In this unexpected setting, Greenberger found an unusual medium and a desire to portray the people he met as living human beings instead of "just repositories of their memories or the wisdom of the ages." Instead of collecting oral history about significant events, Greenberger focused on talking one-on-one with ordinary people about ordinary things—the joy of a close shave or answers to "Can you fight city hall?
In this unusual setting, Greenberger found an unconventional medium and a desire to portray the people he met as real human beings rather than simply historical figures. Instead of focusing on significant events, he chose to talk one-on-one with ordinary individuals about everyday topics like enjoying a close shave or dealing with city hall bureaucracy.