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The Bay's intellectual scene is rich, varied, and hard to find.
Burnoff brings it into view. Expand your horizon.
130 upcoming book talks and author readings in San Francisco. 29 are in the next seven days; the list is updated daily.
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Ethel M.H. Reddy discusses her memoir *I, Ethel*, sharing career advice, beauty guidance, personal stories, and wisdom from close friends and colleagues. The book offers insight into her entrepreneurial spirit and lifelong commitment to excellence.
Chef and food writer Fuchsia Dunlop celebrates the launch of her cookbook *Five Tastes* with a banquet-style dinner at Mister Jiu's. The evening features dishes from the book prepared by Mister Jiu's kitchen, and each ticket includes a signed copy of *Five Tastes* to take home. Dunlop is the author of *The Sichuan Cookbook* and *Every Grain of Rice*, and her work explores the depth and regional diversity of Chinese cuisine.
The final graduating class of California College of the Arts' MFA in Writing program reads from their work at this Litquake event. The emerging writers—working in fiction, memoir, poetry, and hybrid forms—present pieces that move across borders, histories, families, and imagined futures with wit, ambition, and emotional precision. This reading marks both a farewell to a decades-long program and an introduction to the writers who will carry its legacy forward, affirming that literature remains one of our most powerful ways of attending to one another, to history, and to ourselves.
Nebula and Hugo Award–winning author Charlie Jane Anders celebrates the launch of her new Star Trek comic series, Star Trek Zero Point, set a few years after Star Trek: Picard season 3. Anders will discuss the inspiration behind the series, Trek's message of fighting intolerance in 2026, and why it resonates now. The story follows Captain Raffi Musiker commanding a starship tasked with preventing future disasters, guided by a powerful A.I. wearing the face of a familiar ally. Meet-and-greet and signing follow. Special guests include the USS Golden Gate fan club, formed in 1993, which celebrates Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations across the Bay Area.
Adam Wilson discusses his darkly comic novel *Fail Sons*, about two estranged brothers who drive their father's cryonically frozen body across a divided America to its final resting place. A 21st-century story exploring masculinity and grief. In conversation with Nina Schloesser Tárano.
A practical guide to eliminating hallucinations, optimizing computational resources, and deploying secure, trustworthy, and compliant AI systems. Rush Shahani discusses concrete steps for building reliable AI in production environments.
Timothy Pakron, cookbook author and food blogger, discusses his latest book *Garden Variety*, a collection of recipes inspired by his garden. Pakron is the creator of Mississippi Vegan, which explores plant and mushroom cooking by merging Southern culinary traditions with veganism. His work has been featured by NPR, Garden & Gun, Food & Wine, and other national outlets. He will be joined by Erica Schneider.
A celebration of Fatimah Asghar's sophomore poetry collection *Daughter of the Mountains*, with writers R.O. Kwon and Ingrid Rojas Contreras. Asghar's collection explores exile, ancestry, spirituality, and belonging through meditative poems that grapple with loss, longing, and love. Kwon is author of the National Book Critics Circle finalist *The Incendiaries* and *Exhibit*. Rojas Contreras is author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist memoir *The Man Who Could Move Clouds* and the novel *Fruit of the Drunken Tree*. Hosted at The Booksmith. Seats available by advance book purchase or $3 sliding-scale donation; general admission on a first-come, first-served basis.
National Book Award finalist Fady Joudah discusses Exhibit G, a collection of poems, essays, and photographs offering a Palestinian representation of Gaza's devastation and resilience. Writing from his perspective as a Palestinian American physician, Joudah explores the paradoxes of witnessing destruction from afar while caring for the sick in the US. The book combines personal reflection with images from Gaza, insisting on Palestinian interiority and the survival of beauty amid genocide. Proceeds benefit Gaza Soup Kitchen.
A talk with Ken Knabb, translator of Guy Debord and the Situationist International and author of The Joy of Revolution. Knabb's masterwork examines modern revolutionary possibilities through a situationist lens, analyzing radical tactics across ordinary and extraordinary conditions, and envisioning postrevolutionary liberated communities. This new edition includes updates, detourned comics, reviews, analyses of Occupy and Trump-era resistance, and reflections on the coronavirus shutdown.
USA Today bestselling author Adam Plantinga discusses his latest thriller, Dark Country, the newest installment in the Kurt Argento series. Argento finds himself shielding a teenage boy caught up in a dangerous manhunt in this explosive crime novel.
Morgan Eckroth (@MorganDrinksCoffee), 2022 US Barista Champion and Director of Onyx Academy, discusses their book *Coffee, for Here*, a practical handbook for brewing with confidence at home. From bean origins and flavor profiles to approachable brewing techniques, Eckroth meets readers at every level—whether beginners or refiners—breaking down each step with the warm hospitality and inventive approach that has made them a leading voice in coffee education across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Rabbi Shais Rishon, spiritual leader of Ohel Eidot CHeMDaT"A (the first African American-led and -centered synagogue in Washington, D.C.), discusses his book *The Souls of Black Jewish Folk*, published under his pseudonym MaNishtana. Drawing on a personal legacy of African American Judaism stretching to the 1780s and his upbringing in the Chabad-Lubavitch community, Rishon explores how Jewish tradition, racial identity, and contemporary American life intersect. He will be in conversation with a member of the USF faculty.
Elena Dudum celebrates her debut memoir, *They Told Me Back Home Would Be Beautiful*, at the independent bookshop where she grew up in the West Portal community. Dudum discusses her new work exploring memory, identity, and homecoming.
Veteran journalist Jonathan Weber, founding editor of The San Francisco Standard, discusses his book *City on the Edge* in conversation with Bloomberg Businessweek editor Brad Stone. Drawing on nearly 200 interviews with elected officials, tech leaders, activists, and artists, the book chronicles San Francisco's transformation from cultural hub to global technology center, exploring the conflicts and pivotal decisions that shaped one of the world's most influential cities—and what they reveal about its future.
Thomas Frank discusses his new book *The Creativity Con*, a critique of how 'innovation' and 'creativity' have become ideological cover for policies that entrench class inequality and protect elite interests. Frank charts the construction of America's self-image from Sputnik to Silicon Valley, examining how these concepts have been deployed by business leaders, technologists, and politicians while actual policies reinforce the status quo—tax cuts for the wealthy, deregulation, offshoring, and urban reorientation. Frank is the bestselling author of *What's the Matter with Kansas?* and *Listen, Liberal*, founding editor of *The Baffler*, and former Wall Street Journal columnist.
