Dad: A Son Remembers

Dad was a proud member of the Greatest Generation. A navigator in the U.S. Navy during World War II, selected for his mathematical skills, he was assigned to transport ships plying the South Pacific Ocean. Even as a youth, his son quickly realized that Dad viewed the world as a place full of challenges and difficulties – interminable adversities that had to be anticipated, grappled with head-on, and surmounted. As a result, he had no patience for complainers, excuse-makers, or shirkers of responsibility. But more than anything, he couldn’t stand liars, prevaricators, or connivers; like many of his generation, Dad believed that “a man’s word is his bond.” He often said, “If you don’t give me ammo, I can’t fire the gun.”

Above all, he expected full effort in every action and could instantly tell if one of his children wasn’t giving their best. Throughout his 84 years, his staunch Catholic faith guided him, and by both example and word, he steadfastly imparted those principles to his six children.

Conflict & Peace: At Home with Jesus

Those of Christian faith and those without all carry personalized perceptions about Jesus of Nazareth – some form of god and/or man who sojourned briefly on earth 20 centuries ago. Perspectives vary wildly. But few, whether of Christian or non-Christian persuasion, feel comfortable characterizing this Jesus as one who brashly declares that he came not to bring peace on earth… but rather division.

In this book, author Eric Hovee traces a seemingly never-ending Christian dialogue and practice that may espouse peace but often engages in conflict. The author explores this interplay through the lives, beliefs, and practices of 12 pioneers who helped shape Christianity as it has been handed down to us today. We begin with the contrasting perspectives of the four gospel writers – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – and continue with pivotal, yet sometimes conflicted, early church leaders such as Paul, James, Peter, Thomas, and Mary Magdalene. The journey then skips forward three centuries to the Roman Emperor Constantine, who sought to marry church and state, before moving another millennium ahead to Martin Luther, who sought to radically reform it all, and finally circles back to our starting point: Jesus, as the one who intended it all.

How best to experience conflict, and yet find peace? Every day and through every phase of human existence, there is an opportunity for resolution and partnership, in step and at home with Jesus. We seek a Jesus who consistently demonstrates that, just when we think we have the answers, new questions arise. When we feel we’ve run the race, we find we’ve only just begun.

Gypsy Moth

The primary goal of this book is, and always has been, to depict and illustrate the sanctity of human life, as well as the cycles of birth, death, and rebirth.

To achieve this, the author immersed herself in the perspectives of various characters, capturing their voices, thoughts, and emotions. By doing so, she sought to bring their experiences to life in a way that resonates deeply with readers.

This book is not intended to be understood purely on an intellectual level but to be felt as a tangible and profound sensation.

Memoirs of a Fun Life

A cheerful tale of a lucky life. While intelligence can be useful, a touch of silliness often leads to more adventures and fun. Starting life with no grand ambitions or expectations means you’re never disappointed – instead, you’re regularly delighted to find yourself in fascinating situations.

Life sometimes feels like tubing down rocky rapids, where, with only the occasional use of a paddle, you somehow arrive in calm waters – unscathed and grinning from ear to ear.

My Grandpa

With meticulous detail, the author paints a vivid portrait of an intellectual family grappling with the complexities of modernization, globalization, and the clash of ideologies. As the narrative unfolds, you are invited to ponder the universal truths about family, education, life, and death, that transcend time and borders. You can also see the influence of Western culture, especially the U.S. culture in China during the early 21st century, while gaining insights into China’s miraculous rise and the forces that shape its destiny.

What did the heart and mind of an ordinary CCP member, a physics teacher, look like? How would a political dissident growing up in his family think of the government? What did Shanghai look like in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and how was it different from Shanghai in the 1930s? Why did the country embracing globalization and democracy collapse back to autocracy and totalitarianism in less than fifteen years, under Xi Jinping’s rule?

You can also witness the transformation of China from the 1920s to the early 21st century, as is seen through the lens of a CCP member’s experiences, as well as a political dissident’s narratives. Prepare to be swept away on an unforgettable voyage of discovery, as you uncover the hidden truths that lie at the intersection of family, culture, and history.

The Way of Undoing

The Way of Undoing: Capitalism, Trauma, and the Return of Wonder is an intimate personal exploration of possibility and discovery through stories and adventures great and small.

The author’s search for reconciliation with a war-traumatised father traces the origins of transgenerational trauma from capitalist roots to today’s internet, where data, information, and misinformation streams have taken the place of dialogue and storytelling. Climate change and pandemics have thrust Western culture upon an emotionally stuck world and challenge the collective human story that we, and the author, are writing as we live.

When There Are Two Patients in One Body

In When There Are Two Patients in One Body, an experienced Labor and Delivery nurse shares a collection of birth stories, some joyful and others harrowing, that reveal profound life lessons from one of the most intense human experiences. While babies arrive either by vaginal delivery or caesarean section, each birth unfolds uniquely, whether as a momentous and thrilling event or an unexpected and life altering ordeal.

