SEPTEMBER

friday14

Joe Meno | Quimby's Bookstore

The local writer reads from the new paperback edition of his novel Tender as Hellfire; he'll be joined by Mickey Hess (Is Hip-Hop Dead?) and Gretchen Kalwinski. | 773-342-0910

monday17

Judith Martin | Book Cellar

"Ms. Manners" promotes her travelogue No Vulgar Hotel: The Desire and Pursuit of Venice. | 773-293-2665

Stephen Holmes |

Harold Washington Library Center

The NYU law prof discusses The Matador's Cape: America's Reckless Response to Terror. | 312-747-4050

tuesday18

Gerald Nicosia |

Columbia College Film Row Cinema

Kerouac biographer Nicosia (Memory Babe) speaks on "Fifty Years on the Road: Kerouac Then, Now, and Right Here." | 312-344-7611

wednesday19

"On the Medical Frontlines" |

Harold Washington Library Center

This American Life host Ira Glass interviews Doctors Without Borders executive director Nicolas de Torrente and surgeon Mary Ann Hopkins | 312-747-4050

Gioia Diliberto |

Women & Children First

Local writer Diliberto reads from her new novel, The Collection. | 773-769-9299

Local Author Night | Book Cellar

With novelists Silvia Foti (The Diva's Fool), Julia Buckley (Madeline Mann), Robert Rodi (When You Were Me), and Stacey Ballis (The Spinster Sisters). | 773-293-2665

thursday20

Kurt Elling | 57th Street Books

Jazz singer Elling signs Lyrics, a collection of all his recorded writing. | 773-684-1300

Melissa Fay Greene |

Barnes & Noble in Evanston

Greene (Praying for Sheetrock) presents There Is No Me Without You: One Woman's Odyssey to Rescue Africa's Children. | 847-424-0848

Luis Alberto Urrea |

Lozano branch library

UIC prof Urrea discusses his novel The Hummingbird's Daughter and his nonfiction best seller The Devil's Highway. | 312-746-4239 or 312-747-4050

Tim Weiner | Pritzker Military Library

The Pulitzer-winning New York Times correspondent presents Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA. | 312-587-0234

friday21

Naomi Klein | Experimental Station

Klein (No Logo) discusses The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. | 773-752-4381

saturday22

Ragad | Quimby's Bookstore

The local lit zine hosts "Intersections: A Reading From the Streets" with local writers Ben Tanzer (Lucky Man), Pete Coco, Scott Stealey, C.T. Ballentine, and Nick Ostdick. | 773-342-0910

sunday23

Wangari Maathai |

Rockefeller Memorial Chapel

The Nobel Peace Prize winner discusses her memoir, Unbowed, for a Chicago Humanities Festival program. | chfestival.org

wednesday26

Bookslut Reading Series |

Hopleaf Bar

Featuring cartoonist Emily Flake (These Things Ain't Gonna Smoke Themselves) and poet Troy Jollimore. | bookslut.com

thursday27

Michael Gates Gill |

Borders on State

Gill discusses his memoir, How Starbucks Saved My Life. | 312-606-0750

Nicole Hollander |

Women & Children First

The cartoonist (Sylvia) offers Tales of Graceful Aging From the Planet Denial. | 773-769-9299

John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt |

International House

U. of C.'s Mearsheimer and Harvard's Walt discuss The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy. | 773-753-2270

Jonathan Messinger | Hideout

Release party for local writer Messinger's new story collection, Hiding Out. | 773-227-4433

saturday29

Banned Books Week Read Out! | Newberry Library

Authors Chris Crutcher, Carolyn Mackler, and Robie Harris are joined by "local Chicago celebrities" in reading passages from their favorite banned books. | 312-255-3700

sunday30

Edwidge Danticat |

Lookingglass Theatre

Victoria Lautman interviews novelist Edwidge Danticat about her new memoir, Brother, I'm Dying, as part of WFMT's Writers on the Record series. | 312-832-6789

Sunday Salon Chicago |

Charleston Bar

With fiction writers Rudolph Delson (Maynard & Jennica), Jennifer Harris (Pink), and others. | 773-489-4757

