Aaseng, Nathan 1953–
Aaseng, Nathan 1953–
(Nate Aaseng)
Personal
Born July 7, 1953, in Park Rapids, MN; son of Rolf E. (a minister) and Viola (a librarian; maiden name, Anderson) Aaseng; married Linda Jansen (a teacher), December 20, 1975; children: Jay, Maury, Mikhaila, Evan. Education: Luther College, B.A., 1975; Luther Seminary, M.Div., 2005.
Addresses
Home and office—1404 Clayton Rd., Creston, IA 50801.
Career
Bio-Tech Resources, Manitowoc, WI, microbiologist-biochemist, 1975–79; writer, 1979–2005; minister, 2005–.
Awards, Honors
Several of Aaseng's books were named Children's Choice by the International Reading Association(IRA)/Children's Book Council (CBC), including Baseball:You Are the Manager and Football: You Are the Coach, both 1984, and Baseball: It's Your Team and Football: It's Your Team, both 1986; Carl Lewis: Legend Chaser was selected as one of Child Study Association of America's Children's Books of the Year, 1985; Outstanding Science Trade Book citation, Children and Science, 1986, for More with Less: The Future World of Buckminster Fuller, 1987, for The Disease Fighters: The Nobel Prize in Medicine, and, 1988, for The Inventors: Nobel Prizes in Chemistry, Physics, and Medicine; Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies citation, CBC/National Council for the Social Studies, 1989, for Better Mousetraps: Product Improvements That Led to Success, The Fortunate Fortunes: Business Successes That Began with a Lucky Break, The Problem Solvers: People Who Turned Problems into Products, The Rejects: People and Products That Outsmarted the Experts, and The Unsung Heroes: Unheralded People Who Invented Famous Products, and 1992, for Robert E. Lee; Young Hoosier Book of the Year finalist, 1993, and IRA/CBC Young Adult Choices selection, 1994, both for Navajo Code Talkers; Gold Medallion Award finalist, Christian Publishers Association, 1993, for Ben Carson, and 1994, for Billy Graham; Young Hoosier Book of the Year finalist, 1995, for True Champions; Curriculum Administrator Top-100 Products listee, 1995, for "American Indian Lives" series.
Writings
Bob Geldof: The Man behind Live Aid, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1986.
More with Less: The Future World of Buckminster Fuller, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1986.
Bob Dylan: Spellbinding Songwriter, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1987.
Playing for Life: Sports Stories for Teens, Augsburg (Minneapolis, MN), 1987.
Jim Henson: Muppet Master, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1988.
Robert E. Lee, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1991.
Ending World Hunger, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1991.
Overpopulation: Crisis or Challenge?, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1991.
Cerebral Palsy, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1991.
Twentieth-Century Inventors, Facts on File (New York, NY), 1991.
Paris, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1992.
Breaking the Sound Barrier, Silver Burdett, 1992.
(With Cecil Murphey) Ben Carson, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 1992.
The Common Cold and the Flu, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1992.
Navajo Code Talkers, Walker & Co., 1992.
Great Justices of the Supreme Court, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1992.
True Champions: Great Athletes and Their Off-the-Field Heroics, Walker & Co., 1993.
The Locker-Room Mirror: How Sports Reflect Society, Walker & Co., 1993.
Vertebrates, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1993.
Invertebrates, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1993.
Charles Darwin: Revolutionary Biologist, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1993.
Billy Graham, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 1993.
Jobs vs. the Environment: Can We Save Both? Enslow (Berkeley Heights, NJ), 1994.
Barry Sanders: Star Running Back, Enslow (Berkeley Heights, NJ), 1994.
Science vs. Pseudoscience, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1994.
The O.J. Simpson Trial: What It Shows Us about Our Legal System, Walker & Co., 1995.
Autoimmune Diseases, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1995.
Athletes ("American Indian Lives" series), Facts on File (New York, NY), 1995.
