Showing results by narrator "A. R. Smith" in All Categories

Six weeks prior, on the heels of the most hellish case he could ever remember, Detective Reed Mattox and his K-9 partner, Billie, were placed on administrative leave from the Columbus Police Department. Fearful of what the media might say, the brass decided to put them at arm’s length, allowing the aftermath of that fateful night to settle. Not used to being placed on the sidelines, and no good at sitting still for long, the decision was made to travel west to his native Oklahoma and help his parents begin the long process of unpacking their new home.

It started as a quiet night, a much needed reprieve for the overworked team of Detective Reed Mattox and his K-9 partner, Billie. With just a single phone call from dispatch, both are plunged into a nightmare they could have never imagined. Somewhere in the greater Columbus area, a young 20-something is sealed away inside a coffin. With no recollection of how she got there or who might have put her there, she is desperate.

Ayn Rand's philosophical novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged made her the most controversial author of her age. Her works have drawn millions of fans and continue to sell at a breathtaking pace. Their impact on American culture runs from libertarian politics to the self-esteem movement in psychology to the rugged individualism of Silicon Valley and the Internet. Rand also launched a movement of intellectuals committed to her philosophy of Objectivism.

The welfare state rests on the assumption that people have rights to food, shelter, health care, retirement income, and other goods provided by the government. David Kelley examines the historical origins of that assumption, and the rationale used to support it today.

When he graduates with his law degree, handsome and charismatic Langston Hudson is ready to hit the ground running as a lawyer with his family's firm, but a routine traffic stop during a night out with his friends quickly derails his plans and turns his world upside down. Langston and his friends are arrested after officers find half a million dollars' worth of drugs in his car. When Jacqueline Hudson learns of her son's arrest, she immediately begins to build her case. She is one of the top lawyers in the country, with a reputation for being a shark in the courtrooms.

In Ayn Rand and Altruism, George H. Smith calls attention to benevolence in Rand’s thinking. Indeed, Smith defends Rand’s rejection of altruism by contrasting it to benevolence. In this series of essays, originally published on Libertarianism.org and republished by The Atlas Society with permission of the author, Smith begins by establishing that Rand’s definition of altruism - “the placing of others above self, of their interests above one’s own” - is identical to the definition of altruism originated by Auguste Comte.

This Christian healing audiobook delves into the negative and downright devastating events that occur in our lives that break our faithful hearts and trample our spirits, but it won’t be man-made wisdom pellets being handed out here. This is a Christian journey to find God in the midst of our sorrow.

A lady farmer and a disgraced detective - will what starts as an arrangement turn into something more? Leigh Hawthorne, a widow and local farmer in Tucker Springs, Massachusetts, answers an unusual letter from a man out west, who wants to marry a woman with ranching expertise. Hoping to find a better life, Leigh embarks on a journey to Chance City, Oklahoma. Join the Chance City adventure as its citizens battle opposing forces and mayhem in their searches for love and a brighter future.

Evelyn Winters enjoyed spending the summers at her grandmother's cabin. There was always something interesting to do, whether tending the garden or exploring the surrounding swampy forest of the Smoky Mountains. She never cared to learn the witching ways of her grandmother - until the devil showed up. When Eldon Jenkins is found dead, torn limb from limb by a wild beast, and the devil comes creeping around the cabin, grandma keeps it at bay. But when grandma goes missing, Evelyn must rely on her wits, training, and dormant abilities.

Do you wish you could lead a mindful life where you're completely present for yourself, completely aware of what you're doing and not reactive to the noise and distractions of your surroundings? No matter where you lie on the spectrum of life, mindfulness is always the end goal - and it should be. The good news is that you can be mindful regardless of how busy your schedule is: all you need is a few minutes to find quietude and joy in your frantic life.

What is the nature of benevolence toward other people? How does it differ from altruism? Is it a major or minor virtue? How does it relate to the benevolent sense of life? David Kelley answers these questions in a groundbreaking work. Unrugged Individualism is the first philosophical analysis of benevolence from the Objectivist point of view, a major addition to the Objectivist ethics, and a convincing demonstration of the fertility of the system of ideas originated by Ayn Rand.

Let's face it, the world these days can be very difficult to handle sometimes, especially if it starts to control you. This can get you down, leaving you stressed, worried, and anxious. But when you take back control, you will find positive things start to happen. You will feel your confidence and optimism returning - the real "you" starts to reappear - and you can enjoy life to the full again.

There is simply no value put on words. Words, however, are the reason that one person lives a life of abundance while another person lives a life of lack. In this book, I want to share with you the correct way to harness the power of your words, so instead of holding you back, they propel you towards the life that you desire - the life that you were destined to live.

For paramedic Adam Carson, his world is lights and sirens and saving lives. Pressures at work keep him firmly in the closet, and life is too busy to contend with the complications that come with dating and relationships. When a familiar face from his past turns up where he least expects it, Adam starts to question whether or not there is room in his life for those complications. The last person forensic pathologist Sam McKenna expects to see at pub night is Adam, the guy who made his life hell in high school.

This collection of 11 stories spans virtually the whole of Tolstoy's creative life. While each is unique in form, as a group they are representative of his style, and touch on the central themes that surface in War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Stories as different as "The Snowstorm", "Lucerne", "The Diary of a Madman", and "The Devil" are grounded in autobiographical experience. They deal with journeys of self-discovery and the moral and religious thought that characterizes Tolstoy's works of criticism and philosophy.

We all know the formula, and we all love the stories. Boy meets boy, one's a closeted jock and the other's a sweet college student with a heart of gold. The jock is always cautious and worried how others will perceive him. The gay protagonist is always too good to be true, and dare we say, dumb? Then it's all forbidden glances, angst, and misunderstandings, right? Well, this isn't one of those stories.

“Six quarts is way more than necessary for something like that,” Reed said. “It’s not just overkill...” Letting his voice trail off, he blinked several times, bringing himself back into the moment with the realization that it was a statement. Of what, he had not a clue.

When Broker Assistant Kathy Jenkins overhears a suspicious conversation between her boss and an unknown person, she's thrust into a dangerous situation, leading to her wrongful termination. Hiring Scott Winslow, Kathy aims to expose the wrongdoing, while Lee Henry's unconventional investigation uncovers a network of seasoned brokers dealing in non-public information without a paper trail.

What do people in the United States and Europe think about the rich? There are several thousand books and articles on stereotypes and prejudices directed at women, people of various races or nationalities, and even the poor. In contrast, there has only been sporadic research into stereotypes about the rich, and no published comprehensive, scientific study on the topic—until now.

An IED blew up more than Marc North's career as a Cobra pilot: it shattered his plans for marriage. After being dumped by his girlfriend and spending more than a year in rehab, all he wants is to fly again. He jumps at the chance to partner with a combat buddy in a helicopter sightseeing business.