Zara Marielle reads from and discusses her debut fantasy novel *The Café of Infinite Doors*, a story woven from Scottish mythology and feminist themes. The novel follows Marceline, a sheltered twenty-three-year-old who discovers a magical café—a refuge from her controlling husband—run by a mysteriously feathered woman named Lucretia, her partner Kilda, and Sylvan. When the café's portals begin closing and darkness looms, Marceline must choose between her hard-fought freedom and protecting her newfound family. Marielle is a former ESL teacher and holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Edinburgh.
A celebration of San Francisco's stairways featuring authors Mary Burk (Stairway Walks in San Francisco) and Alexandra Kenin (Urban Trails series). Moderator Liz Novoa hosts an SF stairway trivia game while Burk and Kenin share stories of the city's known and hidden stairways, best views, secret gardens, and a detailed map of SF's roughly 1,000 stairways. The grand finale of SF Stairway Month, organized by Glen Park Beautiful as part of the inaugural Walktober celebration.
A celebration of *Mark of the Warrior*, the sequel to the New York Times bestseller *Breath of the Dragon*, featuring authors Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee in conversation with Andrea Stewart. The novelists discuss their collaborative fantasy epic.
Five published authors read from their latest work in horror, science fiction, and speculative fiction. Featured writers include Cynthia Gómez (The Nightmare Box and Other Stories), Loren Rhoads (In the Wake of the Templars, Unsafe Words), Sumiko Saulson (Happiness and Other Diseases, Black Magic Women editor), Kristina Ten (Tell Me Yours, I'll Tell You Mine), and Tamika Thompson (The Curse of Hester Gardens, 2024 Indie Book Award winner). Hosted by Telegraph Hill Arts and Literature at Telegraph Hill Books.
A discussion of Rebekah Moyer's *Simple Kitchen Magic*, which offers whole-food recipes and home remedies for common ailments grounded in holistic nutrition. Moyer is a content creator and third-generation nutrition enthusiast who spent a decade pursuing self-directed study in holistic health, inspired by her family's food traditions and her kombucha-brewing mother. She shares accessible, nourishing meals using whole-food ingredients and practical remedies for everyday wellness.
Douglas Stuart celebrates his Booker Prize-longlisted novel *John of John*, a portrait of a young artist returning to his Hebridean island home and the tensions between duty, desire, and family secrets. Stuart, author of the Booker Prize-winning *Shuggie Bain*, is in conversation with Matthew Clark Davison, co-author of *The Lab: Experiments in Writing Across Genre* and creative writing educator at San Francisco State University.
An inspiring guide to the art of letter writing as a tool for deepening connections and healing wounds. Frish Brandt, a beloved 'letter midwife,' shares prompts and exercises for exploring the transformative power of written correspondence. Ideal for anyone seeking to reconnect with others or process unfinished emotional business through the written word.
Join SFMOMA's Works on Paper Book Club for a discussion of Carribean Fragoza's *Eat the Mouth That Feeds You* (City Lights), moderated by Assistant Curator of Photography Delphine Sims. Sims opens with a short talk connecting the book to SFMOMA's current exhibition *Graciela Iturbide: Between Two Worlds*, including how Iturbide's photograph appears on the book's cover. The group then discusses guided by Sims's own questions. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for informal discussion among members. Partial reading is welcome.
A conversation with Deb Olin Unferth, 4-time Pushcart Prize winner and National Book Critics Circle Award finalist, on her latest novel *Earth 7*. Hosted at Mechanics' Institute, a trusted San Francisco civic institution.
A book release event for Maya-Gawonii Shabazz-Saleh's debut novel *My Roommate Is Trying to Kill Me*, a queer horror romance about Hakeem Morales, a horror actor and aspiring screenwriter, and his suspiciously charming roommate Antonio. The novel blends dark humor with gothic tension and unexpected tenderness. Shabazz-Saleh is a critical essayist and author of essays in *Dead Pretty: Beauty in the Horror Genre* and *Echoes of the Earth: Black Voices Reclaiming Ecology and Justice*. She was recently awarded first runner-up for Red Hen Press' Quill Prose Award for her manuscript *Her Bite*, a Black Southern gothic sapphic vampire novella.
A celebration of Daisy Fried's poetry collection *My Destination*, featuring Fried in conversation with Katie Peterson. Fried's poems explore grief, desire, motherhood, illness, and public anger with unflinching attention to bodies, objects, and moments where private life meets moral force. Peterson, professor of English at UC Davis and author of *Fog and Smoke*, brings her expertise as both a celebrated poet and editor of Robert Lowell's selected poems. The event includes a reading and discussion of Fried's work.
An illustrated graphic history examining ten major genocides across five centuries—from the mass slaughter of First Peoples in the Americas to the genocide in Gaza. Award-winning writer, artist, and genocide-survivor descendant Dana Moshoian Walrath reveals how dehumanization operates through violence and the political systems that enable it. Her interactive graphic narrative uses visual manipulation to mirror the mechanisms of dehumanization, then restores victims' humanity, making their suffering undeniable. Walrath's previous works include the graphic memoir *Aliceheimers* and the verse novel *Like Water on Stone* on the Armenian genocide.
Kirk Lombard celebrates the release of his book *The Shadow Stream* with an author talk, refreshments, and live music at The Dairy (Sports Basement Presidio). The event combines conversation around the book with music and community gathering.
Julianna Glasse, a former Christian pop star, discusses her memoir about how reading transformed her life and enabled self-actualization. Her story traces an empowering journey of personal discovery through literature, offering insight for women navigating identity and transformation.
Khir Johari discusses his multi-award-winning book *The Food of Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels Through the Archipelago*, which explores the cultural anthropology of Malay food and its role in shaping Singapore's Malay culture. The result of 11 years of research spanning from the 7th-century Srivijaya Empire to the present, the book combines historical anecdotes with rich photography. It won Best of the Best in Food Culture at the 2025 Gourmand World Food Awards. Johari has since founded Dialogues by Khir Johari, a platform dedicated to exploring Nusantara's food, culture, and history.
Kristen Naiman, Chief Brand Officer at The RealReal and co-author of Real Style, discusses her book, which reframes style beyond traditional fashion guides to explore personal expression, sustainability, and intentional consumption in the age of resale and circular fashion.
Aryeh Green, who has lived in Israel for over 40 years, explores themes of peace and place in an intimate setting at Book Passage. The event features Green discussing his experience and insights on life in Israel.
Historian Kelly Lytle Hernández discusses her book *Racist by Design: Two Centuries of U.S. Immigration Control*, which traces how the United States has systematically used immigration law and enforcement as a tool of racial subordination from the early 19th century to the present. The conversation examines the legal and policy architecture that has shaped immigration control as a fundamentally racialized practice. Lytle Hernández is a UCLA professor and author of multiple works on US immigration and racial history.
