A good handful of Bay Area literary, journalistic and cultural stalwarts are speaking about their new releases, both fiction and nonfiction, this month. A few celebrities with national recognition will be in town to share their new titles, too. To submit an event to the calendar, email books@baycitynews.com.
June 1
Jeremy Lent: The Berkeley activist, author of “The Patterning Instinct” and “The Web of Meaning,” shares ideas from “Ecocivilization: Making a World that Works for All,” in which he argues that humans can evolve to create societies grounded in justice and dignity, in conversation with scientist-educator-writer Fritjof Capra. [7 p.m., Mrs. Dalloway’s, 2904 College Ave., Berkeley]
June 2
Christopher G. Choukalas: The Marin anesthesiologist and intensive care physician launches his memoir “Even the Darkest Night: A Father’s Journey of Hope and Healing from Paternal Depression,” his account of how he recovered after his wife nearly died giving birth to twin girls and his world began to unravel; he appears in conversation with community leader and lecture presenter Katy McGovern. [6 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
June 2
Eric Ries: The San Francisco entrepreneur discusses “Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad… and How Great Companies Stay Great,” which argues that businesses fail for structural rather than ethical reasons, with tech industry veteran Kim Scott in a ticketed ($11.50 to $48.50) event. [7 p.m., Kepler’s, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]
June 2
Crystal Wahpepah: The founder of Wahpepah’s Kitchen in Oakland—the first Native woman-owned restaurant in California—discusses her cookbook “A Feather and a Fork:125 Intertribal Dishes from an Indigenous Food Warrior.” [6 p.m., North Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda, Berkeley]
June 3
Phil Canalin: The Alameda native speaks about his young adult novel “Time Out,” a story about friendship and an intrepid girls high school basketball team striving to survive during the pandemic. [4 p.m., Books Inc., 1344 Park St., Alameda]
June 3
Billy Eichner: The comedian- actor-screenwriter and host of TV’s “Billy on the Street,” in which he polled New Yorkers on pop culture, is promoting his book “Billy on Billy: An Audio Memoir,” appearing with San Francisco Chronicle writer Tony Bravo in a ticketed ($24 includes audiobook access) event. [7 p.m., Calvary Presbyterian, 2515 Fillmore St., San Francisco]
June 3
Anita Gail Jones: The Bay Area writer shares her debut novel “The Peach Seed,” a multigenerational story set in the American South that weaves tales from Africa to the Civil Rights Movement to present day. [6 p.m., Montclair Branch Library, 1687 Mountain Blvd., Oakland]
June 3
Eric Ries: The San Francisco entrepreneur and blogger discusses “Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad… and How Great Companies Stay Great,” which argues that businesses fail for structural rather than ethical reasons, and that failure can be prevented, in conversation with Alex Komoroske, former Google product manager and co-founder of startup Common Tools. [6 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
June 4
J.P. Lacrampe: The Santa Clara University writing professor launches his humorous, Jeeves-inspired debut novel “Valet,” about the adventures of a robot servant whose owner’s family business is at stake. [5:30 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
June 6
Ama Ofosua Lieb: The San Francisco writer, a native of Ghana, launches her young adult novel “Goldenborn,” about a 17-year-old girl’s encounters in world of gods and magic who must choose between saving her father or staying true to her beliefs; she appears in conversation with Aimee Phan, author of “The Lost Queen.” [1 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
June 6
Ayelet Waldman: The Berkeley essayist and author speaks about “A Perfect Hand,” her new novel of love and subterfuge between a lady’s maid and her clandestine lover set on a 19th century English country estate, in conversation with Lise Saffran, author of “Juno’s Daughters.” [4 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
June 7
Theo Baker: The Stanford University senior shares his exposé “How to Rule the World: An Education in Power at Stanford University,” which details how his student newspaper reporting on allegations of research misconduct led to Stanford president Marc Tessier-Lavigne’s departure from the position. [1 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
June 7
Jacob Anthony Rose: The Martinez native, the alter ego of mid-2000s drag artist Sheena Rose, discusses his memoir “Stillness and Survival: A Life Between Trauma, Glitter, and the Echo of My Own Voice” in which he describes how he overcame his silence and being a hidden gay child by creating a glittering persona, and how he again found his voice following difficult years during the pandemic. [2 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
June 8
Matt Haig: Litquake and the Jewish Community Center present the British author who is promoting “The Midnight Train,” his new time-traveling story set in the imaginative universe of his bestseller “The Midnight Library” at a ticketed ($30-$44) event. [7 p.m., JCC, 3200 California St., San Francisco]
June 8