Yearbooks in Science, 1950–1949, Twenty-First Century Books (New York, NY), 1995.
Yearbooks in Science, 1930–1939, Twenty-First Century Books (New York, NY), 1995.
America's Third-Party Presidential Candidates, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1995.
Sports Great John Stockton, Enslow (Berkeley Heights, NJ), 1995.
Genetics: Unlocking the Secret Code, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1996.
Head Injuries, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1996.
Meat-eating Plants, Enslow (Berkeley Heights, NJ), 1996.
American Dinosaur Hunters, Enslow (Berkeley Heights, NJ), 1996.
Lost in the Forest, Augsburg Fortress (Minneapolis, MN), 1996.
Nature's Poisonous Creatures, Henry Holt (New York, NY), 1996.
Black Inventors, Facts on File (New York, NY), 1997.
Sports Great Michael Jordan, Enslow (Berkeley Heights, NJ), 1997.
Treacherous Traitors, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1997.
Explorers for God, Augsburg Fortress (Minneapolis, MN), 1998.
Sports Great David Robinson, Enslow (Berkeley Heights, NJ), 1998.
Construction: Building the Impossible, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1999.
Top-Ten Basketball Scoring Small Forwards, Enslow (Berkeley Heights, NJ), 1999.
The Titanic, Lucent (San Diego, CA), 1999.
The Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia, Lucent (San Diego, CA), 2000.
The Impeachment of Bill Clinton, Lucent (San Diego, CA), 2000.
Multiple Sclerosis, F. Watts (New York, NY), 2000.
Navajo Code Talkers, Walker (New York, NY), 2000.
Teens and Drunk Driving, Lucent (San Diego, CA), 2000.
The White House, Lucent (San Diego, CA), 2000.
Women Olympic Champions, Lucent (San Diego, CA), 2000.
Bermuda Triangle, Lucent (San Diego, CA), 2001.
The Cougar, Lucent (San Diego, CA), 2001.
The Crash of 1929, Lucent (San Diego, CA), 2001.
The Marine Corps in Action, Enslow (Berkeley Heights, NJ), 2001.
Wildshots: The World of the Wildlife Photographer, Mill-brook Press (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.
Avalanches, Lucent (San Diego, CA), 2002.
Cheetahs, KidHaven Press (San Diego, CA), 2002.
The Space Race, Lucent (San Diego, CA), 2002.
Michael Crichton, Lucent (San Diego, CA), 2002.
Strategic Battles, Lucent (San Diego, CA), 2003.
Plessy v. Ferguson: Separate but Equal, Lucent (San Diego, CA), 2003.
African-American Religious Leaders, Facts on File (New York, NY), 2003.
African-American Athletes, Facts on File (New York, NY), 2003.
Tigers, KidHaven (San Diego, CA), 2005.
Pope John Paul II, Lucent (San Diego, CA), 2005.
Piranhas, KidHaven (Detroit, MI), 2006.
"SPORTS ACHIEVERS" SERIES
Bruce Jenner: Decathlon Winner, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1979.
Eric Heiden: Winner in Gold, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1980.
Pete Rose: Baseball's Charlie Hustle, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1981.
"SPORTS HEROES LIBRARY" SERIES
Football's Fierce Defenses, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1980.
Basketball's High Flyers, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1980.
Little Giants of Pro Sports, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1980.
Winners Never Quit: Athletes Who Beat the Odds, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1980.
Baseball's Finest Pitchers, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1980.
Football's Winning Quarterbacks, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1980.
Football's Breakaway Backs, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1980.
Football's Sure-handed Receivers, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1980.
Winning Men of Tennis, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1981.
Winning Women of Tennis, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1981.
Track's Magnificent Milers, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1981.
Football's Cunning Coaches, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1981.
Football's Steadiest Kickers, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1981.
Football's Toughest Tight Ends, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1981.
DEVOTIONALS
I'm Learning, Lord, but I Still Need Help: Story Devotions for Boys, Augsburg (Minneapolis, MN), 1981.
