Born in Lake Charles and raised in the nearby town of Sulphur, David speaks vividly of his unique family upbringing and his experiences while growing up in Southwest Louisiana. He discusses with passion how hunting, fishing, rodeo, baseball and football were all integral parts of everyday life for the hard-living, God-fearing people in this rural Cajun community. You'll be introduced to high school coaching legend, Shannon Suarez, and to many of David's teachers, coaches and teammates who he loved and respected. Voted Louisiana's All-State quarterback and Outstanding Offensive Player at the age of 16, David was recruited away from Louisiana State University by Texas A&M's Emory Bellard to play football for the Fightin' Texas Aggies. It was a decision David would feel extremely remorseful about only months later. This recruitment by Bellard of the pass-happy left-hander to quarterback his ground-oriented Wishbone offense immediately created tensions between the two. These philosophical differences would remain unresolved and personality clashes between the two would quickly ensue. Their estranged relationship and the reasons for it would negatively affect every football team at A&M for years to come. Now for the first time, David recounts in his own words this controversial story in splendid detail with no holds barred. He fully examines the contentious relationship with his college coach, the in-house cover-ups regarding his injuries, and the needles masking their pain. He talks with anguish about the guts and stamina it took to withstand the pressures of being a four-year starting quarterback at this major university. David doesn't mince words regarding any individual or situation he was confronted with. He takes you visually both onto the playing field and into the smoky back rooms with equal flair and intensity. "Rocky," "Rudy" and "One on One," please step aside. You ain't seen nothin' yet.

Exploring Russia's Environmental History This book offers new perspectives on the environmental history of lands that have come under Russian and Soviet rule by paying attention to 'place' and 'nature' in the intersection between humans and the environments that surround them. Through case studies of specific places in northwestern Russia, for example the Solovetskie Islands, the Urals, Siberia, in particular Lake Baikal, and the Russian Far East, the book highlights the importance of local environments and the specificities of individual places and spaces in understanding the human-nature nexus. This focus is accentuated by the fact that the authors have considerable, first-hand experience of the places they write about that complements and supplements their research in textual sources.

Historians of Russia were relative latecomers to the field of environmental history. Yet, in the past decade, the exploration of Russian environmental history has burgeoned. Thinking Russia’s History Environmentally showcases collaboration amongst an international set of scholars who focus on the contribution that the study of Russian environments makes to the global environmental field. Through discerning analysis of natural resources, the environment as a factor in historical processes such as industrialization, and more recent human-animal interactions, this volume challenges stereotypes of Russian history and in so doing, highlights the unexpected importance of  Russian environments across a time frame well beyond the ecological catastrophes of the Soviet period.

In February 1861 Tsar Alexander II issued the statutes abolishing the institution of serfdom in Russia. The procedures set in motion by Alexander II undid the ties that bound together 22 million serfs and 100,000 noble estate owners, and changed the face of Russia. Rather than presenting abolition as an 'event' that happened in February 1861, The Abolition of Serfdom in Russia presents the reform as a process. It traces the origins of the abolition of serfdom back to reforms in related areas in 1762 and forward to the culmination of the process in 1907. Written in an engaging and accessible manner, the book shows how the reform process linked the old social, economic and political order of eighteenth-century Russia with the radical transformations of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries that culminated in revolution in 1917.

This is the first environmental history of Russia's steppes. From the early-eighteenth century, settlers moved to the semi-arid but fertile grasslands from wetter, forested regions in central and northern Russia and Ukraine, and from central Europe. By the late-nineteenth century, they had turned the steppes into the bread basket of the Russian Empire and parts of Europe. But there was another side to this story. The steppe region was hit by recurring droughts, winds from the east whipped up dust storms, the fertile black earth suffered severe erosion, crops failed, and in the worst years there was famine. David Moon analyses how naturalists and scientists came to understand the steppe environment, including the origins of the fertile black earth. He also analyses how scientists tried to understand environmental change, including climate change. Farmers, and the scientists who advised them, tried different ways to deal with the recurring droughts: planting trees, irrigation, and cultivating the soil in ways that helped retain scarce moisture. More sustainable, however, were techniques of cultivation to retain scarce moisture in the soil. Among the pioneers were Mennonite settlers. Such approaches aimed to work with the environment, rather than trying to change it by planting trees or supplying more water artificially. The story is similar to the Dust Bowl on the Great Plains of the USA, which share a similar environment and environmental history. David Moon places the environmental story of the steppes in the wider context of the environmental history of European colonialism around the globe.

This text illustrates how the reform process linked the social, economic and political order of eighteenth-century Russia with the radical transformations that culminated in 1917.

David Moon traces the origins of the abolition of serfdom back to reforms in related areas in 1762 and forward to the culmination of the process in 1907. An up-to-date interpretation of this important development in Russian history, drawing on recent research by Russian and Western historians, this is the latest book in the Seminar Studies in History series. It includes a documents from sources previously unavailable in English translation, a glossary of specialist terms, a chronology of the main events, a who's who identifying the main people and a guide to additional reading.

This impressive work, set to become the standard history on the subject, offers a definitive survey of peasant society in Russia, from the consolidation of serfdom and tsarist autocracy in the 17th century through to the destruction of the peasant's traditional world under Stalin. Over three-quarters of Russian society were peasants in these years, and David Moon explores all aspects of their life xxx; including the rural economy, peasant households, village communities xxx; and their political role, including protest against the landowning elites. In the process he presents a fresh perspective on the history of Russia itself. A big book in every way xxx; and compellingly readable.