Law professor and civil rights activist Robin Knauer Maril discusses her book *A Queer Guide to Saving American Democracy*, which examines the assault on LGBTQ rights as a symptom of broader democratic crisis and fascism in America. Drawing on her decade in the LGBTQ civil rights movement, including her work as Associate Legal Director at the Human Rights Campaign, Maril argues that queer and trans people are at the frontlines of defending democratic institutions. The event centers queer and trans voices leading resistance movements and explores pro-democracy frameworks rooted in queer resilience and joy. Hosted by City Lights Bookstore and Cambridge University Press.
A debut coffee table book of photography documenting San Francisco's evolving spirit, self-expression, activism, and community from the early 1970s onward. Photographer Greg Gaar discusses his visual chronicle of the city's cultural life alongside Jay Blakesberg.
Taiwanese-American writers Shawna Yang Ryan and Grace Loh Prasad discuss Ryan's novel Anatomy, a formally inventive meditation on an unnamed Asian American performance artist's journey toward female consciousness, desire, and autonomy across the Clinton and Trump eras. The conversation explores Asian American fiction, the writing life, and the intersections of race, gender, politics, and embodiment. Ryan is author of Anatomy, Green Island (a Boston Globe Pick of the Week and Amazon Best Book of the Month), and Water Ghosts (a San Francisco Chronicle bestseller), and recipient of an American Book Award. Prasad is author of The Translator's Daughter, a memoir finalist for the Northern California Book Award, and her essay won the inaugural 2025 Panorama Prize.
James Beard award-winning chef, author, and television personality Melissa King discusses her intimate memoir about family, food, and discovering her voice as a queer Chinese American chef. King explores how embracing her love of cooking empowered her to embrace all dimensions of her identity—her Chinese heritage, American upbringing, and the parts of herself that felt both too much and not enough. A powerful story of self-acceptance and finding freedom.
Jonathan Weber discusses City on the Edge, his account of San Francisco's tech boom and near-collapse, tracing the intersection of technology, politics, and urban identity. Moderated by Jeanne Carstensen. Hosted at the Mechanics' Institute, a trusted civic institution.
Rachel Gurjar, chef and food writer, discusses her memoir-cookbook *East to East: Recipes and Stories from Mumbai to New York*, which traces her culinary journey from Mumbai to Brooklyn. Gurjar has worked at acclaimed NYC restaurants including ABC Kitchen and served as food editor at Bon Appétit; her writing appears regularly in Food52, The Kitchn, and Forbes. In conversation with Hetal Vasavada, cookbook author and creator of the popular Milk & Cardamom platform, who brings her innovative approach to Indian-inspired desserts and Western techniques. Vasavada's cookbooks *Milk & Cardamom* and *Desi Bakes* have been praised by The New York Times and Bon Appétit.
A monthly poetry reading series featuring two poets with new collections: Angie Minkin (Lineage Songs) and Heather Saunders Estes (Crosswinds). After the featured readings, the community is invited to share their own poems during an open mic. Hosted by Michael Koch and Jerry Ferraz. No charge to attend or read; donations support the featured poets.
A reading and conversation about Tricyclist, Joon Oluchi Lee's debut novel set in early-2000s San Francisco. The book follows Howie Song, a former ballet dancer navigating romantic entanglements, creative ambition, and identity across decades and cultural shifts. Lee's prose is poetic, sensual, and formally inventive—an exploration of queer desire, artistic failure, and the unexpected grace of being the "third wheel." Lee is a writer and performer whose work blends fiction, criticism, and performance art.
The Believer magazine celebrates its fall issue with a conversation between managing editor Ginger Greene and author Katherine Cusumano about Cusumano's feature essay on the indie professional wrestling circuit of the Pacific Northwest. Cusumano is a reporter and essayist whose work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Orion, and Longreads; she holds an MFA from Oregon State University and received an Oregon Literary Fellowship in 2025. The Believer, a fifteen-time National Magazine Award finalist, is a quarterly journal of literature, arts, and culture featuring criticism, literary nonfiction, immersive reportage, journalism, interviews, comics, and poetry.
A book launch and guided reflection evening with Wall Street Journal bestselling author Tiago Forte, creator of the Building a Second Brain methodology. Forte will lead a live guided journaling, meditation, and visualization exercise attendees can practice annually, followed by a Q&A on reflection, planning, and building a purposeful life, and a book signing. His new book, Life in Perspective, distills two decades of personal practice into the ARC Method—Appreciate the Past, Reflect on the Present, Create the Future—offering a framework for annual life review in an era of constant digital distraction. Every attendee receives a hardcover copy as part of their ticket.
Haera Shin, author of *Korean Cocktails: From Traditional Spirits to Modern Drinks*, explores the evolving world of Korean drinking culture—from traditional sool to modern cocktails and Korean pantry ingredients. She discusses the distinctive flavors of Korean spirits, their reimagining in contemporary cocktails, and how ingredients from the Korean kitchen shaped beverage programs she developed during seven years as Momofuku's beverage director. In conversation with Tess Anne Sawyer, a hospitality industry veteran with two decades of experience in brand advocacy and beverage programming, and a personal connection to Korean culinary traditions through her grandmother.
Comedian Nigel Ng, known globally as Uncle Roger for his viral food critiques and defense of authentic Asian cooking, appears in conversation with Chef Martin Yan to discuss his comedy, food culture, and culinary authenticity. Ng has built a massive following through razor-sharp humor and fiercely opinionated takes on cooking technique and cultural representation in food media.
A conversation with Greg Sarris (Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria) and Jennifer Foerster (Muscogee/Creek Nation) celebrating Natalie Miller's (Chickasaw) debut poetry collection *Radiant Connection*. The event brings together three Native American voices to discuss contemporary indigenous literature and artistic practice.
Prize-winning historian Kevin Waite presents the first book-length biography of Biddy Mason, an enslaved woman who escaped the cotton South and built a remarkable life of freedom, wealth, and social activism in California. Waite's narrative traces Mason's extraordinary journey from bondage through the Civil War era to her emergence as a pioneering entrepreneur and community leader in Los Angeles. A significant contribution to African American history and the untold stories of Black achievement in the American West.
Two-Way Mirror books celebrates the release of two new works: Danny Rosen's *A Love Poem Called War* and J Grabowski's *POMPEI: or The Notes Are In The World*, with live music by Starry Skemes (featuring J Lee on modular synthesis and vocals). Rosen, founder of Lithic Press and Lithic Bookstore, is a poet, geologist, and former astronomical observatory director whose recent collections include *Suspended Erosion* (2024) and *The Tuscan Journals & Other Poems* (2022). Grabowski is a New York–based multimedia artist and co-founder of PUSH Press and Turtle Records. Publisher Marina Lazzara hosts.
