RUNNING TO BEAT HELL: A BIOGRAPHY OF A.M. (SANDY) NICHOLSON. Dyck, Betty L. Regina, Canadian Plains Research Center, 1988. 267pp, cloth, $26.00. ISBN 0-88977-051-4. CIP Grades 11 and up/Ages 16 and up Reviewed by Charles Ottosen Volume 17 Number 3 1989 May Running to Beat Hell is a typical Canadian biography about a typical Canadian hero (If I may use that term). Sandy Nicholson, while not a prominent public personality, was an influential member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. He is particularly well known in Saskatchewan, where, as a contemporary and friend of Tommy Douglas', he was a cabinet minister in the provincial government that passed the Medicare legislation. Dyck admits that this book was commissioned by Nicholson and one has to wonder what that implies about both the author and the book. Although this book does not come across as a hard hitting. Incisive biography, it is also apparent that Nicholson is not necessarily the type who would attract a muckraking author (Nicholson was an ordained minister In the United Church before turning to politics). The book is aimed at the general public and Is written at that level, although it conies across as vague. The Information Is generally arranged In chronological order, even though the author likes to jump around a bit to prevent the book from becoming a straight recitation of facts. Running to Beat Hell contains plenty of interesting pictures along with an Index and bibliography. This is a "gentle" biography for "gentle" readers (or as some people call them, "a peaches and cream biography"). Nonetheless, it is useful for providing facts about the CCF and one of its important members. Charles Ottosen, Airdrie Public Library, Airdrie, Alta.