Books

The Right Thing to Do:
Kit Saunders-Nordeen and the Rise of Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Wisconsin and Beyond

biography, 2022

Published in the 50th anniversary year of the landmark Title IX gender equity legislation becoming law, “The Right Thing to Do” is both a chronicle of the rise of women’s intercollegiate athletics in the United States and a biography of one of the movement’s leaders, Kit Saunders-Nordeen, the first director of women’s athletics at the University of Wisconsin and vice president of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW).

The book is locally available at Mystery to Me Bookstore, 1863 Monroe Street, Madison, WI

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Tommy: My Journey of a Lifetime (with Tommy G. Thompson)

autobiography, 2018

The autobiography of four-term Wisconsin governor and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson. Filled with never before told stories, the book captures Thompson’s incredible journey from small-town grocer’s son to globetrotting statesman.

Excerpts

"Once when I was visiting President George H. W. Bush in Washington, while he was president, he took me out to lunch at the Alibi Club, a private club where he was a member. It was clear the staff there revered him. At one point, Bush took me into the kitchen and introduced me to the chef and the waiters. It was hard for me to imagine a president doing that, but he did. Leaving the kitchen, Bush said, ‘Never forget where you came from, Tommy.’ I never have. "

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United Way of Dane County 1922-2022: Celebrating a Century of Innovation, Collaboration and Positive Change

2022

Published in its centennial year, “United Way of Dane County 1922-2022: Celebrating a Century of Innovation, Collaboration and Positive Change” chronicles 100 years of philanthropic impact by Dane County Wisconsin’s largest local private funder of health and human services. Stories of engaged citizens, business leaders and thousands of volunteers along with the impactful programs advanced by United Way make this book a celebration of the contributions United Way has facilitated to education, income, housing, health, nonprofit coordination and civic engagement.

A digital version is found here.

The Back 40: TASC’s Story

2019

An amazing 40-year story that began with a Stevens Point farmer's vision of fair tax deductions for sole proprietors. Don Rashke's vision became, under his son, Dan Rashke, Madison-based TASC, the country's largest third-party administrator, with annual revenues in excess of $100 million. To get there, the Rashkes faced down doubt and near bankruptcy, and emerged not only spectacularly successful, but with an unmatched commitment to giving back and philanthropy.

Audio version currently available on iTunes for free

Also available on Kindle.

Stroke Runner: My Story of Stroke, Survival, Recovery and Advocacy

Autobiography coauthored by Doug Moe, 2020

Eric Sarno was an elite amateur triathlete, race director, successful bio-pharmaceutical sales representative and single father of two young daughters when the unthinkable happened―he suffered a near-fatal stroke. In this riveting and emotional memoir, he describes his journey to recovery and advocacy. This is an inspiring story of resilience told with candor, humor and an eye towards helping others.

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Dissassembled: A Native Son on Janesville and General Motors – a Story of Grit, Race, Gender and Wishful Thinking and What it Means for America

Nonfiction edited by Doug Moe, 2019

There have been many articles and even books written on what happened after General Motors closed its plant in Janesville, Wisconsin in 2008 after some 90 years of operation. Here, for the first time, former Wisconsin state senator—and Janesville native—Tim Cullen tells the inside story of how and why it happened, and what it means for the future not only of Janesville, but cities across America.

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