Light History

Janusz Korczak was more than a good doctor. He was a hero. The Dr. Spock of his day, he established orphanages run on his principle of honoring children and shared his ideas with the public in books and on the radio. He famously said that "children are not the people of tomorrow, but people today". Korczak was a man ahead of his time, whose work ultimately became the basis for the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child.

Of all the musical developments of rock in the 1960s, one in particular fundamentally changed the music's structure and listening experience: the incorporation of extended improvisation into live performances. While many bands—including Cream, Pink Floyd, and the Velvet Underground—stretched out their songs with improvisations, no band was more identified with the practice than the Grateful Dead. In Get Shown the Light Michael Kaler examines how the Dead's dedication to improvisation stemmed from their belief that playing in this manner enabled them to touch upon transcendence.

An Alternate History account of Jack the Ripper: Vampire Hunter. In the fall of 1888, Jack the Ripper cut a swath of blood and terror through the streets of London, in an area known as Whitechapel. The papers called him a monster for attacking innocent women in the night. But if the world only knew the truth behind Jack’s monstrous acts, they would think differently. Jack was a madman, yes, but a madman on a mission to save the world from the foul creatures of the night. Creatures that haunted his soul, tortured his existence, and made every minute of his life a living hell. Only Jack the...

Rahab, a historical figure, takes center stage in this novel, which seeks to reimagine what her life might have been like, focusing particularly on her journey of transformation. Moving from darkness to light is never easy, and it must have been even more challenging in an era when women had little to no rights. Too often, we are quick to judge the mistakes or circumstances of others, rarely pausing to consider what we ourselves might have done in similar situations. This book dares us to step into a vastly different world through the power of imagination, offering us the chance to glimpse...

Daniel Summerhill gets up one day and walks out of his college class. This novel takes place in the chaotic year of 1970 in Greenwich Village. Daniel is confused. He has to face the draft, angry parents, newly-liberated girlfriends, and total uncertainty about his future. Carefully, he decides to explore being a writer. He gets advice and meets a variety of famous and rebellious people. There is the painter who lives in a treehouse, figures in the music business, writers among the Beatniks and others. Trying to find his self and be true to it, Daniel struggles to write, to find love, and to...

In the mid- to late-19th century, a burgeoning science called electricity promised to shine new light on a rousing nation. Inventive and ambitious minds were hard at work. Soon that spark was fanned, and a war was under way to be the first to light - and run - the world with electricity. Thomas Alva Edison, the inventor of direct current (DC), engaged in a brutal battle with Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse, the inventors of alternating current (AC). There would be no ties in this race - only a winner and a loser - and the prize was a nationwide monopoly in electric current.

The Great Depression and Broadway: Finding Light in the Darkest Hours By Richard Fleischman Step into the heart of Broadway during one of the most challenging eras in American history. In The Great Depression and Broadway: Finding Light in the Darkest Hours, Richard Fleischman takes you on an unforgettable journey through the iconic musicals that lifted the spirits of a nation struggling to survive. From the glitzy lights of Radio City Music Hall to the stage of the Great White Way, Broadway became a sanctuary of optimism, providing both a temporary escape and a lasting sense of hope. This ...

The Boys in the Light follows the parallel journeys of Company D and Eddie Willner, the author’s father, as they experience two sides of World War II. This is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of the bonds forged during war; a must-listen for fans of Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and Erik Larson’s The Splendid and the Vile.

Africa is on the threshold of a changing global environment, with intense competition between those who are part of the so-called Western, liberal, American-led global order and a range of states, illiberal to autocratic, who wish to supplant that order that has been in place since the end of World War II with one that is more to their liking. Living on the youngest continent, Africans find themselves courted by representatives of both blocs. Few understand the significance of this competition or, for that matter, Africa itself. Few know what to do with Africa’s abundant resources, human ...

These passages from the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson on religion and spiritual philosophy reveal a metaphysical thought that is quintessentially American and universally relevant to the spiritual needs of today's world. It is seldom that an American philosopher is found among the gurus, mystics, and masters present in the spiritual milieu. Emerson combined the spiritual intuition of the East with the philosophical acumen of the West.

Enter the incredible world of intergalactic warriors, become a part of an epic saga, and forge your destiny with your very own energy blade with 'Lightsaber Construction 101'. This e-book is a complete guide to understanding the intricacies of constructing your personal lightsaber, an icon of honor and bravery in the galaxy. Immerse in the rich history of lightsabers, and discover different types and characteristics of these extraordinary weapons. Navigating the complex processes of constructing a lightsaber with efficacy, 'Lightsaber Construction 101' simplifies it for you. It guides you ...