A member-led mystery book group meeting on the second Monday of each month at the Mechanics' Institute Library. Open to readers interested in discussing mystery fiction.
A discussion of investigative journalist Melanie D.G. Kaplan's book *Lab Dog*, which traces her adopted beagle Hammy's mysterious past and explores the ethics and realities of laboratory animal research. Kaplan joins USF law professor Matthew Liebman to discuss how her dog's story became a window into the complex world of animal research, institutional practices, and the animals behind scientific discovery.
A book launch and illustrated lecture on how emerging technologies are reshaping architectural imagination and the material world. Katherine Lambert and Christiane Robbins, founders of MAP Studio, examine the relationship between technological systems, architectural speculation, and environmental inquiry—exploring what technology allows architecture to imagine, what it obscures, and what it ultimately builds. Following the presentation, they join Keith Krumwiede, Dean of Architecture at California College of the Arts, for a conversation on implications for architectural practice and education. Copies available for purchase through William Stout Architectural Books.
A conversation about *With Tea: Culture, Accoutrements, and Rituals*, Maria Geyman's debut exploring tea's health benefits and the rituals of a new generation of tea drinkers. Geyman is a naturopathic doctor and writer whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Vogue, and Goop. She is joined by Lauren Haynes, an herbalist, writer, and founder of Wooden Spoon Herbs whose work on medicinal plants has been featured in Bon Appétit, the New York Times, and Vogue. The book combines detailed recipes, tea wisdom, and visually stunning photography and watercolor illustrations.
Local author Katherine McCarty signs copies of her debut LGBTQ+ romance novel *Conversing with Cardinals*, a multigenerational story set in a small North Carolina town where a young woman named Camella experiences mysterious visions of a boy from the 1930s while navigating her grandfather's wisdom, a midnight musician, and her town's resistance to corporate development. McCarty holds degrees in Literature and Chiropractic, and has built a chiropractic practice, nonprofit organization, and writing career since moving to San Francisco.
Swiss author Nelio Biedermann discusses his debut novel *Lázár*, a sweeping historical family saga that drew comparisons to Thomas Mann and landed on German bestseller lists before the author turned 25. The English translation by Jamie Bulloch earned a New York Times feature and a Publishers Weekly starred review calling it "a marvel." Biedermann speaks in conversation with Blaise Zerega of Alta.
Jeff and Molly celebrate the release of *The Land*, a memoir documenting a decade-long journey building cabins, tree decks, and community on a small plot in the Northern California redwoods. After a wildfire destroyed their initial structures, they rebuilt with a more intentional approach, chronicling lessons in hands-on learning, DIY adventure, and the surprising power of rallying friends to create something together. Part cabin-building guide for the non-builder and part community chronicle, *The Land* is a scrapbook of experiments in approachability and shared growth.
A guide to crisis leadership in high-stakes situations, from life-or-death scenarios to business emergencies. Henry J. Evans explores essential frameworks for decision-making and organizational resilience when the pressure is greatest. Presented at Book Passage Ferry Building.
A debut novel exploring reinvention, trauma, and redemption. Luke Griffin, a former reality-TV contestant whose football career ended in a car accident, returns to the competition show Endeavor a decade later as a father and husband to a U.S. senator—only to confront the betrayals and guilt he spent ten years trying to escape. Blending the drama of The Traitors with the physical stakes of The Challenge, the novel examines what it costs to rebuild your life when your past is permanently recorded. Lovell Holder reads and discusses his work at Fabulosa Books.
International Booker Prize-winning translator Jennifer Croft celebrates her debut memoir, *Notes on Postcards*, a collection of personal essays exploring wanderlust, love, and motherhood through a lifelong archive of postcards. The event is presented by Litquake's AfterShocks series at City Lights Bookstore. Free to attend; seating is first-come, first-served.
Acclaimed sports journalist Marcus Thompson II presents Game Changers, exploring the unique players who transformed basketball and sparked endless GOAT debates. Thompson examines the statistical and cultural impact of these game-changing figures on the sport's evolution.
Santiago Lastra, chef and author of *Mexican Soul*, discusses his debut book exploring Mexican culinary traditions and contemporary cooking. Lastra, who trained at Michelin-starred establishments including Mugaritz and noma, opened KOL in London to international acclaim before launching Fonda in 2024. His philosophy centers on celebrating Mexico's rich cultural tastes, aromas, and textures through meticulously sourced seasonal ingredients. The event takes place at Omnivore Books on Food.
A poetry reading celebrating Kelly Grace Thomas's debut collection *Future Tense*, a memoir-in-verse reckoning with infertility, adoption, and love under pressure. Thomas spent three years struggling to conceive while her mother died of Stage IV cancer—a collision of desire and loss she transforms into intimate, unflinching poems about womanhood, motherhood, and meaning-making in grief. Featuring Kim Addonizio (author of *Exit Opera*, NEA and Guggenheim fellow), Tracey Knapp (poet of *Swerve*), and Yaccaira Salvatierra (author of *Sons of Salt*, named one of the New York Public Library's Best Books for Adults 2024).
How do we prepare ourselves and our children for fulfilling careers when the nature of work itself is changing rapidly and opaquely? Roboticist and author Illah Nourbakhsh discusses his book *Crunch Time*, examining the future of labor, education, and opportunity in a shifting economy. A conversation on work, meaning, and adaptation in an uncertain technological landscape.
San Francisco Poet Laureate emerita Kim Shuck and special guests celebrate This Music, a memoir in prose poems by the late Native poet and essayist Janice Gould. Part of SFPL's Monthly poetry reading series, the event honors Indigenous voices and artistic expression. Shuck, the city's seventh Poet Laureate, draws on her Polish and Cherokee heritage in her own work, including her 2024 poetry collection Pick a Garnet to Sleep In and her 2022 essay collection Noodle, Rant, Tangent. During her tenure, she launched major citywide initiatives to honor Native American and Indigenous Peoples' heritage in partnership with the San Francisco Arts Commission.
Journalist and NYU professor Rachel L. Swarns discusses her award-winning book *The 272*, which examines the history of American slavery and its ongoing impact on institutions today. Swarns investigates how slavery shaped American society and institutions, and how we reckon with this legacy in the present. The talk, honoring Black Catholic History Month, will be followed by a reception and book signing.
An evening with three authors exploring weird science, strange beliefs, and the impossible. Scott Lambridis, Martha Conway, and Yance Wyatt discuss their work and ideas around the unexplained and unconventional.
