Thursday 10/2: Comic legend Farel Dalrymple brings his literary and artistic powers to bear in The Wrenchies in celebration of First Thursday. Powell’s City of Books, Powell’s City of Books, 6:30 p.m., free.
Courtney Moreno reads from her debut novel, In Case of Emergency. Powell’s on Hawthorne, 7:30 p.m., free.
Friday 10/3: Shannon Galpin reads from her lyrical and honest memoir, Mountain to Mountain, on being on the first woman to ride a mountain bike in Afghanistan. Powell’s City of Books, 7:30 p.m., free.
If Not For Kidnap welcomes Carl Adamshick, Sarah Bartlett, and Jenny Drai for tonight’s reading. Ristretto Roasters, 7:30 p.m., free.
Saturday 10/4: The Spare Room Reading Series welcomes Steve McCaffery and Karen MacCormack to read from their latest poetry. Glyph, 4 p.m., $5 suggested donation.
The Bone Tax Press welcomes Carl Adamshick, Emily Kendal Frey, and Robert Duncan Gray for tonight’s reading. Ford Food & Drink, 7 p.m., free.
Sunday 10/5: Literary Arts presents There’s Murder in That Game: A Discussion of Sports and the American Soul with Steve Almond and Jon Raymond. Literary Arts, 1 p.m., free.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and longtime columnist for the New York Times Nicholas Kristof returns to his home state of Oregon to share from his new book A Path Appears. First Congregational Church, 4 p.m., $20 to $40.
Erika T. Wurth, author of Crazy Horse’s Girlfriend, joins Portland-based authors Cari Luna and Sara June Woods for a happy hour reading from their recent releases. Crush Bar, 5 p.m., free.
The Portland Poetry Slam hosts its weekly reading. Glyph, 7 p.m., free.
Make Your Voice Heard: The Intersection of Craft, Creativity, and Activism will feature a lively conversation with three prolific writer-designer-makers. Portland illustrator Kate Bingaman-Burt will moderate a discussion with Betsy Greer, author of Craftivism; Leanne Prain, author of Strange Material; and Kim Werker, author of Make It Mighty Ugly. Powell’s City of Books, 7:30 p.m., free.
Monday 10/6: Portland author Kate Gray reads from her latest book, Carry the Sky. Another Read Through, 7 p.m., free.
Bay Area poet Hollie Hardy offers literary lessons in survival with a new collection of work that riffs off existing literature and crises. Hardy will read from How to Take a Bullet, And Other Survival Poems. Joining her will be local writers Lizzy Acker, Maria DeLorenzo, and Martha Grover. The Waypost, 7 p.m., free.
The world fell in love with swimming canines in Seth Casteel’s Underwater Dogs. Now, in Underwater Puppies, we see man’s best friends at their most playful and exuberant. Powell’s City of Books, 7:30 p.m., free.
In The Buddha Walks into the Office, Lodro Rinzler offers wisdom for “Generation Next” on how to make work meaningful, satisfying, and beneficial to others. Powell’s on Hawthorne, 7:30 p.m., free.
Tuesday 10/7: In The Copernicus Complex, renowned astrophysicist Caleb Scharf takes us on a cosmic adventure like no other, asserting that the age-old Copernican principle is in need of updating. Powell’s City of Books, 7:30 p.m., free.
Wednesday 10/8: Literary Arts sponsors Book Basics: How to Design a Book, taught by Olivia Croom. Literary Arts, 6 to 9 p.m., $50.
In How We Got to Now, Steven Johnson investigates the secret history behind the everyday objects of contemporary life. Powell’s City of Books, 7:30 p.m., free.
Join eleven Portland writers for an evening of fiction readings and music in the heart of the Alberta Arts District. Sean Davis, Domi J. Shoemaker, Rosalee Rester, Trevor Dodge, Kathleen Lane, Oliver Gifford, Jared John Smith, Edie Rylander, Matthew Robinson, Davis Slater, and Marian Spurgeon will read. Legion Hall, 7 p.m., free.
