The fascinating and turbulent black America of the 1960s emerges in these essays, through the lenses of dissent and its contradictions. Gerald L. Early revisits this volatile time in American history, when class, culture, and race ignited conflagrations of bitterness and hatred across the nation. The lives of three active and influential people are given special attention: Cecil B. Moore, advocate and agitator in the “racial tinderbox” of black Philadelphia; Muhammad Ali, promoter of a “colored” consciousness; and Sammy Davis Jr., survivor of black vaudeville and liberator of black performers.       Continue reading This Is Where I Came In

‘ve been hard at work writing a grant and finishing up the story at Spies and Secretaries which goes off line as of March 1st. All this has left me no time for reading a novel, but has been a blessing since it gave me a chance to pick up Verse and Universe: Poems about Science and Mathematics edited by Kurt Brown.

My mother gave it to me this year for my birthday–she started me on poetry and my complete Emily Dickenson, Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, and several anthologies were either bought for me by her or stolen from her collection. There aren’t many books of poetry dedicated to science, but leave it to my mother to find one for me. I think you can get copies at Amazon.com from the New & Used section.

Continue reading “Verse and Universe”

Abraham Lincoln and a Nation Worth Fighting For By James A. Rawley with a new introduction by the author The many sides of Abraham Lincoln—war leader, humorist, commander in chief, politician, and emancipator—are vividly depicted in this concise and fresh look at his presidential years. The Real Lincoln: A PortraitBy Jesse W. Weik; Edited by Michael Burlingame In this latest edition of The Real Lincoln, Michael Burlingame has included dozens of original letters and interviews received by Weik between 1892 and 1922 that went into creating this work. Inside the White House in War Times: Memoirs and Reports of Lincoln’s … Continue reading Happy Birthday, President Lincoln

The National Grasslands: A Guide to America’s Undiscovered Treasuresby Francis Moul, photography by Georg Joutras “Two Nebraskans here provide a descriptive guide and excellent discussion of the 20 American National Grasslands and the Grasslands National Park of Canada.”—CHOICE Read more praise for The National Grasslands Continue reading More Praise for The National Grasslands

The Nobbie Stories for Children and Adults by C. L. R. James, edited by Constance Webb “An insightful foreword by Anna Grimshaw supplies important background for readers unfamiliar with James’s work. . . . The stories have a charming Aesop-like quality and carry an unstated moral that is apparent in the narration. . . . This collection offers a powerful glimpse into an interesting man and a historical time period and also a timeless lesson about the importance of doing what is right.”—CHOICE Continue reading Praise for The Nobbie Stories for Children and Adults

Fascism and Democracy in the Human Mind: A Bridge between Mind and Society by I. W. Charny “[B]ehavioral scientists need to confront this innovative thesis. By adding to the pressing discussion of how human civilization is to survive its frightening technological capabilities, Charny performs a valuable service. [T]his is a pathbreaking endeavor.”—CHOICE Continue reading Praise for Fascism and Democracy in the Human Mind

 California Polytechnic State University history lecturer and UNP author Kathleen A. Cairns was interviewed for the L.A. Times weekly column "L.A. Then and Now."  The article, "Unwitting Pioneer of the Battered-woman Defense," briefly outlines Nellie May Madison’s life.  Madison, an unconventional woman in many ways, shot her fifth husband in the back because he abused her.  She was convicted of murder and sentenced to death.  Cairns states in the article, "They really wanted to nail her… .  They didn’t like her lifestyle [nor] the fact that she didn’t break down and cry."  Read an excerpt of Kathleen A. Cairns’ The … Continue reading Enigma Woman in L.A. Times

Scoring from Second: Writers on Baseball edited by Philip F. Deaver. “The pieces, often memoirs-in-brief, show the hold that baseball retains upon such writers as Rick Bass, Michael Chabon, Andre Dubus, and (thank you!) four women. Another winner from the Univ. of Nebraska Press.”—Library Journal “Baseball fans who yearn for the days of Ring Lardner will find in this collection ample evidence that gifted writers still celebrate America’s national pastime. Readers will recognize the satisfying fusion of literature and sport when, for instance, itinerant storyteller William Least Heat-Moon reflects on the resonant vocabulary of bygone sports commentators. There are numerous … Continue reading Praise for Scoring from Second

Level Playing Fields: How the Groundskeeping Murphy Brothers Shaped Baseball by Peter Morris “Maverick baseball historian Morris here gets down to fundamentals that most histories overlook: the dirt and the grass. We learn how significant aspects of the game’s evolution can be traced far back to practical decisions made by Irish immigrants Tom and Jack Murphy. These men knew the likes of Connie Mack, Honus Wagner, and Ty Cobb, and their own contributions (which included pitching mounds and spring training camps) were just as influential. Morris’s research and insights rescue these pioneer men from obscurity.”—Library Journal “Peter Morris’s short but … Continue reading Praise for Level Playing Fields

Branch Rickey: Baseball’s Ferocious Gentleman by Lee Lowenfish “Lowenfish is firmly in the pro-Rickey camp on the question of the man’s motives in signing black ball players but gives equal attention to every phase of an extensive career.”—Library Journal “Given the high-stakes nature of contemporary baseball, it’s fascinating to get a glimpse of the game’s roots, and Lowenfish deftly etches the frustrations and difficulties of small-market life. . . . Lowenfish’s take is detailed and nuanced, balancing the issue of integration with the economic and competitive imperatives of running a professional baseball team. . . . Where Lowenfish is at … Continue reading Praise for Branch Rickey