Born into slavery in 1836 on a plantation outside Charlotte, North Carolina, Henry has a remarkable gift. Though his mother warned him to keep it a secret, one day he inadvertently reveals his talent. His owner, Dr. Robert Parker, wants to study the boy and takes him to town to live at his home. Only six years old, Henry must learn to live without his mother and the only world he has ever known.

As the nation moves inexorably toward war, Dr. Parker's son enlists to fight for the Confederacy and Henry, now a young man, is forced to accompany him. Drawn ever deeper into the bloody conflict, Henry must use all his strength and skills to find a way to survive. In the end, the decisions he makes will determine the course of the rest of his life, and the lives of those he loves.

In these sixty-five essays, political science professor emeritus Dr. Douglas Young examines a tremendous variety of American and global political issues and leaders. Whether making his case for or against particular public policies or scrutinizing major politicians, Dr. Young offers an independent perspective colored by Judeo-Christian conservatarian (conservative and libertarian) principles. Many major American political issues are explored in this collection, including abortion, Afghanistan, AIDS, alcohol, China, Confederate monuments, feminism, gun control, healthcare, marijuana, mass shootings, political polarization, presidential politics, press (mis)conduct, religion, secularism, and US foreign policies. Also studied in this volume is a diverse cast of public figures, including Abraham Lincoln, James Longstreet, John Kennedy, Ernesto Che Guevara, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Jesse Helms, Clarence Thomas, George Bush I, Earvin Magic Johnson, Bill Clinton, Pat Robertson, Jesse Jackson, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Tucker Carlson, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle. Informed by a lifetime of intensive political study, wit, and a penchant for being eloquently blunt, Professor Young finally answers the question he so often got from students but declined to address while teaching for over a third of a century: But what do you think, Dr. Young? Now you will know.

Elton Peabody is a thirty-five-year-old high school history teacher in a small Southern town who has a terrifying experience one night with a mysterious bright light deep in the forest behind his house. Did he encounter a UFO? A secret government project? A high-tech prank? Angels? A mental breakdown? Or something else? This is his journey to understand what happened and move on with his life in the face of increased public scrutiny. His story encompasses family dynamics (especially between Elton and his younger brother, the local sheriff), the drama of a sheriff's election, high school life as seen from a young teacher's perspective, friendship, lots of humor, a search for religious meaning, summoning the courage to face one's fears, and taking risks for romance.

Douglas Young's second novel is a romantic dramedy in which Fitzhugh Rainwater is a girl-shy young graduate student / teaching assistant trying to find romance and become a writer. His longtime best friend, Zada McMayer, is the loud, bawdy, troubled flirt who helps him out of his shell while beautiful Cleonia Lovetree is the student with whom he falls in love. Follow the evolution of not just these three compelling characters but also enjoy lots of humor and some poignant moments with a much larger cast of colorful locals comprising the small southern college town of Due South.

Despite it being almost forty years since American troops left Vietnam, the American people still regard Vietnam as a war, not a country. Same River, Different Water is not about your grandfather's war but about the thriving country of today. It is the true story of a two-tour, wounded combat veteran and his wife, a former Army nurse, who met in Vietnam during the war and returned to live in the city of Hue in 2005-06. The memoir connects the past with the present, amply supported by the author's photographs.History professors' bookshelves are filled with political and military tomes about the war, but few of them examine the impact of the war on Viet Nam's present culture. It is a positive look at the present, punctuated with glances into the past and filled with observations of the present-day Vietnamese culture. Its appeal is to anyone of the Vietnam War generation, whether they served, waited at home or participated in protests. This book answers the question What happened to the people and country that caused so much angst in the 60s and 70s? It is an antidote for curious or embittered veterans who believe the Vietnamese hate us. It is an update for those whose mental image is of an impoverished country. It is for academics who wish to have their students gain an insight into modern Southeast Asia. It is travelers looking for a different place to go.Same River, Different Water includes the words Viet Nam and Vietnam - one when referring to the country, the other when referring to the war. The first chapter opens with the negative reaction the author received from many Vietnam vets when hearing he was going to live in Viet Nam. The new country, with its skyscrapers in Saigon, absence of poverty and energetic people is juxtapositioned with memories of flares in the night sky, noisy truck convoys and the brutal poverty seen during the war. Memories are connected to the present as the two returning veterans recall the beginning of their romance of forty years. Same River, Different Water goes deeper - it leaves the war behind and examines the challenges of living and working in a very different culture. The chapter Don't They Hate Us? includes the recounting of lunch at a student's home and discovering that her father had been a Viet Cong fighter. The book refutes the common feeling among Americans that the Vietnamese hate us and leaves the reader with a realization that today's Viet Nam is a robust and growing country. Same River, Different Water is a must for anyone who wants a complete view of Viet Nam.

