All About Books

All About Books

A weekly book review and discussion program hosted by Pat Leach. Updated on Thursdays.

Episodes

“Wilder Weather" by Dr. Barbara Boustead.

October 15, 2025 • 17 mins
The Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder painted a vivid sense of place with the weather on the Great Plains playing an important role. Dr. Barbara Boustead is a meteorologist and Wilder scholar who researched the accuracy of these stories’ descriptions of blizzards, tornadoes and floods. Hear an interview with Dr. Boustead about her book “Wilder Weather”
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“Challenger" by Adam Higginbotham.

October 8, 2025 • 9 mins
On January 28, 1986, a little over a minute into flight, the space shuttle Challenger broke apart over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all seven people on board. The full story of what happened before and after that day is revealed in the new book, “Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space” by Adam Higginbotham.
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“I’ll Be Right Here". by Amy Bloom

October 1, 2025 • 9 mins
Beginning with flight from post-World War II North Africa and Paris, right up to our own time; a multi-generational found-family struggles, lives and loves. Best-selling author Amy Bloom’s new novel is, “I’ll Be Right Here".
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“Good Soil:The Education of an Accidental Farmhand” by Jeff Chu

September 24, 2025 • 17 mins
In mid-life, Jeff Chu left his job as a magazine writer for grad school at Princeton Theological Seminary. The school had a 21-acre farm, the “Farminary”, where Chu worked. Pat Leach talked to Jeff Chu about his experiences and his book “Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand”
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“James” by Percival Everett

September 19, 2025 • 9 mins
Winner of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Literature, “James” by Percival Everett is a retelling of Twain’s Huckelberry Finn from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. The river journey contains the same characters and adventures, but Jim’s intelligence and compassion show them in a radically new light.
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“The Unauthorized Biography of Lincoln, NE” by Matt Steinhausen

September 10, 2025 • 19 mins
No matter how long you’ve lived in your hometown, there's still more to learn. While some of the things you thought were local history, may in fact be myths. Fascinating history, lots of photos, and even some myth-busting are found in “The Unauthorized Biography of Lincoln, Nebraska” by Matt Steinhausen. The author joins host Pat Leach.
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“On the Hippie Trail" by Rick Steves

September 3, 2025 • 10 mins
The backpacker’s journey from Istanbul to Kathmandu was once known as the “Hippie Trail” A 23-year old Rick Steves made that trip and documented everything- the adventures, getting lost, and the people he met. His journal is the basis for his new book “On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer”
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“Clutch” An Education at Work”.by Linda Pawlenty

August 27, 2025 • 20 mins
Having a job during school to help ends meet is pretty typical, but UNL PhD student Linda Pawlenty’s side job was on a different level of different. Pawlenty drove a concrete mixer truck while earning her PhD. Her experiences being a woman in construction, and a working-class laborer in academia, is the subject of her first book “Clutch” An Education at Work”
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"The Hidden Life of Trees" by Peter Wohlleben

August 20, 2025 • 9 mins
Peter Wohlleben is a forester and author whose book, "The Hidden Life of Trees" was a best-seller. Now, that title has been given a graphical makeover with all 240 pages having color illustrations in this new adaptation that honors the spirit of the original book.
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“Becoming Earth” by Ferris Jabr

August 13, 2025 • 11 mins
The ancient idea that the world is alive was long ridiculed by some scientists, but that’s changing. The view of Earth as a vast interconnected living system is gaining acceptance. “Becoming Earth” by Ferris Jabr offers the idea that humans and all living things, are more than inhabitants of Earth—but *are* Earth.
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“Tell Me Everything” by Elizabeth Strout

August 6, 2025 • 9 mins
Award-winning author Elizabeth Strout returns to Crosby, Maine in her latest novel about new friendships, old loves, and to ask the question- what does anyone’s life mean? Hear a review of “Tell Me Everything”.
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“Martyr!” by Kaveh Akbar

July 30, 2025 • 8 mins
Cyrus is a newly sober son of Iranian immigrants. Guided by the voices of artists, poets, and kings, he embarks on a quest to uncover a family secret. Hear a review of the New York Times best-selling novel “Martyr!” by Kaveh Akbar on this week’s “All About Books”
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“Robert F. Kennedy:The Road Not Taken” by Dennis &Laura Crawford

July 23, 2025 • 14 mins
Nebraska was one of only 15 states that held primaries in 1968. Robert F. Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy campaigned hard in the state. “Robert F. Kennedy: The Road Not Taken” by Dennis and Laura Crawford is a new history of the ’68 Nebraska campaigns, Hear an interview with co-author Dennis Crawford on this week’s “All About Books”
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“Feeding Ghosts” by Tessa Hulls

July 16, 2025 • 9 mins
In the graphic novel “Feeding Ghosts”, artist Tessa Hulls traces Chinese history across three generations of women in her family. Growing up, Hulls watched both her mother and grandmother struggle with unexamined trauma and mental illness. Hear a review of this Pulitzer Prize winning memoir on this week's "All About Books".
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An introduction to Nebraska author, Loren Eiseley

July 9, 2025 • 17 mins
His writing combined keen scientific observation with mystery and wonder. This week on “All About Books” a look at the life and writing of Lincoln native Loren Eiseley. Tom Lynch, Emeritus Professor of English at UNL will introduce readers to this unique and influential writer.
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“A Refiner’s Fire” by Donna Leon

July 2, 2025 • 8 mins
Set in Venice, the popular detective series featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti has a new mystery to solve. In “A Refiner’s Fire” by Donna Leon, Brunetti confronts the present-day menace of teenage street gangs.
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“Mrs Dalloway” by Virginia Woolf

June 25, 2025 • 20 mins
Pat Leach invited her good friend Susan Millar to talk about the classic novel, “Mrs Dalloway” by Virginia Woolf. It’s one of Susan’s favorite novels and Pat’s first time reading it. Hear their conversation about what makes this book a classic and if it’s a good introduction to Woolf.
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“Inside Nebraska Courthouses" by Settle & Grossbart

June 18, 2025 • 15 mins
Dean Settle and his wife Harriet Grossbart, went on an 11-month, 28-thousand mile journey across Nebraska documenting the interiors of all 93 county courthouses. The result of their travels is the book “Inside Nebraska Courthouses.” He joined “All About Books” host Pat Leach to share some of the history and local lore surrounding these symbols of local pride
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Guest reviewer Richard Graham on new graphic novels

June 4, 2025 • 16 mins
Graphic novels expert, UNL professor Richard Graham joins host Pat Leach to talk about two new titles, “Insectopolis: A Natural History” by Peter Kuper and “Belonging: A German Reckons with History and Home” by Nora Krug.
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“Wandering Stars” by Tommy Orange

May 28, 2025 • 9 mins
“Wandering Stars” by Tommy Orange is a follow up to his acclaimed debut novel, “There There”. Orange traces the legacies of the Sand Creek Massacre in Colorado, and the Industrial Schools that tried to eradicate Native culture and identity
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