Skip to main content
close
Font size options
Increase or decrease the font size for this website by clicking on the 'A's.
Contrast options
Choose a color combination to give the most comfortable contrast.

Virtual Author Talk

Garrett Graff - Capturing the Human Drama Through History

2024-09-10 14:00:00 2024-09-10 15:00:00 America/New_York Virtual Author Talk Join us online for this incredibly moving live streaming event with bestselling author of oral histories and award-winning journalist, Garrett Graff. Westlake Porter Public Library - Online

Tuesday, September 10
2:00pm - 3:00pm

Add to Calendar 2024-09-10 14:00:00 2024-09-10 15:00:00 America/New_York Virtual Author Talk Join us online for this incredibly moving live streaming event with bestselling author of oral histories and award-winning journalist, Garrett Graff. Westlake Porter Public Library - Online

Join us online for this incredibly moving live streaming event with bestselling author of oral histories and award-winning journalist, Garrett Graff.

Garrett Graff and covers of 2 of his booksAn expert at capturing the human drama, Garrett Graff will speak about his body of work with particular focus on his oral histories, The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 and When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day

Much has been written and said about the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the profound impact they had on America and the world. But those names, stories, and memories have never before been collected in one place to tell the full, 360-degree story of what happened that day, and in the days after. In The Only Plane in the Sky, award-winning journalist Garrett Graff draws on never-before-published transcripts, recently declassified documents, and original interviews and stories from nearly five hundred government officials, first responders, witnesses, survivors, friends, and family members to paint the most comprehensive, minute-by-minute account of the September 11 attacks yet, all told in the words of those who experienced that dramatic and tragic day. 

In his most recent work, When the Sea Came Alive, Graff explores the full impact of a world changing event: D-Day, one of history’s greatest and most unbelievable military and human triumphs. Though the full campaign lasted just over a month, the surprise landing of over 150,000 Allied troops on the morning of June 6, 1944, is understood to be the moment that turned the tide for the Allied forces and ultimately led to the defeat of the Axis powers in World War II. This book dives deep into the complexities—from the secret creation of landing plans by top government and military officials and organization of troops, to the moment the boat doors opened to reveal the beach where men fought for their lives and the future of the free world.

Graff’s work, filled with impressive detail, captures a human drama and history like no other. Register today!

About the Author

Garrett M. Graff, a distinguished magazine journalist, internationally bestselling historian, and regular TV commentator and producer, has spent nearly two decades covering politics, technology, and national security and is recognized today as one of the nation’s most prolific and wide-ranging journalists and historians.

His award-winning work—including a half-dozen books on topics ranging from presidential campaigns, Watergate, 9/11, cybersecurity, and the U.S. government’s Cold War Doomsday plans, as well as dozens of magazine articles, essays, podcasts, and documentaries—uses history to explain the story of today, illuminating where we’ve been as a country and where we’re headed as a world.


Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. Visit our site to see all events, register and explore recordings of past events.

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Books and Authors |

Westlake Porter Public Library

Phone: (440) 871-2600
Fax: (440) 871-6969

Hours
Skip Hours widget
Mon, Dec 22 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Tue, Dec 23 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Wed, Dec 24 Closed
(Christmas Holiday)
Thu, Dec 25 Closed
(Christmas Holiday)
Fri, Dec 26 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Dec 27 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Dec 28 1:00PM to 5:00PM
Mon, Dec 22 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Tue, Dec 23 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Wed, Dec 24 Closed
(Christmas Holiday)
Thu, Dec 25 Closed
(Christmas Holiday)
Fri, Dec 26 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Dec 27 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, Dec 28 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

Westlake Porter Public Library is an independent public library serving the residents of the city of Westlake, western Cuyahoga County and eastern Lorain County. The library is located at 27333 Center Ridge Road in Westlake, Ohio. Anyone who lives, works, owns property, or goes to school in Ohio can register for a free library card.

