Two author events at Griffin Bay Bookstore this week….

Griffin Bay Bookstore continues its run of fascinating authors sharing their world with islanders – this week it’s an economic discussion & a movie star from one of the most beloved films of all time. Here’s more from Nancy:

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The Self-Made Myth: and the Truth About How Government Helps Individuals and Businesses Succeed
by Brian Miller and Mike Lapham

Griffin Bay Bookstore and the San Juan Island Library are co-sponsoring a timely event, a book talk at Griffin Bay Bookstore with authors Brian Miller and Mike Lapham, both with United for a Fair Economy (UFE), on Thursday night, May 10, 7:00 pm.

In The Self-Made Myth Brian Miller and Mike Lapham reveal the hidden but very crucial role government and society have played in the success of America’s richest individuals and business leaders. Along the way they also shatter the idea perpetuated by some of them that they worked their way to wealth all on their own. They show how pronouncements of being “self-made” do not show an honest and balanced understanding of success, instead, they are a myth.

Miller and Lapham present the facts that many fail to consider, shedding light on how individual success is reliant upon many external factors. Among them, the authors emphasize the role of public education, research and development grants, social services, roads and highways, and laws and regulations that establish a stable business environment.

As the authors note, how citizens view the creation of wealth and individual success is critical because it shapes choices on taxes, regulations, public investments in schools and infrastructure, CEO pay, and more. In a difficult economic time, also accompanied by political stalemates, it is more important than ever that the self-made myth be replaced by a more clear-eyed, realistic, balanced, and truthful understanding of what constitutes success in the world of business, great wealth, and entrepreneurship.

About the Authors

Brian Miller has served as executive director of United for a Fair Economy (UFE) since 2009, drawing on nearly 20 years of experience as a community organizer, coalition leader, media spokesperson, writer, researcher, and nonprofit director.

Mike Lapham is the project director and co-founder of UFE’s Responsible Wealth project, a network of business leaders and wealthy individuals advocating for more progressive taxation. In addition to directing the program, Lapham is also a member, having inherited stock in his family’s paper mill in upstate New York.

Many Accolades for The Self-Made Myth

“It is critical to change the conversation about how wealth is created, who creates it, and the role of government, and this book does that effectively and importantly. And it couldn’t be more timely.” –Bill Gates Sr.

“This book challenges a central myth that underlies today’s anti-government rhetoric: that an individual’s success is the result of gumption and hard work alone. Miller and Lapham clearly show that person success is closely tied to the supports society provides. Must read for all who want to get our nation back on track.”  –Robert Reich, former US Secretary of Labor

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Charmian Carr, “Liesl” in the film The Sound of Music, at Griffin Bay Bookstore
Friday afternoon, May 11, 2:00pm

Charmian Carr (Liesl in the movie Sound of Music)

Griffin Bay Bookstore is hosting a very special event on Friday afternoon, May 11, 2:00 pm with Charmian Carr, who starred as “Liesl” in what is considered the most beloved film musical of all time, The Sound of Music. This special event will be held in conjunction with the opening of The Sound of Music at the San Juan Community Theatre.

Be sure to attend this memorable occasion and meet Ms. Carr and hear her talk about the just-released book and DVD, The Sound of Music Family Scrapbook, by Fred Benson.  This book is bound to enthrall the musical’s aficionados. Through personal photographs, memorabilia, and home movies, the actors who starred as the von Trapp children, tell their inside story of making The Sound of Music.  Ms. Carr will be available to autograph copies of the book.

In early 2000, Ms. Carr co-authored a book detailing her experiences making the movie and living her life as Forever Liesl, and in 2001, her second book, Letters to Liesl was published.  Copies of her first book will also be on hand at the event.  As she has often said, “I am honored to have played a part in telling the von Trapp family’s story on screen, and I cherish my memories of those days when we were working on the movie in Salzburg and Los Angeles. Filming in Salzburg, Austria, was like being in a fairy tale.”  This is your chance to hear first-hand accounts of an enchanted time.

The Sound of Music Family Scrapbook, by Fred Benson

The Sound of Music has captivated several generations, as over the years, many parents have shared the magic of this wonderful movie with their children. Seven very special children experienced The Sound of Music firsthand: the seven young actors cast as the von Trapp children. Now, for the first time, they tell their stories about making this celebrated film, from their auditions to rehearsals in Los Angeles to an incredible spring and summer in Salzburg, Austria. What was it like to work with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer? How did they learn the songs and dances for the musical numbers? Who almost drowned when the boat tipped over? What was it like to attend the gala Hollywood premiere? What were their lives like after starring in this legendary movie? And how did they become a family in real life, remaining as close as any brothers and sisters for the last 45 years?

The answers are revealed at last and as a bonus, they have collected their never-before-seen own home movie footage on a brand-new DVD. It is included here, along with personal cherished memorabilia, such as letters sent home to their families from Europe, a page from the script with edits written in the margin, and a ticket to the premiere. For anyone who is thrilled by the sight of Julie Andrews spinning around on top of a mountain, or who spontaneously bursts out singing “Do-Re-Mi,” this captivating behind-the-scenes inside story is a must read.

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