The son and grandson of political refugees, Ralph Brauer brings a combination of experiences to writing about the history of social change. He is a retired professor and college administrator whose career is complemented by community organizing, consulting, and service experience that earned him a coveted Bush Leadership Fellowship. An award-winning writer, his work has appeared in The Nation, Newsweek, and The New York Times Magazine as well as various anthologies and journals. Brauer’s half-century of community service includes terms on his local planning commission and school board. A former wilderness canoe guide, he enjoys outdoor activities with his wife, a nursing professor emerita.