By Mary Ridder Roots of Change was one of those What if? that became a book. It began as a concept to write a series of short articles concerning cooperatives developing in Nebraska thanks in part to the support of the Nebraska Cooperative Development Center‘s staff and board. Personally this book was an inspiration because I met people from all over the state who dreamed and worked towards the reality. That’s a scary, financially difficult, and unusual thing to do. The first group I interviewed was the Arthur residents who dreamed of opening a grocery story in their small community … Continue reading Cultivating Ideas

In the Shadow of the Moon:A Challenging Journey to Tranquility, 1965–1969by Francis French and Colin Burgess  “[A] readable introduction to the first years of America’s leap into space.”—Publishers Weekly “Authors Burgess and French are even-handed and equitable, and have done an excellent job in covering a vast expanse of material. . . . The opportunity to get the true stories from the astronauts themselves is a luxury that will sadly not be available forever, and In the Shadow of the Moon has done an excellent job in gathering and eliciting the stories of these men, not just the ‘official reports,’ … Continue reading Praise for In the Shadow of the Moon

The Big Empty: Contemporary Nebraska Nonfiction WritersEdited by Ladette Randolph and Nina Shevchuk-Murray “This book is a pleasure to read. . . . Although many of the selections are excerpts from longer works, for the most part they feel satisfyingly self-contained. . . . The volume as a whole . . . is thoughtfully arranged. . . . These writers take unflinching looks at racism, the Vietnam War, rural poverty, environmental degradation, and other unflattering episodes in the state’s history. The book is nevertheless filled with humor. . . . [I]t’s certain that readers will never look at a barbed-wire … Continue reading More Praise for The Big Empty

Branch Rickey: Baseball’s Ferocious Gentleman by Lee Lowenfish “If you read one baseball book this summer, make it Branch Rickey: Baseball’s Ferocious Gentleman by Lee Lowenfish. The author did a remarkable amount of research in bringing to life this incredible baseball man. . . . Lee Lowenfish is to be congratulated for this monumental work. . . . [O]ne of the best baseball books I’ve read.”—Tom Knight, Brooklyn Spectator Read earlier reviews for Branch Rickey Continue reading More Praise for Branch Rickey

The Enigma Woman:The Death Sentence of Nellie May Madison by Kathleen A. Cairns “By charting Madison’s experiences from the 1910s to the 1940s, Cairns offers critical insight on the deeds and misdeeds of one remarkable woman, who in many regards was a victim herself. By framing events the way she does, Cairns gives Madison’s story the context it needs and deserves.”—Christina Eng, San Francisco Chronicle Read previous praise for The Enigma Woman Continue reading More Praise for The Enigma Woman

What Becomes You by Aaron Raz Link and Hilda Raz “What Becomes You is the best memoir I’ve read in a decade. It is close to the bone, poetic without an ounce of sentimentality, full of humor and humanity, and excruciating in its self-examination. . . . This book is what happens when two extraordinary writers share intimate tales of self-discovery in prose that’s both exquisite and accessible.”—Glenn Scofield Williams, JustOut Read earlier reviews for What Becomes You Continue reading More Praise for What Becomes You

Branch Rickey: Baseball’s Ferocious Gentleman by Lee Lowenfish “It’s an impressive achievement in historical reporting on a unique character and will serve scholars for decades to come.” —Neil Best, Newsday Read previous praise for Branch Rickey Continue reading More Praise for Branch Rickey