated to chores and childcare. Notice “tell your family” is not the first item on the list.