Nelson, Edmondson Write Biographies for Greenwood Series

by Joe Savrock (August 2010)

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Two members of Penn State’s College of Education--Murry Nelson, professor emeritus of education, and Jackie Edmondson, associate dean for undergraduate and graduate studies--recently authored new biographical books released by Greenwood Publishing Group.

Nelson wrote The Rolling Stones: A Musical Biography, a 159-page book that chronicles the life and career of the legendary British rock band. The book sheds light on how the Stones attained their lifelong popularity and success. Nelson has also produced several other books for Greenwood--he wrote biographies on basketball legends Shaquille O’Neal and Bill Russell, and he edited the Encyclopedia of Sports in America: A History from Foot Races to Extreme Sports.

Edmondson’s newest book, John Lennon: A Biography, provides a comprehensive account of the former member of the iconic rock group The Beatles. The 198-page book covers Lennon’s work as a singer, songwriter, activist, artist, and writer. Edmondson has written several other biographies for the Greenwood Biographies series, including stories of Jesse Owens, Condoleezza Rice, Venus and Serena Williams, and Jerry Garcia.

Greenwood Publishing Group has produced biographies on more than 120 prominent individuals who have shaped the world in such fields as politics, entertainment, religion, and sport. The series is aimed at middle and high school students as a way to promote leisurely reading activities.