Celebrated political journalist Mark Danner discusses his new essay collection *Crossing the Rubicon: The Betrayal of American Democracy, 2000–2026*, published by NYRB. Drawing on three decades reporting on foreign wars and American politics, Danner traces the erosion of democratic institutions and rise of authoritarianism from the Bush–Gore election through Trump, offering portraits of key architects like Cheney and Rumsfeld alongside critiques of mass media's role in politics. Danner is Class of 1961 Distinguished Chair in Undergraduate Education at UC Berkeley and has received a MacArthur Fellowship, Guggenheim, National Magazine Award, and three Overseas Press Awards.
Two debut novelists longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize discuss their publication journeys with independent presses. Devon Halliday, author of *To Stay, To Stay, To Stay* (McSweeney's 2026) and a former literary agent, and Rebecca Handler, author of *Edie Richter Is Not Alone* (Unnamed Press) and *In the Round* (McSweeney's 2026), explore the long, meandering path to getting a book into the world. In partnership with Same Page SF.
A book talk with Spencer R. Scott, biologist and cofounder of Solar Punk Farms, celebrating his new memoir *As If We Were Staying*. Weaving personal narrative with scientific inquiry, Scott explores how we might reimagine our relationship to capitalism and ecology, drawing on his experience building a queer regenerative community. The book bridges science and lived experience to ask: how do we live on this planet as if we were staying? Event at The Booksmith, San Francisco's independent Haight Ashbury bookstore. Seats guaranteed with book purchase or $3 sliding-scale donation; first-come, first-served thereafter. Check-in begins 6:45 PM.
A launch celebration for *Mukja: Let's Eat!*, a cookbook pairing fan-favorite Korean dishes inspired by K-dramas, movies, and K-pop with vibrant full-color illustrations. Written by chef Judy Joo and illustrated by Asia Kang, the book features kimbap, ramyeon, snacks, sweets, and drinks. Asia Kang will be present to sign copies and discuss bringing iconic food moments to the page. The event includes treats from Atoi Bakes and merchandise from Chonky Wontons.
A celebration of Venezuelan-American singer-songwriter, visual artist, and poet Devendra Banhart around his poetry collection *Four Nose Jobs a Day*. Like his music and visual art, Banhart's poetry converges experimental form with intimate observation. Meet the artist at Book Passage Ferry Building.
Seth Fleisher discusses his sweeping novel *The Farther Shore*, a story about fathers and sons, memory, and race inspired by the true story of Eugene Marais, one of history's most extraordinary figures. The novel explores the dangerous fictions that shape us across generations.
Sara Calvosa Olson and Crystal Wahpepah discuss *Radiant Connection* by Natalie Miller (Chickasaw). An event centered on contemporary indigenous voices and literature.
Poet and author Diego Perez (Yung Pueblo) discusses his new book *Journey: The Year That Changes Everything*, a year-long guide to building self-awareness, emotional maturity, and inner peace through daily reflections and intentional habit change. In conversation with Elena Brower, author of *Hold Nothing* and *Art of Attention*, both will explore how short reflections, practices, and mindset shifts cultivate healthier relationships with oneself and others. Brower brings nearly three decades of experience shaping modern yoga and meditation practice.
David Sedaris celebrates his new essay collection *The Land and Its People* in conversation with author Susan Orlean. Sedaris, the acclaimed humorist and radio contributor, reflects on home, family, and the natural world in this new collection. Orlean, known for her narrative journalism and books including *The Wager* and *Rin Tin Tin*, joins him for what promises to be a lively and intimate discussion.
Author and artist Danielle Krysa, creator of The Jealous Curator, discusses her new book *Real Artists Wear Black* in a myth-busting conversation about building a creative life. Krysa will read from her work, then explore the myths that obstruct artists' careers and strategies for moving past them. The event includes a Q&A where attendees—from emerging to established Bay Area artists—can share their own experiences and questions in a welcoming, participatory space. Recommended for ages 16+.
A fireside conversation with celebrated actress and author Denise Nicholas, moderated by Tayler Crenshaw, exploring her memoir *Finding Home* and her remarkable career spanning groundbreaking television roles in *Room 222* and *In the Heat of the Night* to film appearances including *Let's Do It Again*. Nicholas reflects on her journey redefining the representation of Black women in American entertainment, her personal experiences, creative evolution, and the people and places that shaped her extraordinary life. Through candid storytelling, she shares what it means to find one's voice, embrace one's history, and discover a sense of home—a celebration of personal discovery and the enduring power of lived experience.
A reading and book signing celebrating the launch of *Kind Little Bao*, a children's picture book about a dumpling seeking recognition during Lunar New Year. Illustrator and writer Camey Yeh, a San Francisco-based Taiwanese American artist, shares the story of Bao, a middle child who discovers his own special gifts while helping his neighbors. The book explores themes of belonging and self-worth, perfect for ages 4–8 and anyone who has felt overlooked. Copies will be available for purchase.
Rachel Maddow, Emmy Award-winning MSNBC host and bestselling author, discusses her new book *Department of Fate* in conversation with journalist Kara Swisher. Maddow reflects on her career in journalism, political analysis, and the forces shaping American democracy.
Josh Grau, former CMO and early executive at YouTube and Twitter, discusses his framework for measuring brand health through the lens of customer experience. The Brand GPA offers leaders—CMOs, CPOs, and CEOs—a weighted, evidence-based diagnostic for understanding how customers perceive their brand, separate from internal KPIs. Grau draws on research across 145 brands to show why customer-first metrics matter, especially as AI reshapes brand strategy.
New Yorker staff writer Nick Paumgarten discusses his memoir, *The Intangibles*, drawing on two decades of acclaimed journalism known for character-driven storytelling and narrative complexity. Paumgarten brings his signature instinct for nuance and human insight to this conversation about his life and work.
Chef and writer Lucas Sin discusses his book *Cha Chaan Teng: Comfort Food from Hong Kong's Iconic Diners*. Sin, a Forbes 30 Under 30 and James Beard Media Award winner, has cooked at Modernist Cuisine, Michelin-starred kitchens in Hong Kong and New York, and co-founded Junzi Kitchen and Nice Day Chinese. He is a culinary educator for National Geographic, Food52, and Bon Appétit. The event features conversation with celebrated chef Mei Lin, a Bravo Top Chef winner and Food Network Tournament of Champions champion.
