Booming Winsted Book Festival with Ralph Nader

The founder of the American Museum of Tort Law, Ralph Nader  located in Winsted is presenting the Booming Winsted Book Festival on Saturday, July 30 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, July 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 414 Main St. (Rte. 44) in Winsted.  There will be more than 200 all new non- fiction books available at discounted prices in addition to five authors making an appearance to sign their books and speak.

Part of the impetus of this event was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ralph Nader's groundbreaking book, Unsafe at Any Speed.  Mr. Nader will be speaking and signing his books, Unsafe at Any Speed and his latest book, Unstoppable: The Emerging Left-Right Allianceto Dismantle the Corporate State on Saturday, July 30 at 10 a.m.

The next speaker to take the podium at 12:30 p.m. is Patricia Klindienst, the author of  The Earth Knows My Name: Food, Culture and Sustainability in the Gardens of Ethnic Americans.  This award winning book tells the story of what ethnic gardens have meant to newcomers to our land.

At 2 p.m., Nader will be joined by Pulitzer Prize winning American historian, Eric DeWitt Clinton, Professor of History at Columbia University, who will sign his book, Gateway to Freedom: Hidden History of the Underground Railroad. David Bollier, a world-leading scholar and advocate for the Commons will take center stage at 4 p.m. to present his book, Thinking Like a Commoner.  The book reviews the idea of the old commons (public lands and airwaves) and the new commons such as tax payer funded research and development and the ownership of intellectual property via the internet and what is owned but not controlled. All the books discussed at the Festival will be sold by the Hickory Stick Bookshop at regular prices.

On July 31, Historian and Western CT State University Housatonic Valley Regional High School teacher, Peter Vermilyea, the author of the Hidden History of Litchfield County and his new nook, Wicked Litchfield County will be at the festival to talk about and sign his books.

Book lovers that  buy two books in the $5 category get one free and with every $40 purchase patrons of the festival get at $10 coupon to Noujaim's Restaurant that is next door.  For those whose combined purchases and or charitable contributions to The Law Works equal to or exceeding $500 will receive one autographed copy of the 50th anniversary commemorative edition of Unsafe at Any Speed.

Don't forget to visit, the American Museum of Tort Law, the only one of its kind in the world -- it is educational, fun and a definitely eye-opening!  And, parents, bring the kids, there is a new teachable toy exhibit created for youngsters.

For more information www.litchfieldhills.com