I'm Searching, Lord, but I Need Your Light, Augsburg (Minneapolis, MN), 1983.
Which Way Are You Leading Me, Lord?: Bible Devotions for Boys, Augsburg (Minneapolis, MN), 1984.
FICTION; UNDER NAME NATE AASENG
Batting Ninth for the Braves, Cook, 1982, published as A Winning Season for the Braves, 1988.
Forty-two Red on Four, Cook, 1983, published as At Left Linebacker: Chip Demory, 1988.
(With Mike Sherer) Night of Wonder: Service-Story for Christmas Eve (short story), CSS, 1985.
Batter Up!, Cook, 1990.
Full Court Press, Cook, 1990.
All-Star Line-Up, Cook, 1994.
Aliens! ("Grubstake Adventures" series), Augsburg (Minneapolis, MN), 1995.
Swamped! ("Grubstake Adventures" series), Augsburg (Minneapolis, MN), 1995.
Sneak Attack! ("Grubstake Adventures" series), Augsburg (Minneapolis, MN), 1995.
Lost in the Forest! ("Grubstake Adventures" series), Augsburg (Minneapolis, MN), 1995.
"SPORTS HEROES LIBRARY" SERIES; UNDER NAME NATE AASENG
Football's Super Bowl Champions: I-VIII, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1982.
Football's Super Bowl Champions: IX-XVI, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1982.
Football's Crushing Blockers, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1982.
World-Class Marathoners, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1982.
Memorable World Series Moments, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1982.
Baseball's Brilliant Managers, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1982.
Superstars Stopped Short, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1982.
Baseball's Hottest Hitters, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1983.
Basketball's Sharpshooters, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1983.
Supersubs of Pro Sports, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1983.
Football's Hard-hitting Linebackers, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1983.
Baseball's Power Hitters, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1983.
Basketball's Playmakers, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1983.
Comeback Stars of Pro Sports, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1983.
Baseball's Ace Relief Pitchers, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1984.
Football's Daring Defensive Backs, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1984.
Football's Punishing Pass Rushers, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1984.
Hockey's Fearless Goalies, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1984.
Hockey's Super Scorers, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1984.
Basketball's Power Players, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1985.
A Decade of Champions: Super Bowls XVI-XXIV, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1991.
"YOU ARE THE COACH" SERIES; UNDER NAME NATE AASENG
Baseball: You Are the Manager, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1983, published as You Are the Manager: Baseball, Dell (New York, NY), 1984.
Basketball: You Are the Coach, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1983, published as You Are the Coach: Basketball, Dell (New York, NY), 1983.
Football: You Are the Coach, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1983, published as You Are the Coach: Football, Dell (New York, NY), 1983.
Hockey: You Are the Coach, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1983, published as You Are the Coach: Hockey, Dell (New York, NY), 1984.
College Basketball: You Are the Coach, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1984, published as You Are the Coach: College Basketball, Dell (New York, NY), 1986.
College Football: You Are the Coach, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1984, published as You Are the Coach: College Football, Dell (New York, NY), 1985.
Baseball: It's Your Team, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1985, published as It's Your Team: Baseball, Dell (New York, NY), 1985.
Football: It's Your Team, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1985, published as It's Your Team: Football, Dell (New York, NY), 1985.
"SPORTS ACHIEVERS" SERIES; UNDER NAME NATE AASENG
Steve Carlton: Baseball's Silent Strongman, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1984.
Carl Lewis: Legend Chaser, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1985.
Dwight Gooden: Strikeout King, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1988.
Florence Griffith Joyner: Dazzling Olympian, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1989.
José Canseco: Baseball's Forty-Forty Man, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1989.
"SPORTS TALK" SERIES; UNDER NAME NATE AASENG
Baseball's Greatest Teams, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1986.
Baseball's Worst Teams, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1986.
Football's Most Controversial Calls, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1986.
Football's Most Shocking Upsets, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1986.
