Bøker av Mike Pearce

Human history is often driven by greed and as in Dickens 'time many people lusted for wealth to exploit others to achieve this Jacob Marley, like Ebeneezer Scrooge, was one of these money grabbers, money being his life. Human problems were not his concern. If they were poor, then that was what they had brought on themselves. This is aptly illustrated by the verse that is not often sung in the Hymn 'All Things bright and beautiful.The rich man in his castleThe poor man at his gateGod made them high and lowly.And ordered their estate.This story is about what Jacob Marley did in his life and the determination he had never to be poor again through his pursuit of commercial self-interest how he witnesses the sufferings of the time but did not experience them. The imprint that this suffering embraces transcends the pages of this story, leaving an indelible mark not only on the narrative landscape but on the very essence of those daring to venture to read this book. Marley was a person which for certain people can be recognised today and is a lesson for us all. Perhaps you need to consider the chains you are accumulating today and change your ways for the future.

Insects are the most successful and diverse of all invertebrates, stick insects certainly being one of them.Stick insects, walking sticks, bug sticks, ghost insects, forest phantoms, wood nymphs, living twigs, as many call them are often thought of as drab, sluggish, often clumsy, clockwork, ugly insects, not known for their beauty as compared to say something like a jewel beetle.Many know them from the Indian Stick insect popular with children. Within the three thousand plus herbivorous species there is a spectacular range of form, colour and behaviour.This short book gives an overview of these attributes, illustrating the amazing diversity and adaptations especially camouflage, in the hope that readers may take the challenge to start studying and keeping such amazing and interesting insects as pets.

Many of the opinions or facts recorded about General Gordon's life and death given here from written sources may be subjective.One of the main problems in Sudan is it is composed of a mixture of conflicting tribes and religions. The Sudan has always suffered, if not from warfare, then from drought and resulting starvation.The arrival of Charles George Gordon as governor general in 1877 has been said to be the start of a better period of history. He abolished slavery and fought against taxes. He was regarded as honest, generous and a just person and even today there is an underlying respect for him even though there is little remaining to commemorate his past, especially in the Sudan. Many books have been written on Gordon's life, his time in the Sudan, his military tactics and the battle leading up to the fall of Khartoum.The account presented here looks at the brighter side of Gordon's life in the Sudan, his feelings, his numerous comments portrayed in his journals and his concern for others. It also outlines his ingenuity as a member of the royal engineers used to defend Khartoum together with the final outcome before and after his death as seen by the romantic and critic. Finally an assessment is made of his impact on society at the time and what remains of his memory today. Charles Gordon had faith in what he was doing during his life. In the end he had faith that an army would come to save Khartoum but it arrived too late, a few days after. Even then he put his faith in his God and became a hero and a martyr and an example for everyone.