The rural country of southeastern New Mexico serves as the backdrop for a young boy's adventures on his father's ranch and in his small community. Later years recount his teenage experiences. The book's concluding chapters tell of his returning to this childhood home as an adult; about how things have changed but have also remained the same.

A memoir of a boy's love of swimming and his quest to become an Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) frogman. Black describes the mentors of his youth who became his models for swimming. He provides a history of the UDT and SEALs. He tells of an injury while in UDT training that denied him his life-long dream, but led to a life-long profession. The story also tells of how high achievers---such as Andre Agassi, Tiger Woods, and Julia Child---dedicated themselves to a work ethic which led to the fulfillment of their dreams and goals. The book recounts the author's experience in the Vietnam War,...

The Nearly Perfect Storm examines the financial, political, and social factors that led to the 2008 financial meltdown in America. It documents the corrupt behavior of several financial institutions, the venal actions of Congress, the excessive influence of Super PACs and K Street on political elections, and the greed of both consumers and sellers of real estate. All of which contributed to the most serious social and financial crisis in America since the Great Depression.

The cessation of the Cold War, an event that was predicted to reduce tensions and dangers in the world, moved the setting of humans' deadly aggressive nature to another stage. From Cold-War mega-powers confronting each other, the post Cold-War stage is set with humans acting out their aggressions under the guise of righteous religious and political credos. But not with mega-nation states; with diffused national tribes, those that have existed for centuries. The humans' tendency for pointless aggression has taken on a new dimension: The possibility of ideologically driven parties---attempting...