"Charley is based on the true story of a twelve-year-old boy living in Boston in 1910. Abandoned by his down-and-out father, he winds up on the steps of an orphanage and finds himself singing in the orphanage's traveling choir. He sings his way into a farming family in rural Maine, but soon must face his ultimate challenge." -- Derived from publisher's description.

The hunting accident -- Little Italy -- A young man's trouble with the law -- Code of silence -- The truth -- Nathan Leopold -- The darkness -- Plato's cave -- The inferno -- The übermensch -- Principles of sound -- The woods of the suicides -- Final exam -- The sins of the fathers -- The glim box -- The letter -- Purgatorio -- Paradiso.

INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY OF ABUSE - Charlie's Secret has recently been added to several college curriculums across the United States- Samantha Mallon has gotten used to the bruises from her brother, Charlie. The black-and-blue pigments are becoming harder to camouflage, and all the good hiding spots in her house are now non-existent. Most days, she keeps to herself, safely locked behind the door of her bedroom, praying Charlie won't break it down if he gets angry--again. There are so many secrets to keep, that Sam is running out of lies to cover the abuse. Perhaps, one day, a teacher will ask enough questions that Sam will not be able to keep up the charade. Finding reprieve from a battered childhood, Sam is determined to make the best of her high school years. With Charlie away at college, she develops some new friendships, and even catches the attention of a super-hot, bad-boy, Jake. Yet, her happiness is always tainted by the family life she's trying to keep under wraps, and it's slowly destroying her hopes of real love. After a heart-wrenching betrayal, Sam leans on a stranger's shoulder for support. Fortunately, that stranger turns into the best-friend she never knew she needed. Able to get back on her feet, a familiar face re-enters her life--clutching Charlie's arm-- in a way that leaves Sam completely uneasy. Just when Sam thought Charlie had changed, his abusive past comes back to haunt them both. The hospital, the cops, and the courthouse are calling Sam's name as she has to relive one horrible night, over and over again to find the truth. The only problem ... the truth will send the one person she loves the most to jail. Will she find the strength to break the circle and free herself from abuse? Or, will she hold onto the family secret forever?

A personal narrative and guide to the safe, responsible use of MDMA for personal healing and social transformation • Details the author’s 50 years of responsible experimentation with mind-altering substances and how Ecstasy has helped him become a better therapist • Explains how he and his wife found Ecstasy to be the key to renewing and enriching their lives and marriage as they entered their senior years • Describes what the experience actually feels like and provides protocols for the safe, responsible, recreational, and celebrational use of MDMA for individuals and groups In a world that keeps us separate from each other, MDMA is the chemical of connection. Aptly known in popular culture as “Ecstasy,” MDMA helps us rediscover our own true loving nature, often obscured by the traumas of life. On its way to becoming a prescription medication due to groundbreaking research on its use to treat PTSD, Ecstasy can offer benefits for all adult life stages, from 20-somethings to seniors. In this memoir and guide to safe use, Charles Wininger, a licensed psychoanalyst and mental health counselor, details the countless ways that Ecstasy has helped him become a better therapist and husband. He recounts his coming of age in the 1960s counterculture, his 50 years of responsible experimentation with mind-altering substances, and his immersion in the new psychedelic renaissance. He explains how he and his wife found Ecstasy to be the key to renewing and enriching their lives as they entered their senior years. It also strengthened the bonds of their marriage. Countering the fearful propaganda that surrounds this drug, Wininger describes what the experience actually feels like and explores the value of Ecstasy and similar substances for helping psychologically healthy individuals live a more “optimal” life. He provides protocols for the responsible, recreational, and celebrational use of MDMA, including how to perfect the experience, maximize the benefits and minimize the risks, and how it may not be for everyone. He reveals how MDMA has revitalized his marriage, both erotically and emotionally, and describes how pleasure, fun, and joy can be profound bonding and transformative experiences. Revealing MDMA’s versatility when it comes to bringing lasting renewal, pleasure, and inspiration to one’s life, Wininger shows that recognizing the transformative power of happiness-inducing experiences can be the first step on the path to healing.