Books with author Charles Haines

We will not survive unless we adapt to the way the world is changing. The Age of Unreason is an inspiring vision of an era of new discoveries, new enlightenment and new freedoms. It helps us to understand what Tom Peters, the American business guru, has called the new 'upside down' competitive realities in the world of work and of leisure. It is a book to turn your understanding of the world on its head.

In an era when change is constant, random, and, as Handy calls it, discontinuous, it is necessary to break out of old ways of thinking in order to use change to our advantage. Handy examines how dramatic changes are transforming business, education, and the nature of work. We can see it in astounding new developments in technology, in the shift in demand from manual to cerebral skills, and in the virtual disappearance of lifelong, full-time jobs. Handy maintains that discontinuous change requires discontinuous, upside-down thinking, and discusses the need for new kinds of organizations, new approaches to work, new types of schools, and new ideas about the nature of our society.

In seventeenth century England, a terrible accident forces orphaned Philip Marsham to flee London in fear for his life. Bred to the sea, he signs on with the "Rose of Devon," a dark frigate bound for the quiet shores of Newfoundland.Philip's bold spirit and knowledge of the sea soon win him his captain's regard. But when the "Rose of Devon" is seized in midocean by a devious group of men plucked from a floating wreck, Philip is forced to accompany these "gentlemen of fortune" on their murderous expeditions. Like it or not, Philip Marsham is now a pirate--with only the hangman awaiting his return to England.With its bloody battles, brutal buccaneers, and bold, spirited hero, this rousing tale will enthrall young listeners in search of seafaring adventure.

The story opens in fictional Topham, Massachusetts, in 1826. After the man Cornelius "Neal" Gleazen unexpectedly returns to town, he involves childhood friend Seth Woods and Seth's nephew, twenty-year-old protagonist Josiah "Joe" Woods, in a dangerous sea journey to retrieve a hidden treasure. Accompanying them are Seth's two store-clerks, Arnold Lamont and Sim Muzzy, and farmer Abraham Guptil, on whose mortgage Neal forced Seth to foreclose in order to raise money to outfit the expedition. When the travelers reach Cuba it is revealed that there is no hidden treasure, and that Neal's actual intent is to kidnap native Africans from Guinea to sell as slaves. However, it is not until they reach Africa that Joe, Seth, and the others find an opportunity to take control of the expedition from Neal. While in Africa, they rescue from danger a white missionary's daughter, who is accompanied by a native African slave or servant (his status is unclear) belonging to the Fantee nation. Both of these accompany them back to Massachusetts via South America. Arnold Lamont, however, stays behind in Valparaiso. The experiences of Josiah Woods of Topham, and of those others with whom he sailed for Cuba and the Gulf of Guinea.

After World War II has ended, four-year-old Charlie lives with his mom and dad in a large house, surrounded by clover fields, in South Carolina.Charlie loves lying barefoot on his tummy in the clover, making crude drawings of honey bees flitting from blossom to blossom.One hot summer day, Charlie tells himself that if he could see bees better, he could draw them better. He traps a bee inside a glass jar, screws the lid on tightly and runs into the kitchen to show the bee to his mom.Charlie's mom praises him for his curiosity and inventiveness. Then she explains how important bees are, making honey and pollinating plants. She tells Charlie the bee will die in the jar and that he needs to go outside and set the bee free.Charlie reluctantly takes the jar outside and starts to open it to free the bee. Then, seeing his mom isn't watching, he changes his mind and screws the lid back on, determined to draw the bee before setting it free.Charlie's action has unintended consequences. He learns some hard lessons about trapping bees in glass jars and about disobeying his mom. Or, does he?The following Saturday, on a picnic in the yard with his mom and dad, Charlie learns even harder lessons about bees, their attraction to iced tea sweetened with honey, and the perils of catching them.