Nicole Wong: The founder of The Mahjong Project and author of “Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora” discusses her step-by-step guidebook and her efforts to preserve a small piece of her family history; the session also offers visitors an opportunity to play the game. [6 p.m., Pleasant Hill Library, 2 Monticello Ave., Pleasant Hill]
June 9
Millie Abecassis: The San Jose writer speculative fiction writer speaks about “The Color of Time,” her science fantasy inspired by an obscure 17th century French fairy tale about a princess who escapes an unwanted marriage by disguising herself in a magical donkey skin. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 317 Castro St., Mountain View]
June 9
Mona Halaby: The Berkeley resident, a Palestinian-American educator, writer and social historian, discusses “In My Mother’s Footsteps,” in which she details her personal pilgrimage to find her mother’s home in militarized and occupied Jerusalem. [6:30 p.m., Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington]
June 10
Jonathan Weber: The Los Angeles Times’ first Silicon Valley reporter in 1990 speaks with Eric Savitz about “City on the Edge,” his new book about San Francisco’s meteoric transformation into a global capital of technology, at a ticketed ($40 includes book) event. [7 p.m., Books Inc., 855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto]
June 11
Brooke Averick: The social media star known for Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast— on tour promoting her debut novel “Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lose It,” which asks “Is it possible to find true love when going on a date makes you want to throw up?”— appears in conversation with romance writer Tarah DeWitt in a ticketed ($40 includes book) event presented by Kepler’s Books. [7 p.m., Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center, 555 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto]
June 11
Barry Walters: The veteran San Francisco music journalist shares “Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music, 1969-2000,” his “part memoir, part reference book” and “comprehensive overview of music made by and for the LGBTQ community” at a dance party including a conversation with 48 Hills publisher Marke Bieschke. [6:30 p.m., Books Inc., 1344 Park St., Alameda]
June 12
Liam O’Brien: The San Francisco author-artist speaks about “Butterflies of the Bay Area and (Slightly) Beyond,” his decades-in-the-making guidebook packed with stories and hundreds of hand-drawn illustrations (featuring both adult forms and caterpillars) of the 135 species that live in the greater Bay Area. [7 p.m., Copperfield’s, 775 Village Court, Santa Rosa]
June 13
Bill Smoot: The Berkeley writer who teaches college courses inside San Quentin speaks about his debut novel “San Quentin Exodus,” the story of a volunteer tutor in San Quentin who decides to help a prisoner escape; Smoot appears in conversation with New Yorker cartoonist Kate Isenberg. [11 a.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
June 13
Dusty Baker: Appearing in conversation with announcer Jon Miller, the sports legend (former San Francisco Giants manager among many jobs) shares “Crossroads: A Memoir in Baseball and Life” at a ticketed ($35 includes book) event. [2 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
June 13
Andrew Sean Greer: The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Less,” a part-time San Franciscan, is promoting his lates(t novel “Villa Coco,” about the adventures of a young American archivist who takes a job assisting Coco, an elderly eccentric widow living on an art-filled Tuscan estate. [1 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
June 14
Chris Carlsson: The San Francisco writer and historian shares “Hidden San Francisco,” in which he explores the city through interconnected themes—ecology, labor, transit and dissent. [2 p.m., Excelsior Branch Library, 4400 Mission St., San Francisco]
June 14
Joan Lunden: The groundbreaking journalist, 75, host of “Good Morning America” for nearly two decades, shares her memoir “Joan: Life Beyond the Script.” [1 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
June 14
Carly Schwartz and Juliet Izon: San Francisco journalist Schwartz speaks about “I’ll Try Anything Twice: Misadventures of a Self-Medicated Life,” her memoir about battling depression and addiction amid international adventuring and communal urban living; and New York writer Izon shares her novel, “The Encore,” which follows the interconnected lives of three musicians—a driven pianist, a composer, and a piano prodigy —who, later in life, must confront choices the made. [2 p.m., Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco]
June 16
Dave Eggers: The best-selling Bay Area novelist, editor, publisher and literary champion launches “Contrapposto”— his novel about the friendship between an introspective artist and a slightly older manic, charismatic woman he met when they were teens—in a ticketed ($38 includes book) event. [7 p.m., Calvary Presbyterian, 2515 Fillmore St., San Francisco]
June 16
Andrew Lam: The award-winning local journalist shares tales from “Stories from the Edge of the Sea,” his collection of short stories set in the Bay Area that explores love and loss among Vietnamese Americans haunted with memories of war. [6 p.m., Mystery Room, Central Library, 2090 Kittredge St., Berkeley]
June 16
Frederick Smith and Emily K. Hardy: San Francisco romance novelist Smith, whose books focus on Black queer characters, shares his new novel, “Love is A Contact Sport,” and Sapphic writer Hardy speaks about “I Really Do” at the Kiss & Tell Literary Salon this month with hosts Addie Woolridge and Rebecca Hunter. [6:30 p.m., Books Inc., 1344 Park St., Alameda]
