Book excerpt: These one hundred short stories are inspirational, humorous, and interesting for students or anyone interested in the people and events that figured in the life of Missouri, the Mother of the West. Learn things you didn't know about Jesse James, Walt Disney, Kit Carson, Bald Knobers, Ozarkers and prairie folks who gave us what we enjoy today. American Exceptionalism is proudly and laughingly on display in the pages of Tales From Missouri and the Heartland. This is a great gift for students, teachers, former Midwesterners, people in the military or travelers who enjoy light reading in the airport or on the plane. Every story is bound to make them think of another story just as good.