Pro Sports' Greatest Rivalries, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1986.
Record Breakers of Pro Sports, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1987.
Ultramarathons: The World's Most Punishing Races, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1987.
College Football's Hottest Rivalries, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1987.
Football's Incredible Bulks, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1987.
Great Summer Olympic Moments, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1990.
Great Winter Olympic Moments, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1990.
"NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS" SERIES
The Disease Fighters: The Nobel Prize in Medicine, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1987.
The Inventors: Nobel Prizes in Chemistry, Physics, and Medicine, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1987.
The Peace Seekers: The Nobel Peace Prize, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1987.
"EARLY NATURE PICTURE BOOK" SERIES
Animal Specialists, illustrated by Alcuin C. Dornisch, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1987.
Horned Animals, illustrated by Alcuin C. Dornisch, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1987.
Man-eating Animals, illustrated by Alcuin C. Dornisch, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1987.
Prey Animals, illustrated by Alcuin C. Dornisch, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1987.
"INSIDE BUSINESS" SERIES
Better Mousetraps: Product Improvements That Led to Success, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1989.
The Fortunate Fortunes: Business Successes That Began with a Lucky Break, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1989.
The Problem Solvers: People Who Turned Problems into Products, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1989.
The Rejects: People and Products That Outsmarted the Experts, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1989.
The Unsung Heroes: Unheralded People Who Invented Famous Products, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1989.
Close Calls: From the Brink of Ruin to Business Success, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1990.
From Rags to Riches: People Who Started Businesses from Scratch, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1990.
Midstream Changes: People Who Started Over and Made It Work, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1990.
"GREAT DECISION" SERIES
You Are the General, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1994.
You Are the President, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1994.
You Are the President II, 1800–1899, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1994.
You Are the Supreme Court Justice, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1994.
You Are the General II, 1800–1899, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1995.
You Are the Corporate Executive, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1997.
You Are the Juror, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1997.
You Are the Senator, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1997.
You Are the Explorer, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.
You Are the Teacher, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.
"BUSINESS BUILDERS" SERIES
Business Builders in Computers, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.
Business Builders in Fast Food, Millbrook Press, 2000.
Business Builders in Oil, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.
Business Builders in Real Estate, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.
Business Builders in Toys and Games, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.
Business Builders in Sweets and Treats, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 2005.
Business Builders in Broadcasting, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 2005.
Sidelights
Though once known as a prolific author of sports books for children, Nathan Aaseng has produced a variety of works, including fiction, nonfiction books about business products and innovators, and profiles of Nobel Prize winners. In Something about the Author Autobiography Series (SAAS) Aaseng declared: "I did not consider myself a sports writer, or a nonfiction writer, or a children's writer. Those were merely my points of entry into the profession." The author further stated: "I suppose there are very few 'failures' who get so many books published [so] … early in their lives, and I am certain this gives me a perspective that is different from that of most 'successful' writers. I consider that, and anything else that gives me an unusual perspective, to be an advantage."
Aaseng, who sometimes publishes his books under the name Nate Aaseng, was born in Park Rapids, Minnesota, one of five children of a Lutheran minister. As a child, he was small for his age and also had a stutter, which set him apart from other children in his school in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. However, his family was a close one, and family camping trips were an important part of his childhood. Aaseng also loved books. As he noted in SAAS, "It is rare to meet an author who has not loved to read since early childhood, and I am no exception there. I was fortunate to have an older brother and sister to scout out a path through the literary wilderness." His early favorites were Big Red and Wild Trek by the outdoor writer Jim Kjelgaard, Milton Shapiro's sports biographies, and the "Freddy the Pig" books written by Walter Brooks. When he was a little older, Aaseng's father gave him the "Chronicles of Narnia" books by C.S. Lewis, which he still occasionally rereads. He wrote in SAAS, "I do not think of my childhood in terms of happy or unhappy—there were many times when it was one or the other, or neither, but when I think of pleasurable times as a child, reading jumps to mind immediately."