This book follows the author’s career, presenting a chronological journey through a diverse array of births, from routine and uneventful to tragic, each story interwoven with her personal reflections. Readers are drawn into the delivery room to witness the intimate details and drama of the birthing process, revealing the complexities of patients’ lives and circumstances.

As these stories unfold, readers gain insight into how factors such as healthcare access, race, culture, socioeconomic status, and education profoundly shape each birth experience. Beyond the joys and challenges, the author reveals that being a Labor and Delivery nurse is far more than just ‘a great job where you get to cuddle babies.’ It is a vocation that demands resilience, empathy, and an unflinching dedication to supporting patients through life’s pivotal moments.

Endorsement:

“Twenty-six years ago I was a brand-new intern on labor and delivery. The nurses rightfully didn’t trust us newbies.

Over the next four years, I became an OB/GYN under the direction of the attending doctors and hands-on nurses. In our first two years as fledgling doctors, we quickly learned that the nurses knew more than we did, and could make or break our experience. As we became part of the team, we all supported one another through the best days and the worst, for our patients and for us. I still hear some of their voices and advice.

Steph’s is one of them. Her stories are written just as they would sound over a beer or cup of coffee.”

– Jeanette Thomas, MD. Author of the blog Healing Is Hard. (www.healingishard.net)

Raised by Children

Raised by Children is a story about the impact of childhood trauma and PTSD, and a young woman’s resilience as she finds her voice and carves her own path.

Stepping beyond the suffocating backyard of her factory town in Kentucky, she discovers just how vast the world can be.

The Entrepreneur in France, 1756-1816

The Entrepreneur in France, 1756-1816 offers historians and students a compelling examination of the rise of the entrepreneur in France during a transformative era. This study explores how leaders of enterprise accumulated capital, refined management skills, and shaped the foundations of modern economic practices. With a focus on the insights of the influential Physiocrats and the contributions of A. J. R. Turgot, who served as both intendant and minister, this work reveals how economic thought and policy responded to and influenced the burgeoning spirit of entrepreneurship.

Todor Todorov Karagochev

The pages of the novel resurrect before the reader the events of a hundred years ago from 1912 to 1925 in the Balkans, in particular, in Bulgaria during the two Balkan wars, the echo of which was the Great War, which drew all countries and continents into its orbit and gave birth to a lost generation.

Three wars led to dramatic events in Bulgaria: a coup d’état and the establishment of despotism, against which the heroes of the country rise to fight. Brave, fearless, daring, elusive, they defy the executioner’s power and prepare the people for the uprising to overthrow the junta. The noble at heart and free spirited, they wage a heroic battle for freedom, risking their lives to save the life of another.

It is a hymn to the beauty of nature of the Balkans. It is a wide panorama of life of the era and society. It is based on real events. It is dedicated to the memory of Alexander Stamboliysky, it is dedicated to the memory of all the freedom fighters of all the times and countries.

Sex

Sex is not just a biological drive; it’s a powerful force that has shaped human evolution, relationships, and social dynamics for millennia. From ensuring the survival of our species to influencing social norms and cultural beliefs, sexual behavior plays a crucial role in our lives. Darwin’s theory of sexual selection highlights how humans, driven by the need to choose the right mate, have shaped the course of evolution. But sexuality has always been a subject of conflict. Religious and regulatory institutions have worked tirelessly to control it, often turning sex into a “problem” rather than understanding its vital role in our development. These efforts have reached deep into our personal lives, attempting to regulate even the most private aspects of human existence.

This book delves into the complexities of sex, exploring its impact on human psychology, mental health, and social order. It looks at how centuries of influence and restriction have left an imprint on our collective unconscious, embedding themselves into the very fabric of our being. By understanding sex through the lens of science rather than restriction, we can uncover a deeper truth about its role in human life. Drawing from evolutionary psychology, sociology, history, and beyond, this book offers a fresh perspective on a subject that has been both celebrated and censored. The journey of understanding sexuality, and its place in human progress, is far from over. This book serves as a preface to the conversations and deeper research that must follow.

Tears of Love

Everybody wants freedom. Every nation seeks it. Every organization demands it. The press, too, fights for its freedom. From the Garden of Eden to the present day, the quest for freedom has continued unabated. Yet, no one has ever truly defined what freedom is, making it a deeply subjective concept.

The British press is one of the freest and most powerful in the world, but its perception of freedom is its own. When press freedom collides with the idea of perceived press freedom in an era of political correctness, the consequences are profound. This book delves into that very collision, exploring its impact on society and media integrity.

A must-read for anyone interested in the power of the press, this book reveals how the British media shapes, influences, and even alters public perception.

In today’s world, information is everything. The speed at which it flows has transformed the world into a global village. But what happens when that flow is controlled, manipulated, or misunderstood? This book seeks to answer that question.