“I wrote this book hoping my grandchildren would understand : life is often shrouded in myths, yet the heart carries a light that leads the way.”
On December 10, the Irvine Book Club hosted “Mythbusted There, Been There ”author Daniel Fong, inviting him to share the origins and inner journey behind his book.
Fong said he wrote the book to share his hard-earned insights and help the next generation see through the myths of education, culture, and society—and find their own path and light.
Deep Questions｜Bridging Worlds
Unlike traditional lecture-style book talks, this session centered on deep, intentional questioning.
Club President Rose, along with members, presented 20 carefully crafted questions covering values, family legacy, business leadership, faith, and life choices.
Each of Fong’s responses sparked further questions from the audience, transforming the session into a lively, layered exchange-an evening of dismantling assumptions and uncovering the deeper textures of life.
Heart Sparked｜Love Written
Fong shared that the book was born from a tender moment : holding his newborn grandchild, he suddenly realized – “This world is full of myths. I want my grandchildren to know the paths I’ve walked and the truths I’ve learned.”
He never intended to write from the posture of a successful entrepreneur.
What moved him to write was the responsibility and tenderness of an elder – to accompany, not instruct; to guide, not prescribe.
Each chapter begins with a familiar assumption and follows with the pivotal question : “Does it really have to be this way?”
Mythbusting, he emphasized, is not about destroying ideas but opening possibilities.
Mind & Faith｜Growing the World
To describe knowledge and faith, Fong offered a vivid metaphor : “Life is like a visible bubble—inside are things we know and things we know we don’t know; outside lies an endless unknown.”
And only learning can expand that bubble. He challenged a common assumption: what is worth learning and what is not. Such distinctions, he argued, often reveal hidden bias. Saying “I don’t need to know that” usually exposes a blind spot.
For him, learning is not a tool but a joy – a way of understanding the world and knowing God. “Nothing God created is ever wasted,” he said.
Harvard Met｜Life Began
When asked about his Harvard years, Fong smiled : “My greatest accomplishment at Harvard was meeting my wife.” The room erupted in applause.
He added that what Harvard truly gave him were rigorous habits of thought, humility from working alongside brilliant peers, and a love story that reshaped his life.
Maryann, Fong's wife, shared her perspective as well. It was a time without cram schools or perfectly engineered paths.
“We simply worked hard and tried,” she said. “We weren’t pushed toward any predetermined goal.”
Their story revealed the freedom and curiosity that shaped their generation-and why they value questioning and reflection so deeply.
Family Formed｜Excellence Rooted
When asked where his core values came from, Fong answered without hesitation : his father.
His father worked in a Hong Kong textile mill while supporting three families.
He often told his children : “Your job isn’t defined by your title, but by the excellence with which you do it.”
Even cleaning the factory bathrooms, he insisted on doing it “better than anyone before or after.”
This devotion to excellence shaped Fong’s lifelong ethos.
As a business leader, he says the employee he desires most is not the smartest one, but the one who “never picks tasks—only pursues excellence.”
To the younger generation, he offers the same reminder : “Excellence is not a talent; it is a choice.”
Legacy by Values｜Worth Beyond Wealth
On family and business succession, Fong was unequivocal : “True legacy is not wealth—it is values.”
Most family conflicts, he observed, emerge not from children but from parents who fail to establish a clear family culture or consistent principles.
In his own family, birthdays are celebrated on the actual day, and important occasions are never moved for convenience. Small rituals, he said, teach what matters.
Faith Unpacked｜Culture Embraced
Addressing religious conflict, Fong offered a sharp distinction : “Theology itself has no problem; the problems lie in religious practice.”
Conflict, he explained, arises from human power, interpretation, history, and ego—not from faith.
Discussing cross-cultural life, he and Mary shared their experiences living around the world.
Cross-cultural ability, he said, is not a skill but an attitude; not learned from books but from living - “going out, eating with people, talking with them.”
Cultural diversity, he believes, is part of God’s beauty, and understanding it is a blessing.
Myths Unmasked｜Choices Awakened
Returning to the book’s central message, Fong emphasized : “Mythbusting is not about tearing down—it is about choosing freely and clearly.”
“This isn’t a talk about how to live,” he said. “It’s a conversation that helps each of us see what we are already living.”
He concluded with a reminder that resonated deeply : “Reading reveals a larger world; reflection reveals a clearer self.”
Book Club President Rose thanked Fong for his clarity and insight—his quick mind, lucid speech, and quietly radiant faith left the audience deeply inspired and eager for future conversations on life’s many myths.
關於作者 ：
方達恩生於香港，16歲赴美就讀麻省伍斯特學院，並進入哈佛大學直接修讀大二課程。哈佛畢業後，他成功將家族事業交棒給第二代，並到 Pasadena 的 Fuller 神學院，取得神學碩士，現正攻讀神學博士。
他的職涯起於香港方氏牛仔布製造企業。1989 年移居洛杉磯後收購嬰兒家具公司 Million Dollar Baby，將其打造為跨國龍頭，累計銷售逾百萬張嬰兒床。他亦為「聖經美學圖書公司」Alabaster Creative Inc. 投資人兼顧問，創辦非營利組織「非凡之聲聯合會」。
關於本書 ：
《Been There, Mythbusted That》是一部帶領讀者拆解人生迷思的思辨之書。
作者方達恩以多年教學與陪伴經驗，揭露我們自幼接受卻少被質疑的信念系統，並以提問引導讀者看見行動背後的真正動機。
本書不給答案，而是邀請讀者突破慣性框架，重新思考成功、選擇與自我價值，找回更自由清晰的生命方向。