A literary debut that reimagines The Odyssey through the story of Eurick Ulysse, a South Florida teenager trapped by poverty and immigrant parents' expectations, whose life transforms after a surreal night with the free-spirited Ana Mara Cortez. Haitian-American writer Schneider K. Rancy explores diaspora, class, and the search for escape in this poetic, experimental novel. Rancy is a Columbia University graduate and surgeon now based in San Francisco; his poetry has appeared in Callaloo, Columbia Journal, and Apogee, and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.
Author Delia Duke presents her contemporary romance novels *Cadence of the Storm* and *Clause of Attraction*. Duke, born in New Delhi, weaves her travel experiences and passion for food into stories featuring complex characters navigating desire, ambition, and belonging. *Cadence of the Storm* (Reader Views 2025 Reviewer's Choice Awards Finalist) follows Ryan and Risha across two worlds colliding in unexpected chemistry. *Clause of Attraction* (Storytrade Award Finalist) pits two rival lawyers against their own fierce attraction while competing for partnership at a prestigious firm.
Comedian and Cowlitz tribe member Joey Clift discusses his debut book *We've Been Here the Whole Time!*, a satirical, illustrated guide to Native American history, culture, and contemporary issues — from Pocahontas misconceptions to sports mascots, ancestry claims, and the Land Back movement. Featuring irreverent illustrations by Diné artist Julie Fiveash and a foreword by Shane Hawk, the book combines humor with serious education for fans of *America (The Book)* and *F*cking History*. Clift, a Peabody and 2x Emmy-nominated TV writer whose work has appeared in *The Washington Post*, CNN, and Comedy Central, is joined in conversation by comedian and writer Jackie Keliiaa, featured in *We Had a Little Real Estate Problem* and a writer for NBC's untitled Native community center comedy pilot.
A reading by Kim Shuck, San Francisco's seventh Poet Laureate (2017–2021), featuring work from three new or newly re-released titles: *November Dance Shirt*, a collection of poems written in November 2023; *American Indian Stories* by Zitkala-Ša, re-released with Shuck's introduction and new essay; and *This Music: Record of a Poet Becoming*, the posthumous final book by poet Janice Gould, which Shuck helped edit. The evening traces concerns and conditions for Native women from the early 20th century through the present, including joy and whimsy, drawing on Shuck's own multiethnic Polish and Cherokee heritage and decades of engagement with San Francisco's literary community.
An ongoing book group exploring contemporary works in translation, hosted by the Mechanics' Institute. The group gathers to read and discuss literature from around the world, building cross-cultural understanding through translated fiction, poetry, and essays. A space for readers to engage with international voices and literary voices across languages and regions.
A celebration of cats, travel, and the guilt of befriending other people's pets while away from home. Authors Diana Helmuth and Eliza Washington discuss their Lonely Planet guide to the world's best cats and cat-friendly destinations, blending humor, travel advice, and pet memoir.
A reading and conversation celebrating Reed Turchi's debut poetry collection, Dancing with Poets, which explores love, loss, and memory across dive bars, museums, and blues clubs. Turchi, a Grammy Award–winning musician and poet from North Carolina, reads alongside Jesse Nathan, author of Eggtooth and literature instructor at UC Berkeley. Nathan's debut won the 2024 New Writers Award in Poetry and multiple honors.
French novelist Marie Darrieussecq discusses her latest work, *How to Make a Woman*, in conversation with writer Rita Bullwinkel. Darrieussecq, described by The New Yorker as France's "best young novelist," is a leading voice in contemporary French literature whose debut *Pig Tales* became an international bestseller and has been translated into more than thirty languages. *How to Make a Woman* follows two young women, Rose and Solange, from their small village in the French Basque Country through coming-of-age across Bordeaux, Paris, London, and Hollywood, exploring sexuality, identity, and the forces that shape women's lives across the final decades of the twentieth century. Transit Books celebrates the U.S. publication.
Legal scholar Saira Mohamed discusses her new book *What a Country Owes Its Soldiers*, which examines government obligations to protect and care for military personnel. Drawing on her career studying the ethics of armed conflict and mass atrocity, Mohamed argues for policies that reflect genuine respect for soldiers' humanity—especially urgent as political leaders extol military service while dismantling support systems and safety for veterans. A conversation on law, ethics, and national responsibility.
SFMOMA's recurring Works on Paper Book Club discusses Gaston Bachelard's *The Poetics of Space*, a foundational meditation on how interior spaces shape imagination and memory. Moderator América Castillo, curatorial project manager and co-curator of the RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me exhibition on Floor 7, opens with a short talk connecting the book to the current show, then guides discussion through her own questions. Informal conversation begins at 5:30 p.m. Partial readers welcome.
An evening of Jane Austen selections read aloud by local actors, celebrating her narrative voice, wit, and irony. The performance emphasizes Austen's prose and humor as they shine in dramatic reading rather than adaptation, with a warm, playful atmosphere ideal for devoted fans and newcomers alike.
Join artist and author Megumi Inouye for a hands-on workshop exploring gift wrapping as a practice of gratitude and mindfulness. Through conversation and guided making, Inouye will discuss her book *Origami Gift Wrap* and lead participants in creating an origami-inspired gift box, embellishments, and learning a tape-free technique for wrapping books. No previous experience needed; all materials provided. Tea will be served. Inouye will be available to sign books after the workshop.
Rae Armantrout, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and Professor Emerita at UC San Diego, celebrates her new poetry collection Safe Rooms, which explores modern anxieties, human nature, and the fragile shelters we construct against chaos. The poems examine darker impulses—self-destruction, envy, family dynamics—revealing how we search for meaning and safety in an undermining world. In conversation with Elizabeth Robinson, author of 20 books and senior pastor at Orinda Community Church, both accomplished poets discuss Armantrout's unflinching approach to contemporary life. Co-presented by City Lights Bookstore and the Poetry Center and American Poetry Archives at San Francisco State University.
Daniel Duane, author of the climbing memoir *Lighting Out* and the surfing classic *Caught Inside*, discusses his new book *Yosemite Falls*, a reckoning with John Muir's legacy and California's wilderness history. Duane explores how his family's devotion to Muir's vision of Yosemite masked the park's violent and complex past—including the displacement of Indigenous peoples like Ishi, the last Yahi—and examines how white supremacy, cultural theft, and governmental overreach shaped the American wilderness mythology. A long-time contributor to *The New York Times*, *Outside*, and *The Guardian*, Duane has crafted a memoir that is both a personal family story and a vital correction to California's ecological canon.
An author conversation with Kemi Ashing-Giwa and Sarah Gailey, both published writers. The event benefits SF Bay Area Mutual Aid and Bookworms for Gaza. Held at Green Apple Books on 9th Avenue.
