Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times: A Memoir of One Citizen Activist by Lois Nicolai is the first book in the author's biographical trilogy. Nicolai begins with some backstory on her personal experiences leading the charge and discussing her family home life, including the devastating and unexpected loss of her husband. As Nicolai puts the pieces of her life back together, so she enters a thoughtful transitory period wherein she reflects on the trajectory of her new normal and makes the decision to be an agent of change in some of the world's most controversial and harmful schemes. This instalment details Nicolai's earliest years on the front lines of international peacekeeping, bringing to life her proactive dissent on nuclear disarmament, worldwide test sites, and atmospheric testing, all done alongside voices, visitors, and global hosts who find themselves and their own corners of the world impacted.

Lois Nicolai appears to have lived ten lifetimes in one. Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times provides incredible insight into the actions of a profoundly courageous woman and those who are also willing to risk it all while fighting the good fight, primarily through the World Citizen Diplomat organization. For me the most eye-opening part of Nicolai's memoir is the no-holds-barred look at the impact of radiation on some of the world's most vulnerable, namely children, which is absolutely heart-breaking. The journey from a Mary Kay saleswoman who was inches away from a full-blown career to anti-nuclear activism, supplementing her income by becoming one of only two female drivers and her arms-length proximity to those in power is awe-inspiring. I admit this isn't a book that I would normally choose to read as personal memoirs of writers who aren't already well known tend to lean toward the mundane. Nicolai's story is light years ahead of these autobiographies and I do believe her book will be of interest to more than just the generations of her own family that follow when the rest of us are all gone. I am so grateful to have immersed myself in Nicolai's activism.

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times: A Memoir of One Citizen Activist is a work of non-fiction written in the autobiographical style by author Lois Nicolai. Centered on themes such as activism, acceptance, discovery, and kindness towards our fellow man, this is a fascinating work which not only explores the emotive rollercoaster of the author’s own life story but teaches valuable lessons about the contributions we can make to society whatever our age, gender or background. As the first in a trilogy of works about the author’s life and efforts as a citizen activist, this book highlights some very tragic and poignant news about the effects of radiation disease, and advocates for its eradication.

Author Lois Nicolai delivers a superb work that will captivate readers from all walks of life, most especially those who are interested in stepping outside of their own cultures and comfort zones. For those in educational settings, the book is exceedingly well-edited and organized to give a really informative experience of lesser-known cultures and countries, most especially Kazakhstan, where the bulk of Nicolai’s investigation and advocacy takes place. One of the things that I most admired about the work was that the narration has a raw, honest quality to it, with the author demonstrating important personal events that lead to the journey of activism, but also giving vivid descriptions of the horrors witnessed that certainly stick in the mind, along with their messages. Overall, I would highly recommend Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times: A Memoir of One Citizen Activist as an accomplished work that will be sure to broaden the horizons of anyone who reads it.