Stephen’s new weekly podcast is becoming very popular around the world. Each week we hear from dozens of people outside of the United States who are learning from and enjoying Stephen’s weekly ten-minute discussions of history, theology, contemporary issues and fun stuff. Recent topics have included Stephen’s favorite new books of 2011, coaching for writers, the question of whether Mormonism is a cult and how to understand the constitutional ban on “religious tests.” You can listen for yourself and then subscribe to the Mansfield Podcast by clicking on the blue/green bar above.
Mansfield’s Latest: Oprah and Obama
Stephen Mansfield has two new books out recently, one on Oprah Winfrey and one on Barack Obama. The book on Oprah Winfrey—entitled Where Has Oprah Taken Us: The Religious Impact of the World’s Most Famous Woman—is already out and climbing bestseller lists. The book on Obama—an updated and expanded version of the international bestseller The Faith of Barack Obama—is coming out in late November. Interestingly, though both books are about influential African-American leaders in our generation, the book on Oprah is about a woman who has rejected biblical Christianity in favor of a self-empowering mysticism and the book on Obama is about a man schooled in theological liberalism who is now turning toward a more traditional Christian faith. In the new Obama book, Mansfield even includes details like copies of the devotional emails the president receives daily on his Blackberry. The two books represent two fascinating tales about two very different religious journeys in our time.
Stephen’s Fall Book Releases
Two new books by Stephen Mansfield will be releasing this fall. The first is his eagerly anticipated Where Has Oprah Taken Us: The Religious Impact of the World’s Most Famous Woman. You can see the cover of this book and read Stephen’s description of its themes here. A bit later in the fall, the updated and expanded version of The Faith of Barack Obama will be released. In this new version of the 2008 international bestseller, Stephen offers insight into what has been happening in the president’s religious life—and, be assured, it isn’t what you might expect! Watch for Mansfield’s major media appearances about both of these important new books.
Mansfield Named Distinguished Alumnus
Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, has named Stephen Mansfield a Distinguished Alumnus for 2011. Stephen earned one of his degrees, a Masters in the fields of history and public policy, at Abilene Christian in 1988. “It was one of the finest experiences of my life academically,” Stephen has said. “I had never been affiliated with the Churches of Christ but ACU welcomed me, put me in lecture halls with eminent scholars, and worked me hard. I’ve benefited from that training ever since.” An awards event will be held in Nashville later this year.
Chartwell Writer’s Conference Coming Soon
Chartwell Literary Group, a creation of The Mansfield Group, is currently planning a writer’s conference. The conference will be held over several days in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, and will include sessions on the craft of writing in general, on writing non-fiction, on the arts of social media for writers, and on practical matters like publishing trends, agents, and writing for social impact. Keep logging onto MansfieldGroup.com for more information about this flagship conference.
Stephen’s Guinness Speech Proving Popular
When Stephen Mansfield wrote his The Search for God and Guinness, he had no idea how popular the book would be. It has generated more Internet buzz and reviews on Amazon.com than nearly any of his other books and it is selling very well. It has also generated speaking. Stephen has spoken about the principles of Guinness success and social impact to organizations that range from brewer’s associations to universities to leading corporations. His creative Keynote presentation (the Mac version of PowerPoint) has been a great hit, as well, and highlights the principles and heritage Stephen presents so passionately.
To contact The Mansfield Group about booking Stephen for a speech, write us at BookingStephen@MansfieldGroup.com or Info@MansfieldGroup.com.
Stephen Update
Keeping up with Stephen is not easy, but here’s an update. Stephen is currently writing a book on Oprah Winfrey’s religious impact on America and at the same time he is doing a wide variety of media to promote the book he co-wrote with David Holland, The Faith and Values of Sarah Palin. Perhaps you’ve seen him on CNN, Fox, CBN or ABC discussing this new book. Meanwhile, he is completing his year-end schedule of speeches, which includes a corporate event in Jacksonville, Florida, and a lecture on current trends in Washington DC. Early next year, he and Bev will travel to Guam and the Philippines before Stephen goes to Peru to help with the upcoming presidential election there. When he is home, he will be writing two books, one on strong manhood drawn from great men of history and one on a contemporary culture shaper. He will also be working with a short list of clients, helping them hone their speaking skills and craft their message in their field.
The best way to stay up with Stephen other than these updates is on Twitter. You can follow him at @MansfieldWrites.
Mansfield Group Seminars
Increasingly, the work of the Mansfield Group is taking the form of seminars for strategic education. For businesses, churches, schools, military installations and non-profit organizations, Mansfield Group is becoming an outsourced continuing education department providing the strategic training necessary for impact upon our times. Recent seminars we have conducted include Islam 101, The Leadership Pillars of Winston Churchill, Lessons of Corporate Greatness from the Guinness Story, New Testament Blowout and Finding Your Voice: The Keys of Speaking Powerfully. If we can help you with this service of the Mansfield Group, please let us know.
“The Generals” – Now Available
Thomas Nelson’s exciting new series of biographies entitled “The Generals” is now starting to appear in stores. Stephen Mansfield is the general editor of this series, which begins with a volume about George Patton and a volume about Robert E. Lee. Many more biographies will release over the next three years, including treatments of Sherman, Washington, MacArthur, Pershing, Jackson, and more. Mansfield has said in interviews, “I think readers are going to find this series to be thrilling reads combined with historical mastery. Our writers are among the best in the field and man can they write!”
New Mansfield Group Foundation is Gaining Support
The Global Leadership Development Fund, a new foundation started by Stephen and Beverly Mansfield, is drawing widespread support. The foundation is devoted to funding leadership training abroad and is already being asked to serve in a number of foreign countries. To see how you can help support the work of the The Global Leadership Development Fund, click on that name on the Our Firm menu of this site.
Mansfield/Holland Pen New Book on Palin
Stephen Mansfield and his writing partner, David Holland, have just completed a new book about Sarah Palin. Though most books dealing with the former Alaska governor either attack or defend her, Mansfield and Holland’s book seeks to explain what Palin’s beliefs and the popular response to them exposes in American culture. Entitled The Faith and Values of Sarah Palin: What She Believes and What it Means for America, this new book releases in late September.
Mansfield Group Launches New Foundation
The Mansfield Group has just launched a new foundation designed to train and coach leaders around the world. Called The Global Leadership Development Fund, this organization arose from Stephen Mansfield’s international teaching work. Time and again Stephen would find himself with leaders from every walk of life—politics, business, and military to name but a few arenas—who needed training, coaching and strategic networking as leaders. Stephen came to understand that he could do wider good by sponsoring training events and when he did so they were exceptionally successful. Initially, he and Beverly funded these events themselves. As invitations and opportunities increased, they came to realize that they needed partners to make the growing number of events possible. This is what led to The Global Leadership Development Fund, which will make possible leadership training events and the follow-up coaching and networking that has the potential to transform nations. To find out how you can help, just click here.
“Paul Harvey’s America” Wins Award
Stephen Mansfield and his co-author, David A. Holland, have just learned that their biography of Paul Harvey—entitled Paul Harvey’s America—has won the 2010 Retailers Choice Award for Biography. The book represents the first collaboration between Mansfield and Holland, who were dear friends long before they began writing together. Mansfield has previously won the award twice, for both the English and the Spanish versions of his The Faith of George W. Bush. This year’s award is all the sweeter to him because it honors his partnership with Holland and because the book was a labor of appreciation for the life of Paul Harvey. Congratulations to Stephen and David!
By the way, you can see the other Retailers Choice Award Winners here. You can also order a copy of Paul Harvey’s America here.
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