Where can you see an effigy of a Templar? What prompted King John to hand England over to an Italian? Who worked for the Templars in Yorkshire? The Knights Templar in Yorkshire answers all these questions and many more. This new book explores what medieval life was like during the Templars' stay in Yorkshire. Not only was it the biggest county in Britain, but in Templar terms it was also the richest. They owned more land, property and people in Yorkshire than in any other county in England. This fascinating volume takes the reader on an intimate tour of the ten major Templar sites established in Yorkshire, and reveals what life was like for their inhabitants - how the land was farmed, what the population ate, how they were taxed and local legends. Illustrated with an intriguing collection of photographs and specially commissioned maps, this book is sure to appeal to anyone interested in medieval history.

From the momentous to the outlandish, this little book brings together past and present to offer a taste of Leeds. Learn about the movers and shakers who shaped this fantastic city. The great and the good; the bad and the ugly. Small wonders, tall stories, triumph, and tragedy. Best places, worst places. Origins, evolution, future. Written by a local who knows what makes Leeds tick.

"Michigan Sheriff Johannes Spreen went to jail today to defend his beliefs and actions saying 'I'd rather be right than free'." Walter Cronkite, CBS News, May 7, 1977.

"I'm inspired by legendary police commissioner and former sheriff Johannes Spreen, whose community-partnership approach encouraged people to work together, and it was successful." Arizona Police Chief Dan Saban.

"Johannes Spreen was a police officer extraordinary; a man who helped restructure and develop New York City Police Academy training leading to a college program, a 'West Point' for police officers-now John Jay College for Criminal Justice. Johannes Spreen is a man of enthusiasm, indeed a prophet; always ahead of his time." Rudolph P. Blaum, retired NYPD and co-developer of John Jay College courses.

This intimate portrait of former Detroit Police Commissioner and Michigan Sheriff Johannes F. Spreen, forming his attitudes against the rugged tides of experience and events, is a delight to read. The revealing rise of a German immigrant through New York and Michigan police hierarchies adds to our understanding of policing, competitive police turf battles and the criminal forces that drive our nation to the brink in attempting to maintain freedom and peace. Spreen's innovations re-shaped American law enforcement thinking.

"This is a 'must read' for anyone with an interest in the Kennedy assassination, its impact on the American political system, and the controversies that surrounded it then."-Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI) "Reading the words of this infamous man is more illuminating than a dozen volumes of analysis of his character. This book fills a definite niche in American history and is long overdue Holloway uses professionalism and competent knowledge of history to create an engaging biography of an enigmatic man."- Morgan Ann Adams, Charlotte Austin Review. "A breath of fresh air in the JFK assassination literature."- Judge Robert Finn, former FBI agent. Lee Harvey Oswald, accused assassin of President John Kennedy, has remained a mystery for 45 years. Using Oswald's letters, speeches, radio interviews, brief autobiography, job/college applications, diary, book about Russia, and words according to those who knew him, the editor has fashioned his autobiography from childhood to death. Jack Ruby's testimony and lie detector test are included for readers to learn his motivation in killing Oswald. New materials such as papers given to President Clinton by Premier Boris Yeltsin and documents found in 2008 in the Dallas safe of District Attorney Henry Wade are included.

"Who Killed Detroit" explains how the automobile industry, migration of blacks, housing segregation, riot of 1967, rise of radical groups, and the resulting reactions since then have left this great city in shambles. No other American city has offered so much to so many in the first half of the twentieth century. And no other city has collapsed as completely as Detroit in the second half of the twentieth century. "Who Killed Detroit" explores what can be learned to prevent a similar fate in other cities. Former Detroit Police Commissioner Spreen reveals secret documents that explain the operations of groups that killed Detroit. Blame is laid at the feet of politicians, the press, pressure groups, the police and the people. Rumors that have floated about for 40 years are put to rest. Spreen and Holloway shed light on the forces and psychological factors that bring a city down. They examine problems that still exist and threaten the survival and progress of the city. They also list preventive actions that cities can take to avoid a similar fate.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita created the most expensive disaster, the largest evacuation, and the third deadliest flood in American history.

