Physicist and author Robert Cahn with Steve Wasserman | Mrs. Dalloway’s Bookstore | Nov. 9
Cahn’s new book “Grace in All Simplicity: Beauty, Truth, and Wonders on the Path to the Higgs Boson and New Laws of Nature” tells a riveting story in accessible language about extraordinary things: the birth of the universe, the mysteries of dark matter, and dark energy discoveries made possible by the Higgs boson. Cahn’s depth of knowledge and long history at the forefront of particle physics is a perfect match for Heyday Books publisher Wasserman’s own expertise when it comes to storytelling and writing. The synthesis of these two minds and their ability to make complex topics relatable to everyday human life offer intriguing possibilities and invite participants to bring their most vital questions and concerns. As always, preregistration is encouraged and walk-ins are accommodated only if space allows.
Nov. 9 @ 7:00 p.m. | Free | mrsdalloways.com
Aki Berry and Meg Chano: The Unofficial Ted Lasso Cookbook | Books Inc. Alameda | Nov. 16
Books Inc. hosts the California writing duo with their new book celebrating the Emmy Award-winning TV show. Along with quotes and “Football is Life” insider info, 50 recipes run the gamut from BBQ pulled pork to Ted’s signature biscuits to truffles, cupcake sheet cake, “Be the Goldfish” trail mix, and more. Longtime food writers Berry and Chano bring humor, enthusiasm, freshness to their latest endeavor. Join the conversation and find out how they cooked up the idea for the book, if they agree with Ted in believing tea tastes like “hot brown water,” and what future projects they might tackle.
Nov. 16 @ 7 p.m. | Free | booksinc.net
Writer Jeff Horwitz: Broken Code: Inside Facebook and the Fight to Expose Its Harmful Secrets | Rockridge Branch of the Oakland Public Library | Nov. 16
The Wall Street Journal technology writer visits the Rockridge library to discuss his new book, “Broken Code: Inside Facebook and the Fight to Expose Its Harmful Secrets.” The in-person event offers a rare opportunity to hear the Bay Area-based author tell how he investigated the social media platform’s behind-the-scenes manipulations intended to grow its business. Most intriguing are the stories of employees who, at great risk, set out to expose malignant practices at the company that downplayed online human trafficking and enabled drug cartels and authoritarians to thrive. The greatest tragedies, from eating disorders to suicides, befell teens whose identities have become increasingly reliant on digital profiles and profiling. The tangle of ethical considerations around social media companies’ business practices remains far from over in 2023, making Horwitz’s book one of this year’s most important must-reads. Montclair Village’s A Great Good Place for Books hosts the event.
Nov. 16 @ 7 p.m. | Free | https://oaklandlibrary.org/locations/rra/
Kevin Adler: When We Walk By | Books Inc. Berkeley, Nov. 17
Advance reviews are calling “When We Walk By” a humanizing analysis of the nation’s urgent housing crisis. The shocking number of people unhoused, or insecurely housed, is no secret, but evidence-based, community-driven, actionable solutions remain shrouded. The “mystery,” claim coauthors Adler and Donald W. Burnes, along with Amanda Banh and Andrijana Bilbija, is due in part to the lack of understanding homelessness’s root causes, and failures in social service systems and human compassion. Adler, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Miracle Messages and author of “Natural Disasters as a Catalyst for Social Capital,” will speak on how we overlook unhoused people in our own communities and hang on to misconceptions (i.e. homeless people are either addicts or mentally ill), as he discusses how to join efforts toward large-scale changes that can bring about housing justice for all.
Nov. 17 @ 6:00 p.m. | Free | booksinc.net
Small Business Saturday 2023 | Nov. 25
The annual event is a terrific opportunity to support your local, independently-owned bookstore, and any retailers offering literature, as mom-and-pop shops and businesses continue to navigate the post-pandemic shopping landscape. This is an invitation and call to support the small book businesses and local authors, many of whom live in your neighborhood, town, or city. Mark your calendar—Bay Area Chronicle Books has some terrific 2024 calendars that begin in late 2023—and enjoy a stroll through the neighborhood as you embrace the small businesses nearby.
Nov. 25 | Check your local listings for times and special events.