Upcoming events

Skip Upcoming events widget
Mon, Dec 22, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Porter Room

Cancelled
Sat, Dec 27, 10:30am - 11:00am

Cancelled
Sat, Dec 27, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Mon, Dec 29, 9:00am - 9:00pm
Registration opens Monday, December 22 2025 at 9:00am

Mon, Dec 29, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Dover Room

Sun, Jan 04, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Makerspace
Registration opens Sunday, December 28 2025 at 9:00am

Sun, Jan 04, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Technology Training Lab

Mon, Jan 05, 11:00am - 11:45am
Storytime Room
Registration opens Monday, December 29 2025 at 9:00am

Mon, Jan 05, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Craft Room,Teen Lounge

Tue, Jan 06, 9:30am - 10:00am
Storytime Room

Tue, Jan 06, 10:15am - 10:45am
Storytime Room

Tue, Jan 06, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Makerspace
Registration opens Tuesday, December 30 2025 at 9:00am

Tue, Jan 06, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Porter Room

Wed, Jan 07, 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Storytime Room

Wed, Jan 07, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Craft Room

Wed, Jan 07, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Study Room YS-Group

Wed, Jan 07, 6:00pm - 6:30pm
Makerspace
Registration opens Wednesday, December 31 2025 at 9:00am

Wed, Jan 07, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Dover Room

Thu, Jan 08, 9:30am - 10:00am
Storytime Room

Thu, Jan 08, 10:15am - 10:45am
Storytime Room

Thu, Jan 08, 1:00pm - 7:00pm
Porter Room

Thu, Jan 08, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Technology Training Lab

Thu, Jan 08, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Dover Room
Registration is now closed

Thu, Jan 08, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Craft Room,Teen Lounge

Fri, Jan 09, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dover Room

Sat, Jan 10, 10:30am - 11:00am
Dover Room

Sat, Jan 10, 10:30am - 11:00am
Storytime Room

Sun, Jan 11, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Storytime Room

Mon, Jan 12, 10:00am - 10:45am
Storytime Room
Registration opens Monday, January 5 2026 at 9:00am

Mon, Jan 12, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Teen Lounge

Mon, Jan 12, 4:30pm - 5:15pm
Technology Training Lab

Tue, Jan 13, 9:30am - 10:00am
Storytime Room

Tue, Jan 13, 10:15am - 10:45am
Storytime Room

Tue, Jan 13, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Technology Training Lab
Registration opens Tuesday, January 6 2026 at 6:30pm

Tue, Jan 13, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Porter Room,Zoom Programming 2

Tue, Jan 13, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Storytime Room

Wed, Jan 14, 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Storytime Room

Wed, Jan 14, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Craft Room,Teen Lounge

Wed, Jan 14, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Makerspace,Technology Training Lab
Registration opens Wednesday, January 7 2026 at 9:00am

Wed, Jan 14, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Study Room YS-Group

Wed, Jan 14, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Conference Room

Thu, Jan 15, 9:30am - 10:00am
Storytime Room

Thu, Jan 15, 10:15am - 10:45am
Storytime Room

Sat, Jan 17, 10:30am - 11:00am
Storytime Room

Sat, Jan 17, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Storytime Room

Mon, Jan 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Storytime Room
Registration opens Monday, January 12 2026 at 9:00am

Mon, Jan 19, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Thomas A. Fox Board Room

Mon, Jan 19, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Craft Room
Registration opens Monday, January 12 2026 at 9:00am

Mon, Jan 19, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Storytime Room,Teen Lounge

Mon, Jan 19, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Thomas A. Fox Board Room

Tue, Jan 20, 9:30am - 10:00am
Storytime Room

Tue, Jan 20, 10:15am - 10:45am
Storytime Room

Tue, Jan 20, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Storytime Room,Teen Lounge

Rescheduled
Tue, Jan 20, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
New date Tuesday, January 13, 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Tue, Jan 20, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Porter Room

Wed, Jan 21, 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Storytime Room

Wed, Jan 21, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Craft Room,Teen Lounge

Wed, Jan 21, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Study Room YS-Group

Wed, Jan 21, 6:00pm - 6:30pm
Thomas A. Fox Board Room

Wed, Jan 21, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Storytime Room,Teen Lounge

Wed, Jan 21, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Thomas A. Fox Board Room