As a U.S. Homeland Security investigator becomes ensnared in a thicket of terrorist puzzles and codes unraveling his troubled past, his counterpart in a parallel Earth without Christianity experiences strange visions of our world after meeting a charismatic preacher with a new message of peace and forgiveness. The two men wade through intolerance, hatred, and terrorism while struggling with their own skepticism as a growing connection between them unwittingly leads toward destruction, redemption, or both.

After destroying William Carpenter, the Master Vampire he followed from London to America, Jack Morrow, also known as Jack the Ripper, finds that his foe had powerful allies in New Orleans who mean to avenge their fallen leader. He soon finds himself tangled in a dangerous web of vampires and Vodou cultists who will stop at nothing to kill Jack the Ripper and end the wrath he has brought upon them. Among the Ripper’s new enemies is a powerful vampire who appears as a nine-year-old southern girl, determined to avenge her fallen Sire. She calls upon Victor, a Vampire Elder and his devious ...

London, 1888 After Jack Morrow boards a steamship to America, the gruesome murders attributed to “Jack the Ripper,” stop as suddenly as they started. Jack is in pursuit of a cunning and dangerous Master Vampire who he has battled before. With his trusted friend, Helena, a gifted physic and practitioner of white magic, they meet the legendary sleuth and partner of Sherlock Holmes, Doctor John Watson. Together, the trio lands in New York City and encounters far more than they expected. Bent on revenge, the Ripper follows the Vampire's trail to the dark streets and mansions of New Orleans,...

August 25, 1943. A lone bicyclist transports a cache of explosives, hidden in a beer crate, to a Copenhagen hall being readied to house German troops. In a violent blast, the would-be barracks is reduced to rubble. It's the boldest act yet of Holger Danske and the growing Danish resistance combating the oppressiveness of Hitler's Reich. In 1940, on its way to conquering Western Europe, Germany coerced the Danish government into a "cooperative" agreement that lasted three long years until the increasing brazenness of the Resistance movement prompted a crackdown.

Mandy is determined to save the lighthouse that has been in her family for over a hundred years. Hidden inside she finds historical treasures, hidden secrets, and the clues to a possible murder. When her mother is accused of the crime, Mandy's new faith is put to the test. With the help of her old childhood friend, David, and the support of an entire community, she fights to save her family's heritage and find out what happened on that stormy beach those many years ago. Along the way, she finds her faith and true love. You will find an ending you never saw coming.

Martin Luther. Sojourner Truth. Helen Keller. St. Patrick. We read their stories, and of other people like them, in history books and hear about the amazing things they did to change the world. But one part of the story is often left out: Each one of them wouldn’t have accomplished what they did without prayer. In Prayers That Changed History, the stories of twenty-five notable people are presented along with how prayer changed their lives and changed history.

The Dark Ages was a millennium, running from approximately 500 (Rome fell in 476) to 1500 AD (Martin Luther’s 95 Theses were written in 1517); being a three-fold darkness: spiritual, physical, and educational. “One must be accustomed to the light, at least in some measure, to be able to judge of the darkness. A blind man can have no idea of the extent of the darkness around him. It is the same as to moral and spiritual darkness. A person must have some acquaintance with the light of scripture in order to discern the darkness around him. Thus, alas, during the ages under consideration, ...

Abounding in secluded, atmospheric parks, artists' studios, cafes, restaurants, and streets little changed since the 1800s, Paris exudes romance. The art and architecture, the cityscape, riverbanks, and the unparalleled quality of daily life are part of the equation. But the city's allure derives equally from hidden sources: querulous inhabitants, a bizarre culture of heroic negativity, and a rich historical past supplying enigmas, pleasures, and challenges.

Most people only consider the Mississippi River when they cross it or when it inconveniently abandons its banks. But every year, millions of tons of cargo are transported by towboats on the river. In Peep Light, Captain Lee Hendrix provides unique insight on people who work and live on and near the Mississippi River. Hendrix, formerly a pilot for the Delta Queen Steamboat Co., has worked on the Mississippi for fifty years. In 2014, Hendrix became captain of the towboat Mississippi with the US Army Corps of Engineers, then he later retired to return to passenger vessels.