Books With Flair

Starting in the mid-1800s, there was a steady drop in deaths from all infectious diseases, decreasing to relatively minor levels by the early 1900s. The history of that transformation involves famine, poverty, filth, lost cures, eugenicist doctrine, individual freedoms versus state might, protests and arrests over vaccine refusal, and much more. But the authors shows that vaccines, antibiotics, and other medical interventions are not responsible for the increase in lifespan and the decline in mortality from infectious diseases.

Did you know that 400 medical doctors commit suicide each year in the USA? That is about the size of two whole medical school classes. This autobiography tells the intricate and personal story one doctor's path through medical school and out into academia, specialty medicine, and practice, having to conform to the system's standards. Like many doctors, she was on the way to becoming one of the walking dead. Then, one day she realized that policy was harming her patients, and she took a stand. This resulted in hostility and ostracism by the authorities and her peers in the system. In 2011, depressed and deflated, life was difficult in all directions . . . until she found peace through an unexpected path and a new friend. The co-author of Dissolving Illusions: Disease, Vaccines, and the Forgotten History brings you her entertaining autobiography, which will surprise you and have you wondering if your own doctor could be inadvertently threatening your health.

Imagine what it would be like to go back in time to the 15th century Venice. And imagine what it would be like to meet your lifelong hero, Michelangelo. And imagine what it would be like if, on first meeting, you spill a tray of pasta and wine on that very same hero.Well, that's what happens to serious young artist Mark Breen. As the result of a drunken bet, Mark knocks out a painting of a toilet bowl. Much to his amazement, he sells it. In short order he's hailed as the new Andy Warhol and becomes an overnight sensation-and a very wealthy man. Soon, images of his toilet bowls are on more t-shirts, mugs, and calendars than Edvard Munch's The Scream.His friend and mentor, Hugh Connelly, afraid that Mark is in danger of losing his "artistic soul," advises him to go back to Italy and reacquaint himself with the "old masters." In Venice, Mark falls in love with Alexandra, a beautiful art restorer, but it's a one-sided affair. One night, hoping to win her over, he climbs up on a roof to find out who painted her favorite fresco. He falls off the roof and wakes up in 15th century Venice where he meets an innkeeper named Francesca, who looks exactly like Alexandra. And it gets curiouser and curiouser from there. During his stay-which is sometimes zany and sometimes frightening-he meet his hero, Michelangelo, who teaches him the true meaning of art.

A collection of poetry and sketches revealing a journey of the soul, to find truth and healing.

This book is a practical and common sense approach to helping you overcome self defeating behavior. It explores some of the ways that you may have contracted the limiting, deep seated beliefs that are keeping you stuck in negative patterns. It is presented in a humorous and somewhat sagacious way, which gets "in your face" and makes you think. This work touches on many of the world religions, just enough to help you understand how they, along with parental and peer pressures have led you to think and act the way you do. It also looks at the possibility of soul choices and karma and even alien influences as a reason for you actions. Above all it gives you tools you can use to rethink your deepest beliefs thereby recreate your reality, regardless of where it came from.

An anatomy of a revolution through the perspective of a free individual. "This is how Greece became Rome and how the Russian Enlightenment became the October Revolution." Doctor Zhivago -- Boris Pasternak

Within a month of buying a Palm Beach condo, Audrey and Nate Stevens meet the eccentric millionaire Vincent Xaveir Houten. Their friendship lasts fifteen years but is brought to an abrupt halt when Vincent is murdered by a point-blank gunshot to the head. Being the last to see the victim alive always makes you the first suspect. That's the case for the Stevens until they convince police they'd never commit such a gruesome act. Once they're cleared, their relationship with Vincent turns them into trusted advisors as a Palm Beach detective searches frantically for a lead. The investigation heads to Kansas City, Missouri, where Nate organizes funeral services for Vincent. Motives of greed and jealousy emerge as suspects visit the funeral, and a Kansas City detective joins the search for clues. Finding the suspects, though, is the easy part. There's more to the story, and that's what keeps the Stevens scratching their heads. If this is a murder of opportunity, who has the most to gain?

Book Excerpt: urescit, Benzo memorante. Carol. Cluzio, l. c. Annuo justam attingens Maturitatem Spatio. Franc. Hernandes, apud Anton. Rech. In Hist. Ind. Occidental, lib. 5. c. 1.[d] It seems likely that the Spanish Authors who say there are four Kinds of this at Mexico, have no better Foundation for the difference than this; and Mons. Tournefort had reason to say after Father Plumier, that he only knew one Kind of this Tree. Cacao Speciem Unicam novi. Append. Rei Herb. pag. 660.[e] A new Voyage round the World. Tom. 1. Ch. 3. p. 69.[f] Pomet's General History of Drugs, Book vii. Ch. xiv. pag. 205. Chomel's Abridgment of usual Plants. Valentin. Hist. Simplicium reform. lib. 2.[g] New Relation of the East Indies. Tom. 1. Part 2. Ch. 19.[h] A curious Discourse upon Chocolate, by Ant. Colmenero de Cedesma, Physician and Chirurgeon at Paris 1643.Read More

A teenage boy uncovers a horrific family secret. A widower seeks vengeance on the creatures that killed his wife. A drug addled writer stalks the woman of his dreams, a woman much more sinister than she appears. A federal agent races to find the cursed relic powering this city full of spooks, spirits, and serial killers. The lives of these and others will collide in the dark and dangerous streets of Adderlass. A seed of evil was planted under Adderlass, a city where monsters hide behind masks of humanity and ordinary people shuffle anesthetized and addicted by the sickly supernatural power wafting up from below. The city was built over the crystalline skull of a bloodthirsty beast. Now, the hunt is on for this lost treasure and whoever finds it first will control the fate not only of Adderlass but of the entire world. Sixteen-year-old Simon Cubbins, young and naive, may be the key to unlocking the mystery buried in this twisted labyrinth of hidden agendas. He also unknowingly harbors a secret that could destroy the Cubbins bloodline. As different characters fight for control over Simon, he will have to decide whether or not to carry on his family's legacy.

Sarah writes blog-style with humor about being an empty nester and how her migraines and menopause woes side-tracked her typical day.