Books by Kevin Nelson

Wheels of Change

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$24.95

Along with The Golden Game, Wheels of Change: From Zero to 600 M.P.H., The Amazing Story of California and the Automobile, is Kevin Nelson's other major work on California history—this one about automobiles and their enormous impact on the state, as well as California's contributions to the automotive world.

Wheels of Change has received wide acclaim as one of the best car books of this or any year. It won the James Valentine Memorial Award for "excellence in automotive history," presented by the Society of Automotive Historians. Wheels of Change was also a finalist for the 2010 Best Book of the Year prize, awarded annually by the Los Angeles Motor Press Guild.

Full of the romance and adventure and freedom and history of cars, Wheels of Change tells the extraordinary story of automobiles in California from the late 1890s to the mid-1960s. But it is far more than just a history of cars in California. It is about young people and the passions of youth and how these passions find expression through cars.

The Runner's Book of Daily Inspiration

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$14.95

Whether it is writing, personal finances, marriage, or life, Kevin Nelson believes that nothing succeeds without inspiration. Thus was born the inspiration for his now-classic book on running, The Runner's Book of Daily Inspiration: A Year of Motivation, Revelation, and Inspiration.

Two other inspirational books—for golfers and fishermen—were actually written and published before The Runner's Book of Daily Inspiration. But it is the third and final book in this series that has truly connected with readers, who use its simple inspirational messages to motivate them to run and exercise every day. Here is what one reader/runner said about it:

The Everything Father-to-Be Book

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$15.95

Kevin Nelson believes strongly in the importance of fathers being actively involved in the lives of their children, and he has written two books, The Everything Father-to-Be Book and The Daddy Guide, that provide information, support, and advice for new and expecting fathers.

His most recent book on parenting is the second edition of The Everything Father-to-Be Book, "a survival guide" for expectant fathers that was updated and re-released last year.

Nelson, who has four children, writes in a humorous, conversational tone, helping men make the enormously meaningful but often bumpy transition into fatherhood.

"For new fathers and their partners," Nelson writes in the Introduction, "pregnancy is a trip into a vast, unexplored territory. And just like any good adventurer exploring the unknown, you will need to have the right tools. Let this book serve as your compass and map as you discover the new world of fatherhood—and become an everyday hero to your family."

Operation Bullpen

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$18.95

Operation Bullpen: The Inside Story of the Biggest Forgery Ring in American History is one of the most influential books that Kevin Nelson has written. A work of investigative journalism, it is the remarkable true story of the high-flying national forgery ring that forged the autographs of sports stars and celebrities and ripped off American consumers for more than $100 million, before being busted by a dramatic three-year FBI undercover investigation.

What makes Operation Bullpen so unique is that Nelson gained unprecedented access to the forgers and counterfeit dealers as well as the FBI agents who busted them. This enabled him to deliver an inside account of how a criminal counterfeit operation actually works. Nelson has since become an expert on forgery and counterfeit memorabilia. His articles for Sports Collectors Digest and blog for Autograph Magazine are widely read in the collecting and memorabilia industry. 

The Golden Game

Buy it now:
$24.95

"Kevin Nelson's The Golden Game is the rare baseball book that transcends its regional emphasis to earn a place on the shelf of anyone who loves the game."
—San Francisco Chronicle

As someone who loves history as well as his home state of California, Kevin Nelson has written two award-winning works on California history, The Golden Game and Wheels of Change.

The Golden Game: The Story of California Baseball, was named one of the top ten books of the year in 2004 by the San Francisco Chronicle, National Public Radio, and many others. Richly illustrated with more than 150 photographs, it was featured on NBC's Today Show as one of the must-read books of the summer and named as a national finalist for the prestigious Seymour Prize, awarded annually to the best baseball book of the year.