From an early age, Aaseng wrote creatively. "My writing assignments [in grade school] almost always came back with the word clever scrawled across the top," said the author. "But I never understood what they meant by clever and I was too shy to ask." Later, in his first year of college, he wrote a paper about Homer's Iliad, using the same patterns of rhyme and rhythm that Homer had used. Commenting on the favorable remarks the paper received from his professor, Aaseng declared: "It was then that I realized what the clever comments had meant. I was frequently taking approaches to writing that other people would not dream of taking." He also stated: "For a writer, different is good. The only reason the world puts up with writers is because of their ability to find insightful ways of looking at life, and insight can only be gained by finding a vantage point unclaimed by other humans."
Unsurprisingly, the future author's different perspective was a disadvantage in junior high school. "When I was growing up," Aaseng stated, "suburban junior high was a wonderful breeding ground for clones, but a deadly environment for persons who were in any way different." When his older brother developed confidence as a result of success on the track team, Aaseng decided to become a runner too, and he was so good at it that he became one of only three sophomore boys out of the 700 in his school who earned a letter in any sport. He also grew eight inches in one year and slowly became able to control his stuttering. His sports success, as well as these other changes, gave him self-confidence, earned him friends, and helped him find his niche in the world of school.
Aaseng has acknowledged that sports may be overemphasized today, stating, "I can understand the frustration of seeing much of society enamored of superstars and superteams in sports to the exclusion of more thought-provoking pursuits." However, he also asserted that sports can provide important help in young peoples' social development: "I cannot ignore the debt that I owe to sports. They gave me at least a measure of respect…. Sports also provided a support group. The fact that I was on a team automatically meant that there were people my age in my corner. The fact that I might be a little different from other people did not matter to them. By virtue of the fact that I was on their team, they encouraged me and, at least to some extent, cared about me. Sports is still the most available support-group system for growing boys and girls in our society, and it is for that reason that I believe children's literature should take more seriously the role and function of sports."
Aaseng chose to attend Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, partly because the school had a large network of wooded trails where he could run. As a student, he "performed the unusual feat of keeping a foot in both the worlds of science and the humanities." His studies in biology and English made him aware of shortcomings in each of his majors: "The more science courses I took, the more I detected glaring faults in the way most scientists communicated. At the same time, I began to apply some scientific discipline to the fuzzy, 'how do you feel about that?' approach of the humanities. The more I delved into these two subjects, the more I discovered I was odd man out. In biology classes, I felt like an English major masquerading as a scientist, while in English I often felt like a biology major with an odd liking for books." However, he did appreciate the fact that science fed his thirst for clarity and knowledge, and English fed his creative side.
For his English classes, he wrote a term paper on the Iliad that was written in the same style as the Iliad itself, for which he received an A+. He was also influenced by the work of George Orwell, particularly Orwell's essay "The Politics of the English Language." He also wrote a weekly column for the school paper that was noted for its humor, commenting in SAAS: "Nothing that I have written since has brought me as much favorable comment as the year-and-a-half run of 'The Armchair Norseman.'"
While at college, Aaseng met Linda Jansen, and they were married after graduation. When he was unable to find a writing job, they moved to Wisconsin, where Linda had a job teaching fourth grade. Aaseng first found a job as "a production line worker at a canning factory," then worked as a researcher for a biotechnology company. In the meantime, Linda was expecting their first child. He wanted "to crack into the world of writing," so he tried to find a job as a publishing company editor or newspaper reporter. Applying for an editing job at Lerner Publications, Aaseng was informed that there were no editorial positions available; however, he was offered an opportunity to write a text to accompany Lerner's stock of photographs of "Bruce Jenner, the photogenic Olympic decathlon champion of 1976." Aaseng was perfect for the assignment, because of his background as a track athlete. He had once competed at the same meet with Jenner and had followed Jenner's career throughout college. Bruce Jenner: Decathlon Winner became Aaseng's first book, and he subsequently produced several series of sports books. He wrote in SAAS, "No one gets anywhere in the writing world without some luck greasing the wheels."