A food demo and book signing for *Market Memories Cookbook* featuring authors Ann M. Evans and Georgeanne Brennan. The event includes a culinary demonstration at 11:00 AM followed by a book signing at 11:30 AM at the SF Ferry Plaza Market. Hosted by Book Passage.
Celebrate the release of Arushi Avachat's debut novel *Rani Deshpande Takes the Wheel*, a sparkling romance about a nineteen-year-old Desi woman reinventing herself the summer before university. When Rani takes driving lessons from Kush, her childhood friend and family crush, a slow-burn romance unfolds within their close-knit South Asian community. Avachat, a Bay Area writer and 2024 Marshall Scholar with an MSt from Oxford, crafts a Jane Austen-style story about self-discovery, family dynamics, and unexpected love. Meet the author and get your copy signed.
Tom Molanphy discusses his book *Marie's Tree*, which chronicles one woman's fight for environmental justice in Bayview Hunters Point. The event is part of the Daytime Series at the Mechanics' Institute, a trusted civic institution.
Join local author Maya-Gawonii Shabazz-Saleh for the release of Midnight in California, a holiday duology comprising two interconnected romances. The Twelve Voicemails of Christmas follows Kaya and Theo, who receive mysterious voicemails eight years after their breakup in Oakland, while Happy New Year, Eve centers on a retail worker whose clock freezes at 11:58 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Shabazz-Saleh's work spans horror, essays on ecology and justice, and queer fiction; her debut novel arrives October 2026.
Local journalist Tom Molanphy discusses his biography of environmental activist Marie Harrison (1948–2019), *Marie's Tree: Implosions and Injustice in San Francisco*, with three people central to her story: Arieann Harrison, her daughter and director of the Marie Harrison Community Foundation; Dr. Ahimsa Sumchai, environmental health advocate; and Bradley Angel, Director of Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice, the organization Harrison joined in 1999. An exploration of environmental racism and community organizing in Bayview Hunters Point.
A reading and conversation centered on Natalie Miller's poetry collection *Radiant Connection*. Miller, Chickasaw, shares her work with Joey Clift and Terria Smith, exploring indigenous voices and contemporary poetic practice.
Susan Spungen, founding Food Editor at Martha Stewart Living and food stylist for Julie & Julia and Eat, Pray, Love, discusses her new cookbook Cookie Queen, featuring over 80 accessible holiday and year-round recipes. Spungen is author of Recipes: A Collection for the Modern Cook and What's a Hostess to Do?, and co-author of Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres Handbook. Known for her influential visual food styling and annual holiday cookie content, she shares her approach to designing recipes that are both achievable and giftable.
Investigative journalist Julia Harte explores the hidden history of American citizens who fought against imperialism and dictatorship abroad, only to face government persecution at home. Inspired by her distant cousin Sheldon Harte—killed during a 1940 attack on Trotsky's compound in Mexico City—Harte chronicles two centuries of Americans in revolutionary movements, from 19th-century Greek independence fighters to modern solidarity activists in Palestine. She profiles African American volunteers in the Spanish Civil War, a Jewish American who helped the Black Panthers in Algeria, Filipino organizers against Marcos, and Native Americans in Nicaragua's Sandinista conflict. Through meticulous research, she interrogates how U.S. officials branded these activists as threats via surveillance, blacklists, and prosecution—and what makes a "radical."
A poetry reading and book launch featuring Jen Siraganian for her debut collection *Everything Has Been Moved, Even the Dead*. Joined by poets Tongo Eisen-Martin, Nancy Miller Gomez, and Christin Rice. Hosted at Green Apple Books.
An acclaimed New York Times bestselling biographer examines the life and legacy of William Howard Taft, the only man to serve as both president and chief justice of the United States. Walter Stahr offers a fresh perspective on this complex figure and his pivotal role in American history.
An evening of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry by University of San Francisco MFA students. Hosted at Green Apple Books.
A reading and discussion of Esmail Rahimian's literary fiction *I Was There Before: Stories Without Names*, which explores moments of rupture and erasure through interconnected narratives—a girl who disappears into the streets, a mother listening through an ominous night, a man burdened by what he cannot abandon, and a witness preserving what others seek to erase. Rahimian draws readers into the spaces where everything changes and memory becomes an act of resistance.
An evening with architect Mark Cavagnero, FAIA, and writer Laura Kiniry discussing *Mark Cavagnero Architect*, a survey of fifteen foundational projects from the San Francisco firm that has shaped the city's civic life over two decades. Cavagnero founded his practice in 1988 and has become known for a disciplined modernist language—interlocking volumes, wood and concrete, functional clarity—applied to museums, theaters, schools, and recreation centers. The conversation explores how design substance emerges across cultural landmarks, civic buildings, and current projects including the San Francisco Symphony's renovation and Laney College Library.
New York Times food writer and James Beard Award–winning author Melissa Clark discusses her latest cookbook, *The Big Book of Dinner*, featuring 175 any-night recipes plus 150 tested variations and lessons for intuitive, joyful cooking. Clark, a staff writer for the New York Times Food section and creator of the popular "A Good Appetite" column, draws on decades of helping home cooks master everyday cooking with a chef's creativity and a home cook's sensibility for ease.
A panel discussion on *We Live in Public*, a book edited by Carla Orendorff, Anthony Orendorff, Lupita Limón Corrales, Ananya Roy, and Marisa Lemorande, written by unhoused people and their allies. The book centers the experiences and organizing strategies of Aetna Street encampment residents in Los Angeles, exploring homelessness as both a symptom of systemic inequality and a site of collective knowledge and resistance. The event features editors and contributors discussing modes of collective living, revolutionary care, and solidarity in the face of state violence and the criminalization of homelessness.
A book launch for Carolyn Huynh's speculative novel Fetal Position, moderated by Kathy L. Nguyen. Huynh, author of the GMA Book Club pick The Fortunes of Jaded Women, is joined by Hieu Minh Nguyen, a Jones Lecturer in Poetry at Stanford and author of three poetry collections including Not Here, which won the Thom Gunn Award. Nguyen co-directs the Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network, a San Francisco-based literary arts nonprofit. The novel explores bodily autonomy, complicity, and artificial life in a near-future dystopia. Presented with DVAN.
D. Leah Steinberg discusses her biography *Clyde Stubblefield: Rhythms of the Funky Drummer*, exploring the life and legacy of the influential drummer who powered James Brown's sound and became the most sampled drummer in hip-hop history. Stubblefield's journey from segregated Chattanooga to Madison, Wisconsin, and his foundational yet underrecognized contributions to music are traced through Steinberg's six years of friendship and research with the drummer. In conversation with Harry Duncan, host of KCSM's "In The Soul Kitchen" radio show and a decades-long DJ, promoter, and champion of Bay Area roots and rhythm music.
