Robert M Bersi

In the summer of 1940, the gods of war were wreaking havoc on the wretched populations of Europe and Asia. But here in the United States, the north central San Joaquin Valley of California with its sprawling vineyards, orchards, and open fields provided an idyllic greenhouse for a hardy foursome of eight-year-old boys. For a brief, blessed patch of time the events of their days would trip one upon the other, free of precedent and full of adventure. Meanwhile, the relentless events of the unfolding decade would create the tableau of their future. Their rite of passage into manhood would be upon them soon enough. Also by Robert M. Bersi: "Jack and Jill: The Voyage" "Jack and Jill" "Silver Mountain" "Armed and Abandoned" "Mount Parnassus" "Raising Margaret Ann" "Thus Entwined" "Shaping our Environment" "Restructuring the Baccalaureate" "Think Partnership" "A Short History of Philanthropy in America"

In this sequel to Jack and Jill, Dr. Jack Stark, A Fellow at the prestigious Hoover Institute, and beautiful, wealthy Jillian Spencer Tang seek to recuperate from their harrowing adventure in northern Mexico by booking passage on a cargo vessel bound for Hawaii and ports of call in the South China Sea. Their hopes for a peaceful respite implode into a vortex of geo-economic and political conflict which has them running for their lives. In the game of hide and seek which ensues, their unique relationship must endure a gauntlet of deception, treachery, coercion, and betrayal. ALSO BY ROBERT M. BERSI: "JACK AND JILL" "SILVER MOUNTAIN" "ARMED AND ABANDONED" "MOUNT PERNASSUS" "RAISING MARGARET ANN" "THUS ENTWINED" "SHAPING OUR ENVIRONMENT" "RESTRUCTURING THE BACCALAUREATE" "A SHORT HISTORY OF PHILANTHROPY IN AMERICA"

Jack Stark, now a Fellow at the prestigious Hoover Institute at Stanford University has a chance encounter with beautiful heiress Jillian Spencer Tang, an Oxford trained anthropologist. Their peppery, unconventional relationship evolves into a thrilling international escapade to determine the fate of Jillian's missing father, archeologist Sir Royale Spencer. The quest ultimately leads them to the lofty peaks, plateaus, and cloud canyons of the Sierra Nevada mountain range of northwestern Mexico. There, they encounter and are embedded into an ancient Uto-Aztecan aboriginal culture known as Tarahumara. The greatest adventure of their young lives is about to unfold. Also by Robert M. Bersi: "Silver Mountain" "Armed and Abandoned" "Mount Parnassus" "Raising Margaret Ann" "Thus Entwined" "Shaping our Environment" "Restructuring the Baccalaureate" "Think Partnership" "A Short History of Philanthropy in America" "The Forever Gift"

In the summer of 1951 sixty-five young U.S. Marine recruit volunteers are discreetly transported to and inserted into the mountainous tropical forests of Southwestern Luzon, Philippines. There, they are trained in jungle combat and deployed into their unique, low profile mission on the fringe of the battle raging between the Philippine Army and communist Hukbalahap forces. This book is a modest effort to memorialize rather than judge the persistent storytelling of a few very old men recalling the indelible experiences they shared halfway around the world more than six decades ago. The writer gladly stipulates to the absence of official evidence to support their collective myth. In other words, it never really happened. It is pure fiction, and you may therefore safely believe every word of it.

This book fulfills a father's promise to his daughter that he would someday write of their struggle with what came to be known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Children so unnecessarily disabled are condemned to endure a purgatory of failures as they struggle to meet the expectations of family, peers, school, and society. This account reflects Margaret's choice of whom and what she deemed to be meaningful inclusions in a story based upon her challenged childhood. It is as much a tale of love and laughter, as it is of loneliness and disappointment. In 1970, a young university professor is granted custody of his infant female daughter. The ensuing 18 years unfold as a heart-wrenching, yet inspiring story. The writer describes the small victories and tearful disappointments which marked their determined journey. Today in the United States, at least one in every hundred children born each year is afflicted with FASD. Their physical and mental defects are irreversible and persist for a lifetime.

What really goes on behind the ivy-covered walls of American colleges and universities? The author draws upon nearly fifty years of experience and observation to offer the reader an eye-opening glimpse of the human comedy of modern campus life. Be a fly on the wall as top administrators wrestle with a range of issues which span from sex for grades to brazen NCAA violations. Hear the real dialogue. Observe side-splitting, clumsy, and often ingenious machinations to avoid personal and professional calamity. Be prepared to take sides as the book's characters navigate through raucous fraternity wars to serious political plays for hundreds of millions of dollars. Be ready to smile, to laugh, and most of all, be willing to understand and forgive.