OCTOBER

tuesday2

Ira Glass | Barnes & Noble in Evanston

This American Life host Glass introduces The New Kings of Nonfiction. | 847-424-0848

Beth Kohl |

Book Stall at Chestnut Court

The local writer presents Embryo Culture: Making Babies in the Twenty-first Century. | 847-446-8880

wednesday3

Steven Pinker | International House

The Harvard psychology prof discusses The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window Into Human Nature. | 773-753-2270

thursday4

Bookslut Reading Series |

Hopleaf Bar

Featuring fiction writers Benjamin Percy (Refresh, Refresh) and Porochista Khakpour (Sons and Other Flammable Objects) and poet George Murray (The Rush to Here). | bookslut.com

Richard Dawkins |

International House

The evolutionary biologist talks about The God Delusion. | 773-753-2270

Cynthia Rowley |

Museum of Contemporary Art

The fashion designer signs Slim: A Fantasy Memoir. | mcachicago.org

Glenn Stout |

Barnes & Noble DePaul Center

The sportswriter presents The Cubs: The Complete Story of Chicago Cubs Baseball. | 312-362-8795

Saturday6

Midwest Literary Festival |

Aurora

More than 50 authors gather for workshops, book signings, panel discussions, and more. Also Sunday 10/7. | midwestliteraryfestival.com

Todd Oldham |

Museum of Contemporary Art

The designer signs Charly Harper: An Illustrated Life and Handmade Modern: Mid-Century Inspired Projects for Your Home. | mcachicago.org

sunday7

Achy Obejas |

Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore

Local writer-editor Obejas presents Havana Noir: Mystery Tales of Havana, Cuba. | 708-771-7243

Sisters in Crime 20th-Anniversary Celebration |

Women & Children First

Mystery writers Sara Paretsky, Barbara D'Amato, and Libby Fischer Hellmann present the story anthology Sisters on the Case: Celebrating Twenty Years of Sisters in Crime. | 773-769-9299

wednesday10

Susan Faludi | Women & Children First

Faludi (Backlash) presents The Terror Dream: Fear and Fantasy in Post-9/11 America. | 773-769-9299

Eboo Patel | International House

Patel discusses his memoir, Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation. | 773-753-2270

thursday11

Wesley Clark | Borders on Michigan

Clark signs his memoir, A Time To Lead: For Duty, Honor and Country. | 312-573-0564

Kathleen Flinn |

Barnes & Noble DePaul Center

Flinn discusses her memoir, The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears at the World's Most Famous Cooking School. | 312-362-8795

Nelson Peery | 57th Street Books

Peery presents his memoir Black Radical: The Education of an American Revolutionary, 1946-1968. | 773-684-1300

Katha Pollitt |

Women & Children First

The Nation columnist discusses her essay collection Learning to Drive: And Other Life Stories. | 773-769-9299

friday12

Erik Larson |

Barnes & Noble DePaul Center

Larson (The Devil in the White City) signs his latest, Thunderstruck. | 312-362-8795

Andrew Vachss |

Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore

Vachss signs his new thriller, Terminal. | 708-771-7243

saturday13

Richard King | Borders on Michigan

The local sportscaster discusses his memoir, My Maggie. | 312-573-0564

Gale Sayers | Barnes & Noble Skokie

The Hall of Fame Chicago Bear running back signs Sayers: My Life and Times. | 847-676-2230

sunday14

Erik Larson |

Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore

Larson (The Devil in the White City) signs his latest, Thunderstruck. | 708-771-7243

monday15

Ken Follett |

Borders on State, Barnes & Noble Skokie

Follett signs his new novel, World Without End. | 312-606-0750, 847-676-2230

A.J. Jacobs | Barbara's Oak Park

Jacobs (The Know-It-All) presents The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible. | 708-848-9140

Ann Patchett | Newberry Library

The novelist reads from her latest, Run. | 312-255-3700

tuesday16

The Literary Gangs of Chicago | Museum of Contemporary Art

Novelist-artist Audrey Niffenegger (The Time Traveler's Wife, The Three Incestuous Sisters) is the featured reader. | mcachicago.org

