Ryan Swanson

The story of one team’s final season in a new era of college sportsA major shift in college athletics began in 2018. That year, the NCAA launched its transfer portal. NIL would soon follow. Title IX directives were sending athletic departments into compliance crises. Conference realignment rumors swirled. A revolution in college sports proceeded at a rapid pace in just a few short years. In A Beautiful Shame: One Team's Fight for Survival in a New Era of College Sports, Ryan Swanson follows one team’s final season to reveal the impact of these reforms in their early days. The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team was a nationally prominent program, with a legendary coach, conference titles, top national rankings, NCAA tournament successes, and more Academic All-Americans than any other school in the nation in its sport. Yet, in the summer of 2018, it was announced that the program would be discontinued. Ryan Swanson’s behind-the-scenes account reveals how, even with their successes, the Lobos soccer program was not immune to the changes swirling around college sports. This team, this crisis, is indicative of a much broader story playing out across the country. The recent changes to college athletics have put an even greater focus on high-revenue sports, to the detriment of many smaller programs, and A Beautiful Shame provides a deeply personal, firsthand perspective on its impact.

Featuring an amazing cast of historical figures, this is the story of how President Theodore Roosevelt led an American sports and fitness revolution. “An engaging book you can hold with one hand while doing light bicep curls with the other.” —Washington Post “A fascinating account... Sports fans and history buffs alike will enjoy this focused portrait.” —Publishers Weekly Give up exercise, a doctor told Theodore Roosevelt while he attended Harvard, or you might die of a heart attack! This after suffering crippling asthma, myopic eyesight, and other ailments as a child. Roosevelt's body was his weakness, the one hill he could never conquer . . . But, oh, how he tried! In vivid detail, The Strenuous Life shows how Roosevelt carried his obsession to the nation's highest office, championing a new age of American athleticism. As President, Roosevelt boxed, practiced Ju-Jitsu, played tennis, conducted harrowing "point-to-point" walks, and invited athletes to the White House. Unsurprisingly, Roosevelt's personal quest reverberated broadly: his administration saw an unprecedented rise in sports and recreational activities. With Roosevelt in office, baseball's first ever World Series took place, interscholastic sports began, and schools placed a legitimate emphasis on physical education. The NCAA formed, and the United States hosted the Olympics for the first time. It was an American sports and fitness revolution. Yes, the "Bull Moose," as he'd come to be known, resided squarely in the midst of this upheaval. Filled with amazing anecdotes, a who's who of American political and sports figures from the early 20th century, and Rooseveltian gusto and humor, this book is the play-by-play and color commentary on Roosevelt's "Strenuous Life." “Swanson…[is] one of those enterprising academics who have perfected slicing American history into ever finer layers.” —Wall Street Journal

Featuring an amazing cast of historical figures, this is the story of how President Theodore Roosevelt led an American sports and fitness revolution. Give up exercise, Theodore Roosevelt was told by a doctor while attending Harvard, or you might die of a heart attack! This after being plagued by crippling asthma, myopic eyesight, and other ailments as a child. Roosevelt's body was his weakness, the one hill he could never conquer. But, oh, how he tried! In vivid detail, The Strenuous Life shows how Roosevelt developed an obsession with athletics, carried it to the nation's highest office, and championed a new age of American athleticism. As President, Roosevelt boxed, practiced Ju-Jitsu, played tennis, conducted harrowing "point-to-point" walks, and invited athletes to the White House. He also made certain that each of his children played sports. Not surprisingly, Roosevelt's personal quest had broad reverberations. During his administration, America saw an unprecedented rise in sports and recreational activities. With Roosevelt in office, baseball's first ever World Series took place, interscholastic sports began, and schools placed a legitimate emphasis on physical education. Additionally, the NCAA formed, and the United States hosted the Olympics for the first time. Yes, the "Bull Moose," as he'd come to be known, resided squarely in the midst of this upheaval. Filled with amazing anecdotes, a who's who of American political and sports figures from the early 20th century, and Rooseveltian gusto and humor, this book is the play-by-play and color commentary on Roosevelt's "Strenuous Life."

"Mom? Dad? Is Santa real?" Odds are you'll have to answer this question-and soon-if you're a parent of one of the roughly 32 million American kids between the ages of four and ten. Your answer will likely form a lifelong memory for them. Hey, no pressure, though... The Santa Talk reveals simple principles and time-tested tips every parent can use to effectively clarify your tradition of Santa Claus and lovingly pass along what matters most about the holidays: othe key questions you and your partner will have to answer first; owhat to expect children of various ages to understand; ohow to handle discoveries under less-than-ideal or awkward circumstances; owhy everything is going to be okay. No matter what your celebration looks like-even if you don't celebrate with Santa Claus at all-there's a story that will speak to you and to your circumstances in The Santa Talk.