Dean Robbins

Such fun last weekend presenting my essay collection WISCONSIN IDOLS at the Wisconsin Book Festival! I loved seeing old friends and meeting new ones at the Wisconsin Historical Society auditorium, with expert support from the @whspress.bsky.social.

YouTube video by Wisconsin Historical Society Press Wisconsin Trained Actress Carrie Coon!

.@carriecoon.bsky.social enrolled in a theater program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on a lark, regarding acting as an impractical career. See how it all worked out for her in my book WISCONSIN IDOLS: 100 HEROES WHO CHANGED THE STATE, THE WORLD, AND ME.

youtube.com/shorts/36aat...

YouTube video by Wisconsin Historical Society Press Chris Farley's Wisconsin Roots

Chris Farley crushed the audition for a Madison improv troupe with a shocking bit of physical comedy—the turning point in his rise to stardom, as you learn in my essay collection WISCONSIN IDOLS: 100 HEROES WHO CHANGED THE STATE, THE WORLD, AND ME.

youtube.com/shorts/hoZHm...

¡Mambo Mucho Mambo! The Dance That Crossed Color Lines - Candlewick Press “The Spanish text is both conversational and informative, liberally using such words as ‘giraban,’ ‘vibraban,’ and ‘meneaba,’ which will allow...

My picture book MAMBO MUCHO MAMBO!: THE DANCE THAT CROSSED COLOR LINES (@candlewickpress.bsky.social) is now out in paperback, in both English and Spanish. It’s the story of a barrier-breaking dance and musical style that helped spark the civil right movement.

www.candlewick.com/978153624687...

Southeast Wisconsin friends, please join me at Franklin Public Library for a presentation on my essay collection WISCONSIN IDOLS: Thurs, Sept 18, 6:30 pm. Here's a chance to discover heroic role models at a time when we desperately need a few.

www.franklinpubliclibrary.org/en-us/events...

YouTube video by Wisconsin Historical Society Press Gwen Jorgensen - Wisconsin Idols

Gwen Jorgensen planned to spend her life as an accountant, but an unexpected turn set her on the path to Olympic gold in triathlon. Read all about it in my essay collection WISCONSIN IDOLS: 100 HEROES WHO CHANGED THE STATE, THE WORLD, AND ME (@whspress.bsky.social).

youtube.com/shorts/aFAoQ...

YouTube video by Wisconsin Historical Society Press Edna Ferber's Birthday

Edna Ferber’s novels connected with American readers as sexual politics evolved in the early 20th century. In my essay collection WISCONSIN IDOLS, you learn that Ferber’s writing career almost went up in flames in an Appleton, Wisconsin, furnace.

@whspress.bsky.social
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The Miracle of Apollo 13 | On Wisconsin How Jim Lovell x'50 pulled off NASA’s most daring recovery.

RIP Jim Lovell, who pulled off one of the most daring recoveries in the annals of aviation during the Apollo 13 mission. I had a chance to interview the pioneering astronaut for a magazine article and included him in my essay collection WISCONSIN IDOLS.
onwisconsin.uwalumni.com/the-miracle-...

‪@joycecaroloates.bsky.social‬

YouTube video by Wisconsin Historical Society Press Madison’s Walk of Fame with Author Dean Robbins

Join me on a tour of ordinary spots where truly extraordinary things happened, based on my essay collection WISCONSIN IDOLS. See little-known places associated with Elvis Presley, Nirvana, Joni Mitchell, Chris Farley, Joyce Carol Oates and more.

@whspress.bsky.social
youtu.be/DO5h9DYL9sQ?...

Southeast Wisconsin friends, please join me at the Oconomowoc library for a presentation on my essay collection WISCONSIN IDOLS, hosted by Books & Company: Tuesday, July 29, 6 pm. I’ll tell little-known tales of heroic figures with surprising Wisconsin connections.

booksco.com/event/2025-0...

YouTube video by Wisconsin Historical Society Press Duke Ellington - Wisconsin Idols

Jazz genius Duke Ellington had one of the greatest experiences of his life in Wisconsin, and he wrote a composition called "Uwis" as a way of thanking the state and its people. This video is based on an essay from my book WISCONSIN IDOLS (@whspress.bsky.social).

www.youtube.com/shorts/DFnmY...

Wisconsin Book of the Month: Who's included in this list of 100 'Wisconsin Idols'? In "Wisconsin Idols," Dean Robbins appreciates 100 artists, thinkers and pioneers who had some impact on the state or himself.

Thanks to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and @jhiggy.bsky.social for choosing my essay collection WISCONSIN IDOLS as the Book of the Month!

www.jsonline.com/story/life/2...

@tavaresbooks.bsky.social

A lovely review of THE SHAPE OF THINGS: HOW MAPMAKERS PICTURE OUR WORLD in the News Tribune: "a great introduction to maps for young readers that would make an excellent supplementary text for teachers working on geography units."

@aaknopf.bsky.social
www.newstribune.com/news/2025/ju...

Madison friends, join me for a talk about my book WISCONSIN IDOLS on Tues, June 24, at the Wisconsin Historical Society's History Maker Space: U.S. Bank Plaza, 1 S. Pinckney St, 12:30 pm. I’ll discuss heroic figures with often surprising connections to the state, including Oprah and Elvis.

