Non-Fiction Books

Sputnik, Masked Men, & Midgets: The Early Days of Memphis Wrestling features approximately 400 images from 1950s until the heyday of the late 1970s of Memphis wrestling. Fans of wrestling will see never before published images of the Swedish Angel, Mario & Spider Galento, Sputnik Monroe, Jackie Fargo, Len Rossi, Don & Al Greene, Tojo Yamamoto, Jerry the King Lawler, Bill Superstar Dundee, Tommy Wildfire Rich, & Handsome Jimmy Valiant--just to name a few of the regional and national superstars that came from the rich Nick Gulas wrestling territory. Before cable tv destroyed regional wrestling scenes, Memphis had one of the most active, popular, & lucrative wrestling enterprises anywhere. Ron Hall captures the emotion of the ring; the wild looks of the chiseled wrestlers, the babyfaces, the heels, the masked men (and women!), the wrestling bears, the women of wrestling, and the midget wrestlers; and everything else in between this amazing, no-holds-barred world of wrestling. With an introduction by Jerry Lawler, a bonus cd of songs long out of print by wrestlers like Sputnik Monroe, Jackie Fargo, Len Rossi, and Handsome Jimmy Valiant, as well as reproductions of old wrestling posters and 45s, Sputnik, Masked Men, and Midgets: The Early Days of Memphis Wrestling has something for every wrestling fan out there. This beautiful coffee table book is the coolest book published on Memphis wrestling ever!

2024 American Legacy Book Awards in children's nonfiction This remarkable story shows what can happen when we choose to be kind. Share the inspirational message that we can all make a difference--no matter how big or small we are and no matter how big or small the task. This heartwarming tale about poverty, homelessness, and the kind, gentle love of Jesus will inspire kids to be difference makers. Little Denver grew up very poor, and he didn't get to go to school. As time passed, Denver decided to hop a train to the big city for a different life. But that life was difficult, and Denver spent many years as a homeless man. Then God showed His love through two people who were very different from Denver. Based on the New York Times bestseller Same Kind of Different As Me , which sold more than 2 million copies worldwide and inspired the major motion picture, this unique children's book includes Denver's original art. Parents and children alike will be moved by this powerful story and will never forget the unexpected and life-changing things that can happen when we help somebody. Everybody Can Help Somebody is perfect for young readers ages 4-8 who want to get involved in their community, shares the wonderful message of the love and kindness of God, and is a great teaching resource for how to look at social issues and diversity with compassion.

"Since 1994, Hall has served as director and principal investigator of TTAP, leading a program that meets the training, technical assistance, and technology transfer needs of tribal transportation programs in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. He develops and conducts transportation-related training to tribes and to federal, state, and local partners and has coordinated the National Tribal Transportation Conference since 1998. "I care about the safety and security of each child going to school and about each bureaucrat, tribal politician, and rancher or business person who drives to work each day," he observes. Safety is paramount, he adds; highway fatalities are the leading cause of death for Native American people, especially youth. Hall addresses such topics in his research as transportation issues on tribal land, communication between transportation agencies and tribal communities, and environmental research needs in transportation. Helping at home is a constant theme for the Native Americans in this book. That core theme is the driving force in their lives. Each Chapter Author has a commitment to improving the transportation infrastructure of tribal lands and communities through tribal self-determination. It is equally compelling to note that helping at home is not an easy task, and while Native communities are unique in many ways, local resistance to change is virtually universal. Improving local conditions means change. Change is di cult to accomplish even when the end result is a dramatic improvement to the quality of life for the people you love and cherish. Tribal Transportation: Native American Pro les is a collection of stories from tribal leaders who embraced change. Their collective stories are also an invitation to future tribal leaders- Grandfather says this: "You did not ask to be born, but you are here. You have weaknesses as well as strengths. You have both because in life there is two of everything. Within you is the will to win, as well as the willingness to lose. Within you is the heart to feel compassion as well as the smallness to be arrogant. Within you is the way to face life as well as the fear to turn away. The weakest step toward the top of the hill, toward sunrise, toward hope, is stronger than the ercest storm. Keep going." --by Joseph M. Marshall III, Keep Going, (Sterling Publishing Co., 2006)"

Oversized Softcover book provides a visual history of Memphis concerts in 175 pages. Includes unpublished photos, concert ads, posters, and flyers, tickets, backstage passes, inside stories, and the discography of all advertised concerts in Memphis from 1955-1985. Covers the birth of rock 'n roll in the Sun and Meteor days through the folk-blues revival in the early '60s through the Soul Explosion of the mid-'60s with Stax and Hi to the arena rock era of the the '70s and the oncoming new wave punk explosion of the late '70s and early '80s.

Playing for a Piece of the Door: A History of Garage and Frat Bands in Memphis 1960-75 is a candid history and discography of over one hundred bands who recorded at least one record in Memphis from 1960-75. From nationally charting groups like the Box Tops, Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs, the Gentrys and the Hombres to long-forgotten high school rockers who cut a record, had their fifteen minutes of fame, and then faded away, every Memphis garage band is included. Includes many unpublished photos as well as a complete listing of all band members and discographies of each band. Though countless books have been written about Memphis Music--including Elvis, Stax, and the blues, this genre of Memphis music has never been exhaustively touched upon until now.

Playing for a Piece of the A History of Garage and Frat Bands in Memphis 1960-75 is a candid history and discography of over one hundred bands who recorded at least one record in Memphis from 1960-75. From nationally charting groups like the Box Tops, Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs, the Gentrys and the Hombres to long-forgotten high school rockers who cut a record, had their fifteen minutes of fame, and then faded away, every Memphis garage band is included. Includes many unpublished photos as well as a complete listing of all band members and discographies of each band. Though countless books have been written about Memphis Music--including Elvis, Stax, and the blues, this genre of Memphis music has never been exhaustively touched upon until now.