National Network for Equitable Library Service

Written shortly after he became Biship of Hippo, "Confessions" highlights Augustine's childhood in Numidia and his riotous youth and early manhood in Carthage, Rome, and Milan. It also chronicles his continuing struggle with sin and his efforts to find satisfaction in Manichaenism and Neoplatonism. Particularly poignant are his mother's tireless efforts to rescue him from self-destruction and his dramatic conversion to the Christian faith at age 32.

In this memoir, the soon-to-be divorced Debra buys a dilapidated Texas cabin miles from her teaching job. While waiting to adopt a child, she refurbishes and expands the rude dwelling. She soon finds herself in the strange new world of single motherhood, complicated by her being white and her adopted daughter being black.

Saint Louis University professor Thomas F. Madden delivers lectures on the history of the papacy and also sheds light on the personalities of the popes and the flavor of their pontificates. At the same time, Madden demonstrates how the papacy has survived the tumultuous cauldron of history and offers a studied commentary on the future of this resilient institution.

Author and naturalist Ackerman reflects on the time she spent caring for her husband, novelist Paul West, after a stroke took his ability to speak. With conventional therapy not working, Ackerman decided to step in and do everything she could to help her husband find his words.

In this memoir, American scholar and leadership expert Warren Bennis shares insights he's gained through the course of his nearly eight-decade life and career.

Columbia University professor Liza Knapp delivers lectures on the lives, times, and most important works of four great Russian authors.

McCain pays tribute to men and women who were important examples of composure, wisdom, and intellect in the face of tough decisions, in a volume that cites the examples of such figures as Henry Ford, Branch Rickey, and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

In this course, professor Karbiener explores how Walt Whitman broke with the tyranny of European literary forms to establish a broad, new voice for American poetry. By examining the life of Whitman in the context of broad social and political change, we learn why the values we as contemporary Americans prize were often decided and idealized by this period of our history.

Born in 1937 and raised by her physician great aunt, chorus-line dancing grandmother, and glamorous murdermystery writing mother, psychotherapist Carole Ione knew more about the men in her family than she did about her secretive female forbearers. This critically acclaimed memoir is the lyrical fruit of an 18-year quest for her maternal roots. This is the fascinating truth of the complexities of race and class that make up her family.

Colton H. Bryant loves Wyoming and loves life. Mind over matter, he always says--"If you don't mind, it don't matter." And so, like his father and his father's father before him, he gets a dangerous job on the oil rig when he's old enough. He always said he'd die young, anyway.