Aaseng's wife provided much assistance in making his writing appropriate for children: "Since Linda had taught fourth graders, the target age for the [Bruce Jenner] manuscript, I relied heavily on her judgment of appropriate audience level," he explained. "She read all my manuscripts in the early years with a mind towards what children would grasp." Aaseng how uses his experience with his own children to shape his writings for young audiences, remarking: "I think the most important thing for a writer of children's material to remember is never talk down to your audience."
Aaseng followed Bruce Jenner with several more installments in Lerner's "Sports Achievers" series, including an award-winning biography of Carl Lewis. These books generally have sixty pages of text about the athlete's life, enhanced by photos of the athlete's accomplishments. He has been noted for his "smooth style," according to critic Betsy Hearne in Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, and because, as Robert E. Unsworth noted in School Library Journal, he "respects his readers—never talks down to them—and does this sort of thing—short, eye-catching, easy-to-read pro-files—as well as anyone."
In spite of his success as a sports author, Aaseng was still concerned about a tendency to portray athletes in an unrealistically glamorous way. He commented: "I was not comfortable with the overall view of sports that was being presented by my books. It seemed as though the implicit message lingered—that success is the measure of a person's worth…. Further, by profiling only success, we were disguising the fact that professional sports are far more often a graveyard for hopes and dreams than they are fertile ground."
Consequently, Aaseng decided to present another side of professional sports. "In an attempt to provide a more realistic focus on sports, I put out three unusual sports books," he explained, adding: "The first was Superstars Stopped Short, which told the tales of some of the world's most gifted and hardworking athletes who, through no fault of their own, never achieved stardom. The second, Baseball's Worst Teams, is a partner to the book Baseball's Greatest Teams. This study of failure was one of the most fascinating books I have ever researched, and the only one that has allowed me to employ an element of humor writing. Finally, there was Playing for Life, published by Augsburg. During my years of sports research, whenever I came across a brief article describing some unheralded act of exceptional compassion or courage on the part of a world-class athlete, I filed it away. When I had collected enough of these stories, I put them together into book form. At a time when sports pages were constantly littered with reports of salary squabbles, drug busts, hotdogging, and intimidation, I thought these stories could provide some badly needed encouragement and examples to young sports enthusiasts."
Aaseng also came up with the idea for the "You Are the Coach" series, which invites reader participation. While
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riding a bus in Minneapolis, he heard some mothers talking about how much their children liked the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books. He thought that reader participation in fiction would be limited, but that it was perfect for nonfiction, and by the time he left the bus he had the format for the series worked out. The books present turning points in actual baseball, football, and hockey games, and ask readers to make choices: what player should pinch-hit, what play to run, etc. A subsequent page reveals the play the real-life coach chose and evaluates the reader's choice against that of the professional. Joe McKenzie commented in School Library Journal that this is "a marvelous concept."
In his "Great Decision" series, Aaseng expands his interactive concept to include other fields, allowing readers to compare their choices to those made by U.S. presidents, U.S. supreme court justices, generals, explorers, corporate executives, and others. In You Are the Explorer, for example, Aaseng discusses the background, choices, and consequences each of eight explorers—including Christopher Columbus and Meriwether Lewis—faced during their expeditions, allowing readers to see how their own choices compare to those made by the explorers. In Book Report, Mary Mueller noted that "this approach works well because it goes beyond the traditional coverage that simply describes the progress of each expedition." William C. Schadt, writing in School Library Journal, described You Are the Explorer as "a unique treatment of a common subject." While some reviewers noted the need for more children's or young-adult books in the bibliography for You Are the Explorer, critics were largely positive in their assessment of the work. Catherine Andronik stated in Booklist that Aaseng's book is "useful to student researchers and teachers looking for a way to bring relevance and immediacy into the classroom study of exploration."