Thank you @vpalmquist.bsky.social!

Opinion | We have met our heroes, and they are us In a nation starved for heroes, I found that examples of ordinary people doing heroic things abound right here in Wisconsin.

How to find hope in seemingly hopeless times? Here’s an idea from my guest column in the @captimes.com, inspired by my book WISCONSIN IDOLS: tour the places associated with heroic figures in your state. I tried it in Wisconsin, communing with dozens of brave souls.

captimes.com/opinion/gues...

Local author shares his 'Wisconsin Idols' When you're out walking, do you ever wonder, 'who was here before me?' Dean Robbins has asked and answered that question. Even the most seemingly uninspiring se

Fox47 News came by to discuss my essay collection WISCONSIN IDOLS and my lifelong obsession with heroic figures. If you ever wondered what I look like in a Superman costume, click here.

fox47.com/news/local/l...

My book WISCONSIN IDOLS includes an essay on the Beatles' memorable 1964 appearance in Milwaukee. In a peak moment of my Beatle-loving life, the book rose to #5 on Amazon in the category of “The Beatles.” Didn’t last long, but I’ll gaze at this screenshot till the day I die.

YouTube video by LookForwardWI Dean Robbins career in Wisconsin. #Shorts #YouTubeShorts

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is featuring me in its #LookForwardWI campaign, which promotes the joys of living in the state. In a series of videos, I discuss my essay collection WISCONSIN IDOLS and my life as a writer.

youtube.com/shorts/eLvCP...

Madison-based author publishes book called ’Wisconsin Idols’ A Madison-based author just published a new book about one hundred prominent figures who have left their mark on Wisconsin and beyond.

Thanks to @wmtv15news.com for the chance to discuss Oprah Winfrey, the Beatles, Bob Dylan and other iconic figures featured in my essay collection WISCONSIN IDOLS: 100 HEROES WHO CHANGED THE STATE, THE WORLD, AND ME.

www.wmtv15news.com/video/2025/0...

For my presentation on WISCONSIN IDOLS at last weekend's Ridges and Rivers Book Festival, I read my essay on Elvis Presley’s “Last Miracle.” At the end of his life, Elvis regained his mojo long enough to dramatically stop a fight at a Madison gas station.

At Milwaukee’s Boswell Book Company, I shared little-known stories about Harrison Ford, Elvis Presley, Oprah Winfrey and Ann Landers in a presentation for my essay collection WISCONSIN IDOLS: 100 HEROES WHO CHANGED THE STATE, THE WORLD, AND ME. A lovely crowd of fellow hero-worshippers!

@whspress.bsky.social

Wisconsin Writer Explores ‘100 Heroes’ Who Changed the World The author of Wisconsin Idols takes “a fresh look at famous Wisconsin residents who’d made a mark in the wider world.”

The Milwaukee Shepherd Express interviewed me to preview my talk tonight at @boswellbooks.bsky.social for WISCONSIN IDOLS (April 23, 6:30 pm). “The book makes a case for Wisconsin as a notably influential place: a crossroads for people who changed the world.”

shepherdexpress.com/culture/milw...

World legends with Wisconsin roots explored in new book, 'Wisconsin Idols' From the famous to the little-known, Robbins hopes readers can appreciate how Wisconsin has been a crossroad for people who have changed the world.

I spoke with @wuwmradio.bsky.social to preview my talk at Milwaukee’s @boswellbooks.bsky.social for WISCONSIN IDOLS (April 23, 6:30 pm). Hear about actress Hattie McDaniel’s dramatic rise to stardom via Milwaukee, plus the Chordettes’ path to “Mr. Sandman" via Sheboygan.
www.wuwm.com/arts-culture...

100 Heroes Who Changed the State, the World, and Me Wisconsin Idols highlights surprising, little-known stories of legendary figures who either lived in or passed through Wisconsin, selected using a deeply personal lens.

I was on @tmj4.com to preview my talk at Milwaukee’s @boswellbooks.bsky.social for WISCONSIN IDOLS (Wed, April 23, 6:30 pm). Learn about legendary figures not usually associated with Wisconsin, like Harrison Ford & Jackie Robinson--plus a lesser-known WIZARD OF OZ star.

www.tmj4.com/shows/the-mo...

Books: Tales of Wisconsin Celebrities And some who just visited. New book by Wisconsin writer a feast of fun stories of the famous.

.@urbanmilwaukee.com previews my talk on WISCONSIN IDOLS: 100 HEROES WHO SHAPED THE STATE, THE WORLD, AND ME at @boswellbooks.bsky.social: Wed., April 23, 6:30 pm. An excerpt reveals how astronaut Jim Lovell developed his extraordinary self-reliance in Milwaukee.

urbanmilwaukee.com/2025/04/16/b...

Join me for a talk on WISCONSIN IDOLS: 100 HEROES WHO CHANGED THE STATE, THE WORLD, AND ME at Milwaukee’s @boswellbooks.bsky.social: Wed., April 23, 6:30 pm. Hear little-known stories about heroes you know and discover new heroes to fall in love with. Click here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/dean-robbi...