There are good dogs. There are great dogs. But maybe once in your life, if you are lucky, you might encounter a dog that does not fit either of those descriptions. You can't quite put your finger on why this dog is different, you just know it is. There is something so special about this dog that you can feel it in the core of your being. If someone were to ask you whether he was a good dog, you might even be at a loss for words. The best you might come up with is He's amazing. Not very original, but how do you describe such an animal. Then, one day, he saves your life. He is your hero. He is Amir. This book is dedicated to the memory of Amir. It is mostly about the lessons he was trying to teach me but I was too blind and/or stubborn to pay attention to them. If I had been paying attention I would have learned his secrets to a wonderful life much sooner.

People who sign up to take a dog training class might think they are merely becoming involved in a worthwhile activity with their dog. Actually, they are learning the same skills required by leaders who wish to create a motivating work environment. Obedience school is the perfect place to learn leadership skills. You can apply the lessons in real time, providing you with immediate feedback. You can practice them until you get them right. And, if you make a mistake, you can try again with a student who will forgive you faster than a person ever would. Thousands of dogs can testify to the benefits of this type of training. And, if asked, I am sure they would tell you that life is more pleasant living with a knowledgeable trainer, rather then with a clueless one. Leadership Lessons Learned in Dog Obedience School takes a fun but informative look at the skills required to be an effective leader, and answers the tough leadership question, What would a dog do?

Molly is lost. She can't find her way home, and it's all because of a butterfly. Now, it was the most beautiful butterfly she had ever seen, and it was fun to chase it through the garden. But, she followed it out through the open garden gate, and now she is lost in a large hay field, and the butterfly is gone. Molly only weighs six pounds and stands just 10 inches tall. How will such a small dog survive in the dangerous world beyond the safety of her backyard? Where will she sleep? What will she eat? And, what will happen to her if the things living in the hayfield, and the surrounding woods, that are bigger than her should find her? It's up to the Molly Five Rescue Team to come to her rescue. Will they find her in time? And, what will happen to them if they meet the things living in the hayfield and the surrounding woods that may be bigger than them It's a Small Dog on a Big Adventure, and one adventure is enough especially when you only weigh six pounds and stand just 10 inches tall.

This is the record of five young people who chose to work for an alien artificial intelligence they call Max; who was left on Earth a long time ago. Its makers gave it two responsibilities. First to encourage the dominant species on the planet to mature and leave Earth to colonise other planets in the galaxy before the sun exploded sometime in the not-so-distant future. Secondly to report back to his makers if certain aggressive aliens called the Nerphans returned. Sam was recruited from England in 1947. Joe from Australia in the late 1800's. Mary from South Africa in the early 1900's. Hannah from Canada in 1990, and Susan from Gambia in 2021. Their bodies have been regenerated to be permanently 25 years old and are very strong. They will live until they themselves decide to die - maybe in 1000 years time. They are given the powers of telepathy, telekinesis, and the ability to move back and forth in an adjacent timeline.

With the onset of global warming, they must accelerate the construction of Space Arks to ferry colonists away from Earth. At the same time, Nerphans are detected approaching the Solar System. Douglas Young 9th February 2024.