Americas 220 years of Democracy (of its 400 years) is longer than the Greek 100 (of 1000), the Roman 150 (of 1000), or the British 180 (of 1600.) These European democracies are the only large ones ever. Two collapsed as demoralized empires. Two moderns with one heritage of basicly Christian, Northwest European tradition, have been autocraticly led further away into decadent empires than people realized. That disappearing heritage was Americas constitutional basis and durable strength. America follows Greco-Roman decay steps toward collapsing empire die-offs after losing common moral understandings and family stability. Turning toward imperial quicksand began dictatorially in the 1801 court, built to Civil War, softened seemingly in the wild west, peaked untraditionally in the "liberal" socialist double-meanings of the 1930s depression, and led under continuous near-emperors into the post-war anti-traditional, anti-Christian, anti-moral, anti-family decadence of today. Democratic repairs may exist, if traditional people come together. This book links its origin, in HUMAN CREATURES - A BROADER VIEW, to its sequel, TAMING THE VIPERS IN THE SLOUGH, through four histories of democratic civilizations: Lost limits on political leaders/governments, demagogues. Failed family/religious values. Consequent imperial disasters.

A broad, but easy reading, world-view of realities behind the anciently permanent traits of human behavior which cause simple societies to grow, to flourish in great civilizations throughout the world, and to collapse repeatedly, usually with much loss of the expanded populations. Both democracies and tyrannies follow that universal pattern into autocratic decay of civilized empires. This view leads to a search for critical factors that determine the beginning and course of the typical decays (which have already begun in modern democracies.) Invariably, all those great nations had strong religious and moral practices during their early growth to large numbers of vigorous people, up to the points of beginning the slide into collapse. All had strong leaders who escaped reasonable limits beyond their necessary uses. This book was written before the authors previously published, Headlong Into Quicksand - The Tale of Today in America -, and provided its basis and starting point. Viewing human natures overall adaptations for life-survival necessities in a real world also includes: Family, love, play, arts, psychology, dominances, politics, governments, imperial disasters, death, philosophy, world history, science/knowledges, religion, morality, and balanced democracy. (An alternative evolutionary sociobiology.)

The Extermination of the American Bison by William T. Hornaday is an in-depth examination of the factors that led to the near-extinction of the American bison. Hornaday's thorough research, coupled with his passion for wildlife conservation, make this book an essential read for those interested in the history of the American West, wildlife preservation, and environmental issues.

BLIMEY! It's something all pirates are taught when they're very young, but too many forget: never get on the wrong side of a librarian. Especially if the librarian is a lemming! The bookish Sylvester Lemmington simply wants to hunt down the facts. Everyone else just seem more interested in hunting down Sylvester. Especially so, after he becomes the accidental owner of the most sought-after treasure map of all time. Now, Sylvester must deal with the humdrum of pirate life - voodoo magic, cannibals, lethal carnivores, mutinies and magical treasures. 'The Tides of Avarice is a Treasure Island meets Redwall romp and just too darn much fun to put down' -Foreword Reviews 'The book reminded me of Terry Pratchett and I couldn't help chuckling as I read' -Madhouse Family Reviews 'It is constantly inventive, full of edge-of-the-seat excitement and did I mention that it is also hilariously funny?' -John Grant, Hugo and World Fantasy Award Winning author

A tale of a lifelong passion for a WWII aircraft that changed the author’s life: “It is almost like an adventure novel except it is true” (Air Classics). This book tells the story of a Dutch boy who grew up during the 1950s in postwar Borneo, where he had frequent encounters with an airplane, the Douglas DC-3, a.k.a. the C-47 Skytrain or Dakota, of World War II fame. For a young boy living in a remote jungle community, the aircraft reached the proportions of a romantic icon as the essential lifeline to a bigger world for him, the beginning of a special bond. In 1957, his family left the island and all its residual wreckage of World War II, and he attended college in The Hague. After graduation, he started a career as a corporate executive—and met the aircraft again during business trips to the Americas. His childhood passion for the Dakota flared up anew, and the fascination pulled like a magnet. As if predestined, or maybe just looking for an excuse to come closer, he began a business to salvage and convert Dakota parts, which meant first of all finding them. As the demand for these war relic parts and cockpits soared, he began to travel the world to track down surplus, crashed, or derelict Dakotas. He ventured deeper and deeper into remote mountains, jungles, savannas, and the seas where the planes are found, usually as ghostly wrecks but sometimes still in full commercial operation. In hunting the mythical Dakota, he often encountered intimidating or dicey situations in countries plagued by wars or revolts, others by arms and narcotics trafficking, warlords, and conmen. The stories of these expeditions take the reader to some of the remotest spots in the world, but once there, one is often greeted by the comfort of what was once the West’s apex in transportation—however now haunted by the courageous airmen of the past.

Hebrews is a sermon, and a providentially sermon for our age. This ancient text speaks to a Christ-community descending into an abyss of ennui, losing coordinates of faith and sliding through a back door or nonchalance. With glimpses across the globe and though history, this book attempts to extrapolate meaning for today from a sometimes difficult first century text.

Scientifically and historically describes the New Madrid, Missouri earthquakes of 1811-1812 and provides valuable information in the event of an earthquake today.