This impressive work, set to become the standard history on the subject, offers a definitive survey of peasant society in Russia, from the consolidation of serfdom and tsarist autocracy in the 17th century through to the destruction of the peasant's traditional world under Stalin. Over three-quarters of Russian society were peasants in these years, and David Moon explores all aspects of their life xxx; including the rural economy, peasant households, village communities xxx; and their political role, including protest against the landowning elites. In the process he presents a fresh perspective on the history of Russia itself. A big book in every way xxx; and compellingly readable.

Beginning in the 1870s, migrant groups from Russia's steppes settled in the similar environment of the Great Plains. Many were Mennonites. They brought plants, in particular grain and fodder crops, trees and shrubs, as well as weeds. Following their example, and drawing on the expertise of emigre Russian-Jewish scientists, the US Department of Agriculture introduced more plants, agricultural sciences, especially soil science; and methods of planting trees to shelter the land from the wind. By the 1930s, many of the grain varieties in the Great Plains had been imported from the steppes. The fertile soil was classified using the Russian term 'chernozem'. The US Forest Service was planting shelterbelts using techniques pioneered in the steppes. And, tumbling across the plains was an invasive weed from the steppes: tumbleweed. Based on archival research in the United States, Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, this book explores the unexpected Russian roots of Great Plains agriculture.

This study examines the interaction of peasant and official Russia in the period prior to the reforms of 1861. In a series of case studies the issues of communication and understanding between the peasantry and officialdom, peasant aims and behavioural patterns are explored.

Beginning in the 1870s, migrant groups from Russia's steppes settled in the similar environment of the Great Plains. Many were Mennonites. They brought plants, in particular grain and fodder crops, trees and shrubs, as well as weeds. Following their example, and drawing on the expertise of emigre Russian-Jewish scientists, the US Department of Agriculture introduced more plants, agricultural sciences, especially soil science; and methods of planting trees to shelter the land from the wind. By the 1930s, many of the grain varieties in the Great Plains had been imported from the steppes. The fertile soil was classified using the Russian term 'chernozem'. The US Forest Service was planting shelterbelts using techniques pioneered in the steppes. And, tumbling across the plains was an invasive weed from the steppes: tumbleweed. Based on archival research in the United States, Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, this book explores the unexpected Russian roots of Great Plains agriculture.

Must we choose between the discoveries and theories of modern science and traditional faith? Although many voices in today's world say that we must, a growing number reply that science and faith remain compatible in their lives and thoughts. After being confronted at an early age with a demand to choose between Christianity and science, author and veterinarian Dr. P. David Moon embarked on a life-long study of the interplay between science and faith. In One Accord: Reconciling Faith and Science examines current knowledge of scripture, biology, cosmology, and physics to seek a unity between facts and faith.

Born in Lake Charles and raised in the nearby town of Sulphur, David speaks vividly of his unique family upbringing and his experiences while growing up in Southwest Louisiana. He discusses with passion how hunting, fishing, rodeo, baseball and football were all integral parts of everyday life for the hard-living, God-fearing people in this rural Cajun community. You'll be introduced to high school coaching legend, Shannon Suarez, and to many of David's teachers, coaches and teammates who he loved and respected. Voted Louisiana's All-State quarterback and Outstanding Offensive Player at the age of 16, David was recruited away from Louisiana State University by Texas A&M's Emory Bellard to play football for the Fightin' Texas Aggies. It was a decision David would feel extremely remorseful about only months later. This recruitment by Bellard of the pass-happy left-hander to quarterback his ground-oriented Wishbone offense immediately created tensions between the two. These philosophical differences would remain unresolved and personality clashes between the two would quickly ensue. Their estranged relationship and the reasons for it would negatively affect every football team at A&M for years to come. Now for the first time, David recounts in his own words this controversial story in splendid detail with no holds barred. He fully examines the contentious relationship with his college coach, the in-house cover-ups regarding his injuries, and the needles masking their pain. He talks with anguish about the guts and stamina it took to withstand the pressures of being a four-year starting quarterback at this major university. David doesn't mince words regarding any individual or situation he was confronted with. He takes you visually both onto the playing field and into the smoky back rooms with equal flair and intensity. "Rocky," "Rudy" and "One on One," please step aside. You ain't seen nothin' yet.

This is the first environmental history of Russia's steppes. From the early-eighteenth century, settlers moved to the semi-arid but fertile grasslands from wetter, forested regions in central and northern Russia and Ukraine, and from central Europe. By the late-nineteenth century, they had turned the steppes into the bread basket of the Russian Empire and parts of Europe. But there was another side to this story. The steppe region was hit by recurring droughts, winds from the east whipped up dust storms, the fertile black earth suffered severe erosion, crops failed, and in the worst years there was famine. David Moon analyses how naturalists and scientists came to understand the steppe environment, including the origins of the fertile black earth. He also analyses how scientists tried to understand environmental change, including climate change. Farmers, and the scientists who advised them, tried different ways to deal with the recurring droughts: planting trees, irrigation, and cultivating the soil. More sustainable, however, were techniques of cultivation to retain scarce moisture in the soil. Among the pioneers were Mennonite settlers. Such approaches aimed to work with the environment, rather than trying to change it by planting trees or supplying more water artificially. The story is similar to the Dust Bowl on the Great Plains of the USA, which share a similar environment and environmental history. David Moon places the story of the steppes in the wider context of the environmental history of European colonialism around the globe.