Cass Sunstein | 57th Street Books

The U. of C. law prof presents Republic.com 2.0. | 773-684-1300

Jamie Trecker |

Barnes & Noble DePaul Center

The local sportswriter signs Love and Blood: At the World Cup With the Footballers, Fans, and Freaks. | 312-362-8795

wednesday17

Elisabeth Squires |

Women & Children First

Squires promotes Boobs: A Guide to Your Girls. | 773-769-9299

A. Van Jordan, Tyehimba Jess |

School of the Art Institute

Poets Jordan (Rise) and Jess (Leadbelly) read their work. | poetrycenter.org

thursday18

Keir Graff | After-Words Bookstore

Release party for local writer Graff's new novel, My Fellow Americans. | 312-464-1110

Benjamin Percy | 57th Street Books

Percy reads from his story collection, Refresh, Refresh. | 773-684-1300

friday19

Civil War Saturday |

Pritzker Military Library

With historians Chandra Manning (What This Cruel War Was Over: Soldiers, Slavery, and the Civil War) and Donald A. Davis (Stonewall Jackson). | 312-587-0234

Geoffrey Stone | 57th Street Books

The U. of C. law prof presents Top Secret: When Our Government Keeps Us in the Dark. | 773-684-1300

sunday21

Andrea Barrett |

Lookingglass Theatre

Victoria Lautman interviews novelist Andrea Barrett (The Air We Breathe) as part of WFMT's Writers on the Record series. | 312-832-6789

Libby Fischer Hellmann |

Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore

The local mystery writer signs Chicago Blues: A New Collection of Short Stories About the Real Windy City. | 708-771-7243

Cathy Wilkerson |

Women & Children First

Wilkerson discusses her memoir, Flying Close to the Sun: My Life and Times as a Weatherman. | 773-769-9299

monday22

Garrison Keillor |

Oak Park Public Library

Keillor reads from his latest novel, Pontoon. | 708-383-8200

Kenneth J. Saltman |

57th Street Books

Saltman (Schooling and the Politics of Disaster) talks about Capitalizing on Disaster: Taking and Breaking Public Schools. | 773-684-1300

tuesday23

Shalom Auslander | Abbey Pub

Auslander discusses his new memoir, Foreskin's Lament. | nextbook.org

Bookslut Reading Series |

Hopleaf Bar

Featuring novelist Matthew Eck (The Farther Shore). | bookslut.com

Marc Falkoff | 57th Street Books

The local attorney presents Poems From Guantanamo: The Detainees Speak. | 773-684-1300

wednesday24

Cave Canem | Art Institute

Members of the poetry collective read from their new anthology, The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South. | artic.edu

Frank Warren |

Barnes & Noble DePaul Center, Barbara's University Village

The creator of PostSecret.com offers A Lifetime of Secrets. | 312-362-8795, 312-413-2665

Friday 26

Dahr Jamail | International House

The journalist presents Beyond the Green Zone: Dispatches From an Unembedded Journalist in Occupied Iraq. | 773-753-2270

saturday27

Chicago Humanities Festival |

Multiple Venues

See sidebar | Through 11/11 | chfestival.org

Scott Kenemore |

Barnes & Noble on Webster

The local writer promotes his humor book, The Zen of Zombie: Better Living Through the Undead. | 773-871-3610

sunday28

Sunday Salon Chicago |

Charleston Bar

Local novelist Samuel Park (Shakespeare's Sonnets) is the featured reader. | 773-489-4757

NOVEMBER

tuesday6

Paula Kamen |

Barbara's University Village

The local writer talks about Finding Iris Chang: Friendship, Ambition, and the Loss of an Extraordinary Mind. | 312-413-2665

wednesday7

Bookslut Reading Series |

Hopleaf Bar

Featuring Shalom Auslander with his new memoir, Foreskin's Lament. | bookslut.com

Fightin' Words: The Literature of War |

School of the Art Institute

Poets Brian Turner (Here, Bullet) and Bruce Weigl (Song of Napalm) read their work. | poetrycenter.org

thursday8

Julie M. Fenster |

Pritzker Military Library

The historian discusses The Case of Abraham Lincoln: A Story of Adultery, Murder, and the Making of a Great President. | 312-587-0234