San Francisco Poet Laureate emerita Kim Shuck celebrates her new poetry collection *November Dance Shirt* with poet Lauren Ito and special guests at SFPL's monthly poetry reading. Shuck's work draws on her multiethnic background—Polish and Cherokee heritage—and her lifelong experience as a San Francisco resident. As Poet Laureate, she hosted free poetry and art workshops across neighborhood libraries and schools, and co-launched citywide initiatives honoring Native American Indigenous Peoples' heritage.
A celebration of *Selected Poems of Steve Dalachinsky*, the first comprehensive U.S. collection spanning a lifetime of work by New York's consummate outsider poet (1946–2019). Dalachinsky discovered poetry in a psychiatric hospital through Ginsberg's *Howl*, then lived as a true bohemian in SoHo, writing obsessively while selling LPs and attending free jazz performances by Charles Gayle and Cecil Taylor. Moderated by poet and collagist Garrett Caples with Michael Ruby, author of the biographical introduction, and appearances by friends and collaborators. The event marks the publication of this fugitive poet's work—long available only in small chapbooks and expensive European editions—now finally accessible to U.S. readers.
A discussion of Marlon James's new novel *The Disappearers*, which traces the lives of gay men in 1980s Jamaica after a violent mob attack, exploring how survivors navigate trauma, healing, and the compromises society demands of oppressed people. James, the first Jamaican author to win the Man Booker Prize (for *A Brief History of Seven Killings*), is a acclaimed novelist whose work bridges literary and speculative fiction, drawing on Caribbean culture and African legend. In conversation with journalist Shereen Marisol Meraji, James discusses how his fiction examines race, violence, resilience, and the human cost of systemic oppression. Hosted by City Arts & Lectures at the Sydney Goldstein Theater.
Poets Jack Crimmins, Melissa Eleftherion, and Bill Vartnaw from Taurean Horn, a Northern California independent press with a vital roster of contemporary poets. The event celebrates the press and its role in the regional literary scene.
An evening of readings from Writers Grotto authors, emceed by Leslie Kirk Campbell. This month's event is co-organized with The Writers Grotto to present writers, poets, and other artists while supporting the creative community. Hosted at Telegraph Hill Books.
An evening of readings and discussion celebrating Pierre Joris' multifaceted literary legacy. Featuring Ariel Resnikoff and Nicole Peyrafitte reading from *In Between, Keep Moving: A Pierre Joris Reader*, a new selected volume spanning over fifty years of Joris' poetry, prose, poetics, translation, and collaborative work. Moderated by Solomon Rino of City Lights, the event explores Joris' distinctive translingual practice—his care for the shifting, intersecting languages that shape contemporary writing and meaning. Published on the anniversary of his death, the reader stands as an opening toward the continuing life of his work.
A celebration of Jen Siraganian's debut poetry collection *Everything Has Been Moved, Even the Dead* (Perugia Press, 2026), which traces Armenian-American identity, family history, and the Armenian Genocide through lyric and archival photographs. Siraganian, former poet laureate of Los Gatos and a Lucas Artist Fellow at Montalvo Arts Center, will read alongside Bay Area poets Judy Halebsky (author of *Sky=Empty*, New Issues Prize winner) and Amanda Moore. Halebsky is a translator and the author of three poetry collections. The event features new poems and a shared reading exploring themes of home, displacement, memory, and diaspora.
A conversation between Mexican author Laia Jufresa and American novelist Colin Winnette celebrating the publication of Jufresa's debut English-language novel, *Wishbone*. The novel traces the interconnected lives of two women—Tor Sima, founder of the International Museum of Color in Oaxaca, and Vica Luft, a secretary and single mother in Edinburgh—across two decades and seven cities, exploring motherhood, friendship, art, and the bonds of chosen family. Jufresa is the author of *Umami* and the memoir *Veinte, veintiuno*, and was named to the Bogotá39 list of Latin America's outstanding writers under forty. Winnette's novel *Users* was a 2024 PEN/Faulkner finalist and a New York Times Editor's Choice.
A meet-and-greet signing event with author and food activist Florencia Ramirez. The afternoon includes a food demo at 11:00 AM followed by a book signing at 11:30 AM for her work on food justice and culinary activism.
Kim Stanley Robinson discusses his latest work, interweaving memoir and adventure narrative around his research trip to Antarctica and his long engagement with Apsley Cherry-Garrard's classic *The Worst Journey in the World*. Robinson traces his own expedition across the continent by snowmobile, helicopter, and airplane, following Scott's ill-fated 1911 polar attempt, and explores how Cherry-Garrard's account shaped his imagination and fiction for decades. A meditation on exploration, climate, and the places that haunt us.
Rhae Lynn Barnes discusses *Darkology*, a cultural and social history examining minstrelsy and its legacies through gripping writing and archival research. She appears alongside David M. Henkin, author of *Out of the Ballpark*, for a conversation on how performance, race, and American culture intersect across two centuries of popular entertainment.
Rocky Sharma discusses his experience building Ironman's helmet for the U.S. Army using Silicon Valley's Lean Launchpad and Lean Startup methodology. The talk explores how companies create meaning for customers while solving critical problems, drawing on real-world case studies from defense technology and innovation strategy. Presented at Book Passage Ferry Building.
Obi Kaufmann with Nina Schuyler at Green Apple Books. Details to be announced.
Grace Hwang Lynch explores her memoir *How to Cook Rice: On the Care and Feeding of an Immigrant Family*, a bittersweet journey navigating California suburbs, Asian American identity, and motherhood through the lens of food and family. Lynch is a San Francisco Bay Area writer specializing in Asian American food and culture, with bylines in NPR, Eating Well, KQED, and the San Francisco Chronicle; she was a finalist for an IACP Food Writing award. In conversation with Linda Shiue, MD, a Taiwanese American physician, professionally trained chef, and author of *Spicebox Kitchen*, who directs Culinary Medicine at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco.
Two leading scholars Saree and Ussama Makdisi present their concise, authoritative work naming and explaining anti-Palestinianism as a distinct form of bigotry, clarifying a concept that is often misunderstood or ignored in public discourse. The event explores how anti-Palestinian sentiment operates as ideology and practice, situating it within broader frameworks of political prejudice and discrimination.
Mexican-American writer Gerardo Sámano Córdova reads from and discusses his bestselling novel Monstrilio, a critically acclaimed work of speculative fiction. Sámano Córdova is currently Writer in Residence at Fordham University and holds an MFA from the University of Michigan's Helen Zell Writers' Program. He is also author of the forthcoming novel Imps!.
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