In 2005, scholars gathered from around the country for a conference at Saint Louis University to honour the memory of Walter J. Ong, S.J., whose intellectual work had a major impact on the study of language in many different disciplines.

The book gathers together contributions to that conference. These essays offer significant reflections on psychoanalysis, biomedical ethics, children's literacy, Biblical studies, electronic textuality, rhetorical interpretation of poetry, the history of rhetoric, communication theory, ""funk"" in African American literature, and Walter Ong's career. The volume also includes the definitive bibliography of Fr. Ong's work, compiled by Thomas M. Walsh.