Press Kit

Little Giant is already making some serious waves.

Thanks to an international collaboration*, the book is the subject of a short documentary feature. The documentary will feature 20+ interviews and scenes from the tropics showing how Bula Surf Shop shaped the people and culture of Aruba. At the premiere of the documentary this fall, 250 college students will receive donated copies of the book to empower their future as entrepreneurs.

*List of participating partners: The Dutch Foundation for Literature; Aruba Tourism Authority; Qredits; Vibration PR & Media; and the University of Aruba.

Release Date: August 13, 2024

Little Giant: The Story of Aruba’s Surf Shop and the Rebels Who Built It

Short description

An unexpected success story set in the Caribbean about making dreams real

Little Giant by Marcia Heath tells the true story of David Putnam and Yair Lichtenstein, college buddies who left promising careers to open Bula Surf Shop on the idyllic shores of Aruba. The turning points in their improbable journey from rookie retailers to thriving cofounders reveal the power of big dreams and intelligent risk taking.

Blending memoir, biography, and compelling insights, the author discloses how the two Generation X trailblazers inspired her own journey from burnt-out baby boomer to finding her creative calling as a writer. It’s just one of the surprising takeaways in this engrossing true story about authentic living and the true measures of success.

Includes 50 full-color photos showing an idyllic Caribbean lifestyle tourists rarely see.

Long description

The world separates doers from dreamers. This new book celebrates the rare few who are both.

The two college buddies appeared to have it all—advanced degrees, a running start on impressive careers, and beautiful new girlfriends. Trouble was, they were living someone else’s idea of a great life.

In Little Giant: The Story of Aruba’s Surf Shop and the Rebels Who Built It, Marcia Heath recounts how David Putnam and Yair Lichtenstein made a pact to quit the rat race and headed to the idyllic shores of Aruba in the heart of the Caribbean. That’s where Bula, their little giant of a surf shop, got its start and their unexpected success story begins.

When the two friends started Bula Surf Shop in 2003 on a shoestring, they gave themselves three simple rules to live by: stay best friends, have fun, and do something good. As self-made entrepreneurs, they faced the usual dark moments of personal doubt, financial worries, and a revolving door of employees. More than once, they feared for Bula’s survival, but the shop thrived on grassroots support that never wavered.

Little Giant recounts the full arc of their underdog journey, from their early (often hilarious) rookie defeats to their personal and business breakthroughs. Fueled by their passion for ocean sports, they turned a nondescript storefront into a thriving community hub, proving that you don’t have to live in Silicon Valley or have an MBA to succeed as a start-up trailblazer.

David and Yair’s daring path to personal freedom offers a unique perspective on what it really takes to turn a dream into reality:

– Why the “follow your passion” career advice so often backfires

– The magic of dreaming big and staying small

– Obeying the rules will only get you so far; creativity is the real engine of success

– Rarely heard lessons in entrepreneurship from the world of surfing

– The insidious effects of focusing solely on growth and profits

“I wrote this because I’d dutifully climbed the corporate ladder but didn’t find happiness at the top,” says Heath, who drew from 25+ years as a professional editor, writer, and brand expert to write the book. “After years of reading a mountain of self-help books based on theory, I finally found real-world inspiration in the unconventional mindset of two surfer dudes in the Caribbean.”

In Little Giant, Heath reveals how David and Yair’s daring choices ignited her own journey from burnt-out baby boomer to finding her creative calling as a writer. It’s just one of the unexpected takeaways in this true story about the power of pursuing your dreams and seeking success on your own terms.

Little Giant is for anyone who wants to start their own business, transition to a new creative field, or get inspired by two mavericks who refused to settle for what society expected of them.

Includes 50 full-color photos showing an idyllic Caribbean lifestyle tourists rarely see.

Advance Praise for Little Giant

“This beautiful book is a fountain of inspiration about living adventurously and on your own terms.” William Parkhurst, New York Times bestselling author of True Detectives

“Little Giant offers wisdom on business and friendship from an improbable venture on the Caribbean island of Aruba.” Murray Carpenter, Maine journalist and author of Caffeinated

“This compelling exploration solves the mystery of how to thrive through intense difficult waves. The inquisitive author interweaves oral histories as well as psychological studies to enliven our understanding of our own dreams, life, and work.” Elizabeth Garber, author of Sailing at the Edge of Disaster

“The characters and their stories moved and delighted me, and the book itself is gorgeous.” Shelley Sperry, author of What’s the Big Idea?

“I wish there were more books like this. It’s a beautiful story of two men chasing their dreams–not in a default “more is better way” but in their own unique way. They designed work that fit their lives. The design, structure, and flow of the different parts of the book was original and refreshing. It was also inspiring to feel Marcia’s own transformation happening throughout the book. It reminded me of “Tuesdays with Morrie” in that way.” Paul Millerd, author of The Pathless Path and Good Work

“This book sounds like a great feel-good movie, something cooked up in Hollywood. Well, the ‘feel good’ is certainty there, but the story is very real. This book is for the dreamers in all of us.” BookTrib reviews

“The author weaves together moving interviews of the two cofounders with fascinating quotes from authors, artists, philosophers, and psychologists. The result is an inspiring guide to composing a meaningful life by following your passions.” Betsey Feeley, former coordinator of the Literature Award Program at the American Academy of Arts and Letters

About the Author

Short bio

Marca Heath is the founder of Bungalow Hill, a solo shop that helps artists promote their worth and their work. A former publicist at Simon & Schuster and an executive editor at Harcourt, she spent two+ decades in brand marketing and strategic planning at start-ups, nonprofits, and Fortune 500 subsidiaries. She lives just outside Belfast, Maine. Little Giant is her first book.

Long bio

Marcia Heath is a professional editor, writer, and founder of Bungalow Hill, a solo shop that helps creative people promote their worth and their work. A former publicist at Simon & Schuster and executive editor at Harcourt, she spent two+ decades in brand marketing and strategic planning at start-ups, nonprofits, and Fortune 500 subsidiaries. She’s fascinated by true stories about quietly exceptional people who defy the odds of success, exactly like the heroes of her first book, Little Giant. The author earned a degree in English Literature from Mount Holyoke College and attended the Radcliffe Publishing Procedures Course. She lives just outside Belfast, Maine, with her husband and their overly affectionate Boykin Spaniel.