New this month from the University of Nebraska Press is Cinderella Ball: A Look Inside Small College Basketball in West Virginia by Bob Kuska. West Virginia was once a “basketball hotbed” but interest has begun to wane in the past few decades and now most of these teams play in obscurity. What Cinderella Ball does is tell the moving story of one small town team’s rise to success. Following their day to day struggles over 4 seasons, Kuska shows us this game from both the “bleachers and the court.” This week Tuesday Trivia is going to work with the Cinderella … Continue reading Tuesday Trivia: Cinderella Ball

Read from the introduction of Inside the Ropes: Sportswriters Get Their Game On edited and with an introduction by Zachary Michael Jack: "So what’s it like to scale Everest, parachute out of a Cessna, stunt with the Blue Angels, tend goal for the Boston Bruins, burn rubber on a NASCAR track, marathon one hundred miles in twenty-four hours, quarterback the Detroit Lions, sail the ocean blue between Los Angeles and Honolulu on an all-woman crew? What’s it like to receive John McEnroe’s slice serve, paddle Jack London’s Alaskan river route, take a punch from Muhammad Ali, coach the Phoenix Suns’ … Continue reading Off the Shelf: Inside the Ropes: Sportswriters Get Their Game On edited and with an introduction by Zachary Michael Jack

New from the University of Nebraska Press is Iroquois on Fire:  A Voice from the Mohawk Nation by Douglas M. George-Kanentiio. Written from the Iroquois perspective, this in-depth study focuses on the nations struggle over disputed territorial titles. Using his personal story, George-Kanentiio highlights the last two decades of land, family, religion, community, geography and political activism significant to the Iroquois people. To give you a bit of back story before you dive in, this weeks Tuesday Trivia is going share a few, interesting facts about this prolific tribal nation. 1.    What does the word “Iroquois” mean?2.    How do you … Continue reading Tuesday Trivia: November 24, 2008

"They Called Them Angels"  by UNP Author, Kathi Jackson, has been turned into a play and is going to be produced this December at the Hill Country Community Theatre in Marble Falls, TX.  December 5 and 6 at 7:30 and Dec 7 at 2:15. She will be at each performance to sign books Continue reading Author Event- Kathi Jackson

Read from the introduction of Why She Plays: The World of Women's Basketball by Christine A. Baker:

"One Friday night in July 2005, I walked out of the tunnel and onto the floor of Madison Square Garden moments before the New York Liberty basketball team did the same. I was aware of the lights behind me flipping on to illuminate the way for the players and the television cameras. I saw the electrical wires crisscrossing down the tunnel and underneath the hardwood floor. Only steps ahead of the team, I watched the fans look beyond me to the players they had paid to see. There was fanfare. There was noise, but it was not for me and it never will be. I am like a ghost forever hovering at the edges of the tunnel, riding the shadows of the players, trying to grasp the ball as it slips just out of reach of my fingertips.

Continue reading “Off the Shelf: Why She Plays: The World of Women’s Basketball by Christine A. Baker”

Hey readers, Thanksgiving is officially a week and a day away- hopefully your holiday plans are coming along! This week we have a plethora of topics, including communism, Mark Twain, and Vietnam… think we’re covered? Then go ahead and join me reader! November 17, 1865: The U. S. Screen Actors Guild implements an anticommunist loyalty oath. In Radio’s Revolution: Don Hollenbeck's CBS Views the Press edited by Loren Ghiglione, we see how much of this period was devoted to anti-communist agenda, and how even the media was not exempt from the frenzy. November 18, 1865: Mark Twain publishes his story “The Celebrated … Continue reading This Week in History: November 17-21, 2008

Will Work for Books blogger Jana recently posted an interview with University of Nebraska Press designer Joel Gehringer during which she asks him about his work on the cover design for the forthcoming book, The Lie Detectors: The History of an American Obsession by Ken Alder. Read the interview on Jana's blog. Continue reading An interview with Book Designer Joel Gehringer

You don't need to take our word for it, there's a blog dedicated to promoting books as great holiday gifts, and it's conveniently called Buy Books for the Holidays. Posts vary on topic from how to find great used book sales to recommendations from The Book Lady, to many requests (and in turn helpful suggestions posted in the comments section) for particular gift ideas. Continue reading Buy Books for the Holidays

New this month from the University of Nebraska Press is Shadrach in the Furnace by Robert Silverberg. It’s the twenty first century and a broken world is ruled an evil tyrant. Genghis II Mao IV Khan is 93 years old, and is having his brilliant young doctor, Mordecai Shadrach, replace his organs as they fail.  Shadrach then learns of a disturbing plot in which Khan plans to take over his young body. Risking everything, he embarks on a dangerous journey to change the world forever.     Ok guys, I know I am a loyal Science fiction fan but this book … Continue reading