Words & Ideas

Words & Ideas

TODAY

Reza Aslan The author of “How to Win a Cosmic War: Why We’re Losing the War on Terror” will discuss and sign his new book. Craft and Folk Art Museum, 5814 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 3 p.m. Free with museum admission. (323) 937-4230.

Martha Sandweiss The author of “Passing Strange: A Gilded Age Tale of Love and Deception Across the Color Line” will read and sign her new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 5 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

MONDAY

William Kleinknecht The author of “The Man Who Sold the World” will present and sign his new book about the devastating legacy of the Reagan presidency. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Jay Mathews The founder of KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) will present and sign his new book, “Work Hard. Be Nice.: How Two Inspired Teachers Created America’s Best Schools.” Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Joan Rivers Writers Bloc presents the grande dame of the red carpet in a discussion and signing of her new murder mystery, “Murder at the Academy Awards: A Red Carpet Mystery.” www.writersblocpresents.com. Writers Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills. 7 p.m. $20.

TUESDAY

Jonathon Keats The author of “The Book of the Unknown: Tales of the Thirty-Six” will read and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Theodore Lowi The political scientist and John L. Senior Professor of American Institutions at Cornell University will give a talk, “The First Thirty Days: The New President’s Plans, Priorities and Pitfalls,” as part of the Hammer Forum series. Hammer Museum 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

WEDNESDAY

John Cacioppo Zócalo presents the author of “Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection” in a discussion and signing of his book. www.zocalopublicsquare.org. Goethe-Institut German Cultural Center, 5750 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 100, L.A. 7:30 p.m.

Timothy Donnelly and Lisa Lubasch The two poets will read and discuss their work. Otis College of Art and Design, 9045 Lincoln Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 527-6847.

Leslie Gornstein The E! columnist will present and sign her new book, “A-List Playbook.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Alex McDowell and Greg Lynn The production designer (“Fight Club”, “Watchmen”) and the acclaimed architect will discuss their work as part of the Hammer Conversations series. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Gene & Marilyn Pepper The authors of “How to Save Your Company and Make It Grow in Tough Times” will present and sign their new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

THURSDAY

Darwin Among the Poets: Endless Heroic Observations Poets and writers Jorie Graham, Carol Muske Dukes, M.G. Lord, Susan McCabe, Michael Quick and Craig Stanford will read their work in an event exploring the connections between poetry and scientific inquiry. Reception and musical performance will follow. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. 7-10 p.m. Free.

Norman Fischer Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “Sailing Home: Using the Wisdom of Homer’s Odyssey” in conversation with Irene Borger. www.aloudla.org. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025.

Michael Fried The author of “Why Photography Matters as Art as Never Before” will discuss and sign his new book. Bing Theater at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 857-6000.

Barbara Hall The author of “The Music Teacher” will read and sign her new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Mark Knowles The author of “Tap Roots: The Early History of Tap Dancing” will discuss his new book. San Marino Public Library, 1890 Huntington Drive, San Marino. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 300-0777.

Carol Lay The author will present and sign her new graphic novel, “The Big Skinny: How I Lost My Fattitude.” Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Judea Pearl The father of slain journalist Daniel Pearl and editor of “I Am Jewish: Personal Reflections Inspired by the Last Words of Daniel Pearl” will deliver a lecture, “Being Jewish, American, Western in the Post- 9/11 Era.” A.J. Villalobos Hall at Whittier College, 7214 Painter Ave., Whittier. 7:30 p.m. Reservations recommended. (562) 907-4219.

A.E. Stallings The poet (“Archiac Smile”) will read and discuss her work as part of the Hammer Readings series. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000.

Chip Taylor The songwriter will present and sign the companion book to his new CD, “Songs From a Dutch Tour.” Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

FRIDAY

Edgar Arceneaux The director of the Watts House Project will present a lecture, “Watts House Project: An Artwork in the Shape of a Neighborhood Redevelopment.” Farmlab, 1745 N. Spring St., No. 4, L.A. Noon. Free. (323) 226-1158.

Futurism + 100 A celebration of the 100th anniversary of the publication of the Futurist Manifesto with an evening of Futurist music, poetry, short films and the premiere of a site-specific video installation. Otis College of Art and Design, 9045 Lincoln Blvd., L.A. 8 p.m. Free. (310) 527-6847.

Werner Herzog UCLA Live presents the enigmatic German film auteur in conversation with Paul Höldengraber. Royce Hall, UCLA, 340 Royce Drive, L.A. 8 p.m. $28-$48. (310) 825-2101.

Jacqueline Winspear The author of “Among the Mad” will read and sign her new thriller. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

SATURDAY

Mark Edward Harris The author of “Inside Iran” will present and sign his new photography book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 2 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Robert Osborne The author of “80 Years of the Oscar: The Official History of the Academy Awards” will present and sign his new book. Barnes & Noble, 189 the Grove Drive, L.A. noon. Free. (323) 525-0270.

Domenic Priore and Brian Chidester The authors of “Pop Surf Culture: Music, Design, Film and Fashion From the Bohemian Surf Boom” will present and sign their new book and will be joined by musical group the Boardwalkers. Stories, 1716 Sunset Blvd., L.A. 6 p.m. Free. (213) 413-3733.

Carine Topal and David St. John The poets will read and discuss their new books, “In the Heaven of Never Before” and “The Face: A Novella in Verse,” respectively. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.