It’s December 14th and you have exactly 11 more shopping days until Christmas. Perhaps, being the Web-savvy guy or gal you are, you completed all of your shopping online during “Cyber Monday.” If that’s the case and you happen to have an extra few minutes on your hands this fine Friday, let us offer you some leisure reading. If not, perhaps you’ll see some gift possibilities among the books mentioned in this post. It’s time for…

This Week in History

December 9, 1957: Singer/performer Donny Osmond was born. 
Donny Osmond was born in Ogden, Utah and is a member of the Mormon faith community. If you’re interested in learning why and how the Mormon community was established in Utah and the surrounding area, you’ll want to read Mormon Country, Second Edition by Wallace Stegner (University of Nebraska Press, 2003).

December 10, 1948: The Universal Declaration on Human Rights was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly.
Explore the concept of human rights from an international perspective in Human Rights and Diversity, edited by David P. Forsythe and Patrice C. McMahone (University of Nebraska Press, 2004).

December 11, 1972: During the Apollo 17 mission, man landed on the moon for the last time.
For all of you space junkies out there, the University of Nebraska Press has a treat in store for you! Read the story of fourteen of those men and women who worked behind the scenes, without fanfare or recognition, to make the Apollo missions successful. It’s all in the pages of Apollo Moon Missions: The Unsung Heroes by Billy Watkins (2007).

December 12, 1917: Boys Town was founded outside of Omaha, Nebraska.
Nebraska is home to a plethora of wonderful organizations and people, and its history is filled with shining moments, such as the founding of Boys Town. Read about the highlights (and lowlights) of the state’s history in Nebraska Moments, New Edition by Donald R. Hickey, Susan A. Wunder, and John R. Wunder (University of Nebraska Press, 2007).

December 13, 1862: Confederate forces defeated Union Troops at the Battle of Fredericksburg, dealing a remarkable blow to the Union campaign.
Interested in the vital connection between two epic battles in the Civil War: Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville? Then you won’t want to miss Daniel E. Sutherland’s Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville: The Dare Mark Campaign (University of Nebraska Press, 1998).

December 14, 1985: Wilma Mankiller became the first woman to head a major American Indian tribe as principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.
Women have contributed a great deal to Native American society and culture. In July 2008, you’ll have a chance to read all about it in Make a Beautiful Way: The Wisdom of Native American Women by Barbara Alice Mann.

Happy Friday, everyone!