“Reveals the Oprah story no other dares to tell—and with a two-edged sword that rightly divides the truth from the lies.” —Star Parker, nationally syndicated columnist and media commentator New York Times bestselling author Stephen Mansfield traces the fascinating and influential life of Oprah Winfrey, profiling her quest for spiritual enlightenment—a well-publicized journey featuring a caravan of experts, mystics, and gurus—all claiming to have a prescription for inner peace and personal well-being. Mansfield shows how Oprah’s story fits into our larger cultural experience and reveals why her spiritual discoveries have resonated so loudly in today’s popular culture. In so doing, he sheds needed light on the dangers of a spiritual journey fueled solely by a desire for self-actualization. In the end, we find that the story of Oprah is, in fact, the story of us—of a generation searching desperately for something meaningful to believe in. “Stephen Mansfield offers us an unvarnished account of Winfrey’s life (and our own spiritual wandering) told graciously and irresistibly. You will be thrilled, disturbed, and astounded, but ultimately inspired and uplifted.” —Rabbi Daniel Lapin, American Alliance of Jews and Christians

A veteran prosecutor and consummate storyteller, Morley Swingle offers an insiders look at the justice system, taking readers from the scene of the crime to the courtroom in this enjoyable romp through crime and punishment.University of Missouri Press

Each volume profiles about six to eight novelists, poets, playwrights, short story writers, and other creative and nonfiction writers who are currently active or who died after Dec. 31, 1999. A biographical and critical introduction to each author prefaces a collection of reprinted critical essays and reviews. A cumulative title index to the entire series is available separately (included in subscription).

"Everybody calls me Liar. They don't mean no harm by it, it's just a plain fact that I am the finest truth bender in all of Dixon County. And not little weeny white lies. Big fat whopper ones that make people forget the question they asked in the first place." When a new girl, Justine, moves to town, Pete Larson -- better known as Liar -- is smitten. He gets his chance to impress her after a strange spacecraft crashes in the woods. Along with the class science geek, Bobby Ray Dobbs, they discover that the crashed UFO holds an amazing key to the future. But who's going to believe a kid named Liar? Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle (creators of the hit animated series Kim Possible) introduce a character with a fresh and distinctive voice in this very funny, pitch-perfect look at three unlikely friends who try to make a difference.