This book is a story about the life of George Livieratos, whose success personified the American Dream. It is a story of an adventurous life filled with endless involvements. As a young child in Greece he becomes an orphan during World War II when both of his parents were killed during a German bombing attack. Joining the merchant marines George traveled around the world and enjoyed the experiences of many cultures. At the age of 21 George immigrated to the United States. After 35 years of hard work and a lot of good times he reaches~ a financial plateau of rich and fame. He had become the Chairman of one of the fastest growing penny stock companies on Wall Street. In 1983 George became one of the first targets of the United States Organized Crime Task Force. This action brought him and his family into the lowest level of human despair, when ultimately led to the death of his son and the destruction of his financial empire. The story is very exciting, it tells how he made his deals and can help to mature students of business overnight. His deal making shows a simple way to do business using common sense and golden rules. George is a capitalist with a liberal heart. It takes courage and power to face the forces of evil, to defy them, provoke them, and ignore their ruthless power. The transcripts of his trials prove his courage and statements. This book tells how he stood up for his principles of loyalty, pride and self -respect. Sacrificing himself and taking a fall. Discover how the resolve of this Greek immigrant's mind and soul empowered him to defy incarceration and even death from his compelled oppressors. In 1986 when he was incarcerated and refused bail, pending his appeal, his morale remained as furious as ever. This story details how the U.S. Justice Department prosecuted and convicted Mr. Livieratos and his co-defendants. The story indicates that interpretation; politics and selective application of the law can lead to the conviction of the best intentioned, while protecting the potentially less desirable. His description of the Federal Prison System is in such detail and simplicity that it can be used by inmates as a Federal Prison manual. His characterization of governmental regulatory agencies depicts them as large bureaucratic quagmires, which complicates and destroys the interest of the victimized citizens. Although considered outrageous by some, he provides opinions on how he thinks organized crime and the mafia was a better alternative to the current drug infested street crime. His human instincts will open the public's eyes and hearts for a better society based on love and care for all humans. The author hopes this book will wake up Americans to strive for equal justice for all, regardless of your social status, color, or religion. The Authors main point is to expose his characterization of the hypocrisy of government officials who don't care about the people, but only the power they posses. His colorful sexual encounters and lustful desires add some levity to an otherwise tragic Greek epic.

This inspiring and true adventure story is about the author and her husband's journey to find beauty and meaning on the little known Island of Lefkas. The realistic descriptions of the people and places in the evocatively Greek environment take you right there with them, sharing in this heart-warming venture. The text moves along at a comfortable pace, and the prose is vivid and full of memorable images that contrast the Island's beauty with their traveling hardships. Follow them on their journey and find out if they found the secret of true happiness, or were they merely chasing dreams? Note from the author: I wrote this book because I wanted to share some unforgettable experiences with other dreamers who might not have had the opportunity to 'opt out of the rat race' the way my husband, Tony and I did in 1991. It was a way out of a depressing situation when Tony was made redundant shortly before his 50th birthday. When you have reached rock bottom there is nowhere else to go, but up. When you lose all material things sometimes if you are determined you can overcome all difficulties, but you have to have a dream and follow it. Then you can gain so much more. Because we live in a pre-planned society rare opportunities are often missed. It is only when we look back we wonder why we never saw them at the time. Why did we hesitate? Why did we lose our dreams? Maybe in the great scheme of things there is a reason for everything. Maybe the drastic change in our circumstances was an opportunity for us to find our dream and have the adventure of a lifetime... This is what I want to share in the hope that it will help people in today's economic crisis to take on a challenge, to find a dream and do something that they might never have done. Then they can look back and say, "I'm glad we had that recession."

Life in a Troubled Land journeys to the Adriatic coastal country of Albania as seen through the eyes of a son as he returns to his parents villages many years after their departure. Through the eyes of George Stamos, author Angelo Kaltsos presents true accounts by the people living in the most isolated country in Europetales gathered after Albania became a democracy following the death of its dictator. He chronicles the hardships and difficulties they faced living under this totalitarian regime and how their lives improved after becoming part of the outside world. In this Historical novel, George experiences life in the new Albania. War broke out in May of 1912 when Greece, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria invaded the remaining lands of the Balkan Ottoman Empire in Europe. On November 28, 1912, Albania declared its independence. As George meets and talks with many Albanian people during his travels, he begins to understand the hardships encountered by his people from that time to the presentparticularly under the reign of the dictator Enver Hoxha. Life in a Troubled Land provides an opportunity to experience the ultimate transformation of Albania into the modern country that it is today.