Nobody can control Mother Nature but the world's most advanced nation could have protected its citizens better. This disaster revealed the faulty psychological reactions of officials who not only failed to protect the public from danger in New Orleans, but lacked effective responses to the calamity. We elect and hire people who are supposed to protect us from attacks by nature and enemies. However, they fail us because of their human nature. They are as imperfect as we are, but we expect them to collect and heed facts that we cannot know, to prepare for predictable disasters, and to focus on long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes.

Engaged in popularity contests, politicians and officials at all levels did too little about obvious problems. The ugly picture of poor and mainly black flood victims jolted us with poverty, racism, and segregation. Leaders must not wait to improve flood protection, racial inequities, a deteriorating healthcare system, dwindling resources, and climatic changes until crises occur. This costly disaster should awaken us to re-examine and change our methods of selecting politicians and leaders.

"We must change our current leadership by the President, captains of industry, leaders of government, law enforcement, healthcare, and the media. We are inundated with self-serving behaviors from those who loot and shoot to those in power who cast aspersions and dodge blame." Ken Jacuzzi, business coach/consultant and author.

'I've known Ken Jacuzzi 25 years and have admired and worked with him in political and social service in Arizona. He represents the good things that have come from immigrant families that make America so strong today. -Sen. Dennis DeConcini, retired U.S. Senator. 'Glimpse the Jacuzzi family: From their invention of the first enclosed cabin monoplane to the world's most recognized brand of whirlpool baths and spas. -Barbara Barrett, attorney, Chairman, U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy. 'Whilst Britain's Minister for the Navy in the '70s and President of NATO's Parliamentary Assembly in the '80s, I rarely encountered anyone as impressive as the author, or anyone who could match his incisive intellect, insatiable curiosity, and relentless questioning. -Sir Patrick Duffy. 'Readers with and without disabilities will appreciate the journey Ken has taken through life. What a hero to us all -John D. Kemp, Esq., lawyer, author. 'Ken Jacuzzi's engaging style draws the reader into an open and honest picture of the day-to-day struggles of living with a disability and the challenges that plague family, friends, and care-givers. -Regina Wentzel Wolfe, Ph.D., determination', read Ken Jacuzzi's autobiography. -Jana Bommersbach, author, journalist.

"Commissioner Johannes Spreen was a police officer extraordinary; a man who helped restructure and develop New York City Police Academy training leading to a college program, a 'West Point' for officers, now John Jay College for Criminal Justice. Johannes Spreen is a man of enthusiasm, indeed a prophet; always ahead of his time and brought his talent to Detroit as Police Commissioner and later Sheriff of Oakland County." Rudolph P. Blaum, Retired Captain, New York City Police Department, John Jay College, former president American Education Association.

No one knows more about classroom humor than a teacher (unless it's a student). If teachers hope to survive, they better have a sense of humor. Nobody knows more about the quirky behavior of some teachers than administrators and vice versa. The origin is laid clear of the phrase "Those who can, do; and those who can't do, teach."

This book describes how policing has forgotten to serve and protect citizens but emphasizes technology and quick response after a crime has been committed. It has astonishingly simple new ideas about how policing could prevent crime as well as enforce laws. These radical but economical changes in policing would not only result in more respect for police by the public but would lower the crime rate by preventing crime in the first place. This seasoned veteran brings his experience to bear in tantalizing clarity as a master wordsmith. He produces a compelling case for changing even the kind of vehicles that police use today.

"Commissioner Johannes Spreen was a police officer extraordinary; a man who helped restructure and develop New York City Police Academy training leading to a college program, a 'West Point' for officers, now John Jay College for Criminal Justice. Johannes Spreen is a man of enthusiasm, indeed a prophet; always ahead of his time and brought his talent to Detroit as Police Commissioner and later Sheriff of Oakland County."
--Rudolph P. Blaum, Retired Captain, New York City Police Department, John Jay College, former president American Education Association.

Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy, has remained an enigma for several decades. Fortunately, Lee Harvey Oswald was one of those people who wrote a lot. As a result, the public can see the workings of his mind as his writings are displayed in chronological order throughout his life. They are accompanied by historical events and psychological commentary.
The activities of Jack Ruby, who killed Oswald, are tracked and give insight regarding his murderous act. A psychological and political analysis of Oswald is included, as well as an explanation of most of Oswald's entries in his address book.