Bobby Flay | Borders on Michigan

The restaurateur promotes Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill Cookbook. | 312-573-0564

friday9

John Theodore | 57th Street Books

Theodore presents Evil Summer: Babe Leopold, Dickie Loeb, and the Kidnap-Murder of Bobby Franks. | 773-684-1300

sunday11

Ann Packer |

Lookingglass Theatre

Victoria Lautman interviews novelist Ann Packer (Songs Without Words) as part of WFMT's Writers on the Record series. | 312-832-6789

tuesday13

Paul Budnitz |

Museum of Contemporary Art

The Kidrobot founder lectures and signs I Am Plastic: The Designer Toy Explosion. | mcachicago.org

Peter Cole |

School of the Art Institute

The poet and translator discusses The Dream of a Poem: Hebrew Poetry From Muslim and Christian Spain 950-1492 | nextbook.org

thursday15

Jeffrey Wasserstrom |

International House

The historian discusses China's Brave New World--And Other Tales for Global Times. | 773-753-2270

sunday18

Sunday Salon Chicago |

Charleston Bar

Local novelist Cris Mazza (Waterbaby) is the featured reader. | 773-489-4757

thursday29

Ralph Peters |

Pritzker Military Library

Peters discusses Wars of Blood and Faith: The Conflicts That Will Shape the Twenty-first Century. | 312-587-0234 Abbey Pub 3420 W. Grace | nextbook.org

After-Words Bookstore 23 E. Illinois | 312-464-1110

Art Institute of Chicago Michigan and Adams | 312-443-3600 | artic.edu

Barbara's Bookstore 1218 S. Halsted | 312-413-2665 | barbarasbookstore.com

Barbara's Bookstore 1100 Lake | Oak Park | 708-848-9140 | barbarasbookstore.com

Barnes & Noble DePaul Center | 1 E. Jackson | 312-362-8795 | depaul.bkstore.com

Barnes & Noble 1441 W. Webster | 773-871-3610 | barnesandnoble.com

Barnes & Noble 1630 Sherman, Evanston | 847-424-0848 | barnesandnoble.com

Book Cellar 4736 N. Lincoln | 773-293-2665, bookcellarinc.com

Book Stall at Chestnut Court 811 Elm | Winnetka | 847-446-8880 | bookstall.booksense.com

Bookslut Reading Series at Hopleaf Bar 5148 N. Clark | 773-334-9851 | bookslut.com

Borders 2817 N. Clark | 773-935-3909 | borders.com

Borders 830 N. Michigan, 312-573-0564 | borders.com

Borders 150 N. State, 312-606-0750 | borders.com

Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore 7419 W. Madison | Forest Park | 708-771-7243 | centuriesandsleuths.com

Charleston Bar 2076 N. Hoyne | 773-489-4757

Chicago Humanities Festival at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel University of Chicago | 5850 S. Woodlawn | 312-494-9509 | chfestival.org

Columbia College Film Row Cinema 1104 S. Wabash | 8th fl. | 312-344-7611 | colum.edu

Experimental Station 6100 S. Blackstone | 773-241-5458

57th Street Books 1301 E. 57th | 773-684-1300 | semcoop.booksense.com

Harold Washington Library Center 400 S. State | 312-747-4050 | chipublib.org

Hideout 1354 W. Wabansia | 773-227-4433 | hideoutchicago.com

International House, University of Chicago 1414 E. 59th | 773-753-2270

Lozano branch library 1805 S. Loomis | 312-746-4239 | chipublib.org

Museum of Contemporary Art 220 E. Chicago | 312-280-2660 | mcachicago.org

Myopic Books 1564 N. Milwaukee | 773-862-4882 | myopicbookstore.com

Newberry Library 60 W. Walton | 312-255-3700 | newberry.org

Oak Park Public Library 834 Lake | Oak Park | 708-383-8200 | oppl.org

Pritzker Military Library 610 N. Fairbanks | 312-587-0234, pritzkermilitarylibrary.org

Quimby's Bookstore 1854 W. North | 773-342-0910 | quimbys.com

School of the Art Institute 37 S. Wabash | nextbook.org

Women & Children First 5233 N. Clark | 773-769-9299 | womenchildren.booksense.com

Writers on the Record at Lookingglass Theatre 821 N. Michigan | 312-832-6789, wfmt.com