Aaseng once said that after establishing himself as a professional writer, he hoped "to persuade publishers to let me write about what really interests me." "The subject that I pursued most determinedly was the Nobel Peace Prize winners," said the author in his SAAS essay. Aaseng's efforts led to a set of three books about Nobel laureates, including one volume devoted to winners of the Peace Prize. Aaseng has also produced a series of books about business inventors, the "Inside Business" series.
Writing in Appraisal, one reviewer noted of Aaseng's "Inside Business" series that "the stories are good history, showing … how creative and persevering people have helped give us a good life." The books follow the development and history of common products, such as Coca-Cola, Kleenex, and Astro-Turf, and show how these products have influenced everyday life. Margaret A. Bush wrote in Horn Book that the titles are "a lively history of the commonplace," and a writer for Kirkus Reviews commented that "the information here is exceptionally well organized to entertain and instruct." In the same periodical, Hannah Bickford asserted that "the main lesson of this series is that these people were successful because they believed in themselves, regardless of their previous failures and the ridicule from those around them."
Aaseng's "Business Builders" series focuses more on the people than the products, and examines the lives and accomplishments of successful entrepreneurs in such fields as fast food, computers, oil, and real estate. J.D. Rockefeller, the founder of Standard Oil, looms large in Business Builders in Oil, while computer industry leaders Bill Gates and Steve Jobs take the fore in Business Builders in Computers. Readers can learn about the beginnings of McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Domino's Pizza, and the people behind those companies, in Business Builders in Fast Food. According to Joyce Adams Burner in School Library Journal, "Aaseng not only creates a personal picture of each man, but also highlights his unique contribution to the development of the industry." Business Builders in Sweets and Treats profiles creators and companies including Hershey, Wrigley, and Ben and Jerry. GraceAnne A. DeCandido, writing for Booklist, found the title to be an "energetically written study" and complimented the book's "excellent sources and citations, boxed facts, [and] lively style." Business Builders in Broadcasting "relays both the facts of the actual development of radio and television and the men and women behind it," wrote Carol Fazioli in School Library Journal, noting that the book covers big names such as Samuel Morse as well as lesser-known historical figures like commercial radio founder Frank Conrad.
Two of Aaseng's titles focus on leaders within the African-American community. The first, African-American Athletes, contains more than 155 athletes, men and women who have shaped their sports fields. Vicki Reutter, writing in School Library Journal, considered the title a "fine reference source," while a Booklist contributor noted that the "writing is clear and well suited for the audience," and that "failures and missteps of athletes are not ignored, nor are they sensationalized." Aaseng has also written African-American Religious Leaders, focusing on men and women of faith in the African-American community.
Several unique subjects have captured Aaseng's attention over the years. With Wildshots: The World of the Wildlife Photographer he profiles the career of wildlife photography by introducing readers to several professional photographers. The author "provides insight into how individuals feel about their work," noted Cynthia M. Sturgis in School Library Journal. Carolyn Phelan, writing in Booklist, wrote that the stories behind the book's photographs "may lead readers to wonder more about pictures in other nature books" and thus inspire interest in the field. Aaseng's historical title The Crash of 1929 describes the situations leading to the stock-market crash by focusing on how individuals were affected by the collapsing economy. According to Andrew Medlar in School Library Journal, Aaseng "generates interest by focusing on the human element" of the period. The author has also written titles such as The Space Race, which presents the U.S. and Soviet space program competition to get to the moon, and The Marine Corps in Action, which details that branch of the U.S. military. Of the former, School Library Journal reviewer Elaine Fort Weischedel noted that "there is little else for this age group that looks at the U.S. space program from this perspective." Eldon Younce, also reviewing for School Library Journal, found the latter book to be "readable with appropriate terminology and vocabulary defined in context."
