Scott Reynolds Nelson

Scott Reynolds Nelson is the prizewinning author of five books on nineteenth-century American history. The New York Times has most recently called him a “fascinating guide to the grim landscape of Reconstruction.” His book, Steel Drivin’ Man (2007), about the life and legend of John Henry, won four national awards including the National Award for Arts Writing and the Merle Curti Prize for best book in US history. A young-adult book he co-wrote with Marc Aronson, Ain’t Nothing But a Man (2007), describes how historians do research. He has been a research fellow at Harvard University, the Filson Historical Society, and the Newberry Library in Chicago. His latest book, A Nation of Deadbeats: An Uncommon History of America’s Financial Disasters (2012) was named a best business book of 2012 by Business Week.