Mountain, Get Out of My Way: Life Lessons and Learned Truths

TV talk-show host Williams grew up in a Baltimore family in which both parents worked multiple jobs and demanded his adherence to conventional values. Unable to afford college, he enlisted in the Marines and won an appointment to Annapolis. On graduation, Williams became an intelligence officer but had his greatest success as an inspirational speaker to young-adult audiences, even attracting the attention of the White House. It was a short step to television, where his program is syndicated nationally. In his book, written with freelancer Paisner, Williams cautions minority group members: never forget that you will face discrimination, but battle to overcome it. After a disappointing first chapter, in which he argues that putting prayer into our schools will solve many of the nation's problems, the rest of the book is absorbing. Author tour. (Mar.)