As Aaseng once said: "I have felt comfortable writing for young people because I do not believe in trying to impress people with huge words or intimidating style. I always thought the idea in writing was to communicate, not show off." After published more than 170 titles, in 2005 he announced his intention to take a break from writing for children in order to pursue a vocation in the ministry. Anticipating writing for the pulpit rather than for children, he told Jennifer Krempin for Thrivent online: "Writing sermons isn't a lot different than other kinds of writing. As a writer I learned to explain complicated things in a way that others—in my case, middle-school students—could understand. That's a huge advantage to someone in the pulpit."
Biographical and Critical Sources
BOOKS
Something about the Author Autobiography Series, Volume 12, Thomson Gale (Detroit, MI), 1991.
PERIODICALS
Appraisal, winter, 1989, p. 7; summer, 1990, pp. 58-60; winter, 1992, pp. 88-89; winter, 1993, p. 5; spring, 1994, p. 78; winter, 1995, p. 98.
Booklist, February 15, 1998, p. 993; March 15, 2000, p. 1368; May 1, 2000, p. 1660, 1657; December 15, 2000, Gillian Engberg, review of Construction: Building the Impossible, p. 810; March 1, 2001, p. 1272; February 1, 2001, Carolyn Phelan, review of Business Builders in Computers and Business Builders in Oil, p. 1046; March 1, 2001, Carolyn Phelan, review of Wildshots: The World of the Wildlife Photographer, p. 1272; August, 2003, review of African-American Athletes, p. 2020; December 1, 2005, GraceAnne A. DeCandido, review of Business Builders in Sweets and Treats, p. 39.
Book Report, September, 2000, p. 68.
Booktalker, September, 1989.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, February, 1981, p. 105; July, 1981, p. 205; November, 1985, p. 41; September, 1987, p. 1; April, 1988, p. 149; June, 1989, p. 241; January, 1990, p. 101; December, 1992, p. 104; June, 1993, p. 306; July-August, 1994, p. 348.
Horn Book, July-August, 1989, p. 497; March, 1990, p. 224; September, 1990, p. 628.
Kirkus Reviews, February 15, 1989, p. 288.
School Library Journal, December, 1980, p. 77; May, 1983, p. 95; September, 1983, p. 113; May, 1984, p. 104; March, 1988, p. 202; March, 1990, p. 222; August, 1991, p. 196; May, 1993, p. 130; June, 1994, p. 112; September, 1994, p. 243; February, 1996, p. 115; March, 2000, p. 243; June, 2000, p. 157; July, 2000, p. 2016; August, 2000, p. 192; September, 2000, p. 239; October, 2000, p. 176; March, 2001, Cynthia M. Sturgis, review of Wildshots, p. 258; September, 2001, Joyce Adams Burner, review of Business Builders in Fast Food, p. 236; December, 2001, Andrew Medlar, review of The Crash of 1929, p. 150; January, 2002, Elaine Fort Weischedel, review of The Space Race, p. 142; April, 2002, Eldon Younce, review of The Marine Corps in Action, p. 159; June, 2003, Vicki Re-utter, review of African-American Athletes, p. 87; March, 2004, Andrew Medlar, review of Women Olympic Champions, p. 69; August, 2004, Joyce Adams Burner, review of You Are the Senator, p. 48; March, 2006, Carol Fazioli, review of Business Builders in Broadcasting, p. 234.
Science Books and Films, May, 1994, p. 108.
Teacher Librarian, September, 1999, p. 61.
Voice of Youth Advocates, October, 1984, p. 204; October, 1988, p. 186; August, 1991, p. 185; April, 1992, p. 49; February, 1993, p. 362; June, 1993, p. 107; April, 1994, p. 28; August, 1994, p. 161; February, 2001, review of The Impeachment of Bill Clinton, p. 438; October, 2001, review of Wildshots, p. 295; February, 2002, review of The Marine Corps in Action, p. 452.
ONLINE
Thrivent Online, http://www.thrivent.com/ (June 20, 2006), Jennifer Krempin, "Nathan Aaseng Pursues Persistent Pull to Seminary."