June 16
Jonathan Weber: The Silicon Valley reporter discusses “City on the Edge: Technology, Politics, and the Fight for the Soul of San Francisco,” his new book about San Francisco’s dramatic transformation into a global tech center, with tech journalist John Markoff at a ticketed ($10 online; $22 in person, $52 incudes book) talk. [6 p.m., Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco]
June 17
Joseph Andrew Cerny: The author presents a slide show about “The Bootlegger’s Daughter: A San Francisco Tale,” which tells the story of his grandmother Ann White who grew up in Bernal Heights during Prohibition assisting her father in his basement whiskey still operation; ; RSVP required at (415) 355-2810 or bhemgr@sfpl.org. [5 p.m., Bernal Heights Branch Library, 500 Cortland Ave., San Francisco]
June 17
Dave Eggers: The Bay Area writer, editor and publisher speaks about “Contrapposto,” his new novel about friendship, love and the lifelong pursuit of art, in a ticketed ($45 includes book) event. [7 p.m., Kepler’s, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]
June 18
John Kenney: The New Yorker writer, author of the novels “Talk to Me” and the Thurber Prize for American Humor-winning “Truth in Advertising,” speaks about his novel “I See You’ve Called in Dead” with California Book Award winner Karen Joy Fowler in a ticketed ($11.50-$35) event. [6:30 p.m., Kepler’s, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]
June 20
Dusty Baker: The baseball legend appears in conversation with Emmy Award–winning Giants broadcaster Amy Gutierrez to promote “Crossroads: A Memoir in Baseball and Life,” along with a ticketed ($35 includes book) meet-and-greet presented by Copperfield’s. [11 a.m., Marin Country Mart, 2419 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur]
June 20
Nicole Wong: The founder of The Mahjong Project and author of “Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora” shares details from her book and demonstrates the game; reservations required at (415) 355-2810 or bhemgr@sfpl.org. [3 p.m., Bernal Heights Branch Library, 500 Cortland Ave., San Francisco]
June 20
Laurel Munson Boyers: The first female wilderness manager in Yosemite National Park shares her memoir, “Across Yosemite’s Wilderness: A Trailblazing Woman’s Career Protecting the Park’s Backcountry,” a two-part narrative describing her history and daily life on patrol. [11 a.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
June 20
James Wang: The Oakland technologist-investor-writer speaks about “What You Need to Know About AI: A Primer on Being Human in an Artificially Intelligent World,” a crash course in which he explains the powers and limits of artificial intelligence, and how it actually affects people’s lives. [4 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
June 21
Cory Doctorow: The science fiction author-activist-journalist shares his new book “The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI: How to Think About Artificial Intelligence―Before It’s Too Late,” described as “short, provocative guide to what’s good, bad and stupid about AI” in a ticketed ($11.50-$35) event with Angie Coiro. [4 p.m., Kepler’s, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park]
June 22
Larry Hayes: The writer launches “14 Going on 24: Growing Up with Willie Mays,” his nostalgic account of the American baseball icon, in conversation with Giants reporter John Shea, who co-wrote the bestselling “24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid” with Mays. [7 p.m., Bookshop West Portal, 80 W. Portal Ave., San Francisco]
June 23
Andrew Lam: The local journalist (formerly of NPR) shares tales from “Stories from the Edge of the Sea,” his short story collection set in the Bay Area that explores love and loss among Vietnamese Americans haunted with memories of war. [5 p.m. Visitacion Valley Branch Library, 201 Leland Ave., San Francisco]
June 26
Michael Valdovinos: The Sonoma County native, a clinical psychologist, speaks about “Moral Injuries: When Good Conscience Suffers in a World of Hurt,” his book describing how people may heal following trauma experienced after they witness acts that violate their own moral code. [7 p.m., Copperfield’s, 138 N. Main St., Sebastopol]
June 27
Tracey Knapp: The award-winning San Francisco poet celebrates her new collection “Swerve,” an assortment of often hilarious, conversational yet heartbreaking poems about recollection, in conversation with poets Kelly Grace Thomas and Peter Kline. [11 a.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]
June 28
Wayne Feinstein: The San Mateo retiree, a former investment banker and head of Jewish service organizations, launches his debut novel “Turning,” about a successful real estate developer who must come to terms with himself as his son his dying of cancer. [5 p.m., Books Inc., 3515 California St., San Francisco]
June 30
Roy Remer: The executive director of the Zen Caregiving Project in San Francisco and creator of Mindful Caregiving Education shares “Zen Caregiving,” his guidebook for the many under-supported caregivers in the U.S.; it covers mindfulness, compassion, loss literacy and self-care and advises on how to expand compassion and prepare end-of-life arrangements. [6 p.m., Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera]