A compilation of sixteen essays, written in the last years of the author's life, offers reflections on her commitment to the power of literature, the resistence to injustice as an ethical duty, and the problems of post-9/11 Ameria.

From the years before its founding to contemporary times the United States of America has been a nation gifted with eloquent speakers whose impassioned oratory has been instrumental in calling attention to national values and motivating its people to express the beliefs which define it. Classic American Speeches collects over fifty speeches spanning more than two centuries that are an index to Americas history and the many rights and causes...

A collection of commencement speeches and other wit and wisdom from the New York Times bestselling literary icon and author of Slaughterhouse-Five . Master storyteller and satirist Kurt Vonnegut was one of the most in-demand commencement speakers of his time. For each occasion, Vonnegut s words were unfailingly insightful and witty, and they stayed with audience members long after graduation. This expanded second edition also includes more than sixty...

"One of the most celebrated and revered writers in the history of American literature gives us a new nonfiction collection--a rich gathering of her essays, speeches, and meditations on society, culture, and art, spanning four decades. The Source of Self-Regard is brimming with all the elegance of mind and style, the literary prowess and moral compass, that are Toni Morrison's hallmarks. It is divided into three parts: the first is introduced by a...

A collection of speeches and writings by African Americans, with commentary about the time period in which each person lived, information about the speaker/writer, and public response to the words.

Drawing on his well-received convocation address at Syracuse University, one of today's most influential and original writers shows how to lead a kinder, more fulfilling life.