Books & Lectures

If your New Year’s resolution involves starting a new reading
list, Arts & Lectures, local bookstores, and the Mind/Supermind
series, among others, have you in mind. While the written word can
certainly inspire, lectures and readings make the words spring from
the page. How’s that for a resolution?

Karin Finell Childhood is supposed to be a time
of innocence. When Hitler rose to power in Germany, he took the
innocence of a generation of children, including poignant memoirist
Karin Finell. Sun., Jan. 14, 3pm. Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St.
682‑8787 or chaucers.booksense.com.

Robert Alter Alter’s careful translations of
the Torah reveal his attention to preserving the meaning and
language of Hebrew. His many works on the Bible, Hebrew literature,
and narrative come to light in this lecture. Wed., Jan. 17, 8pm.
UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Free. 893‑3535 or www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

David Weinberg Weinberg’s urban photography has
been described as gritty as well as magical. He will be signing his
newest book, Towering Mirrors, Mirroring Towers, which depicts
artistically imaged architecture. Thu., Jan. 18, 7pm. Chaucer’s
Books, 3321 State St. 682‑8787 or chaucers.booksense.com.

Mark Danner Both a journalist and professor, Danner
explores essential information in the political climate of our
undeclared State of Emergency and in this lecture asks us to
question the current chaos. Thu., Jan. 18, 8pm. UCSB’s Campbell
Hall. Free. 893‑3535 or www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Peter Behrens Behrens’s novel, The Law of
Dreams, follows a 15-year-old Irish boy after his family perishes
in the Great Potato Famine. From Limerick to Wales, Canada to the
U.S., the cinematic nature of the tale harkens to Behrens’s
vocation as a screenwriter and his reading will only enhance the
experience. Sat., Jan. 20, 3‑4:30pm. Tecolote Books, 1470 E. Valley
Rd., Montecito. 969‑4977.

Cheri Harris Cheri Harris lives in both Santa
Barbara and Italy, where she leads groups through places important
in the life of St. Francis. Harris’s book, A Message from St.
Francis, asserts that the 12th-century saint’s messages contain
essential modern advice. Sun., Jan. 21, 3pm. Chaucer’s Books, 3321
State St. 682‑8787 or chaucers.booksense.com.

Chungliang Al Huang Founder of the Living Tao
Foundation, Al Huang returns to Santa Barbara for his 10th
consecutive year appearing in the Mind/Supermind series. Cellist
Michael Fitzpatrick performs with Al Huang in this lecture/concert.
Mon., Jan. 22, 7:30pm. Marjorie Luke Theatre, 721 E. Cota St.
884‑4087.

Garrison Keillor For more than 30 years, Keillor’s A
Prairie Home Companion has been delighting live and radio
audiences. His last visit to the Arlington for an evening of
storytelling sold out and was filled with laughs. Tue., Jan. 23,
8pm. Arlington Theatre. $20‑$45. 893‑3535 or www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

UCSB Reads for Earth Day Kick-Off The UCSB
library is one of the sponsors of this new program to inspire
ecologically focused reading and discussion. Three thousand copies
of Elizabeth Kolbert’s Field Notes from a Catastrophe will be
distributed to UCSB students and covered in classes and lectures.
Wed., Jan. 24. ucsbreads.library.ucsb.edu.

Robert Emmons In Santa Barbara, the ocean is a
daily inspiration. Emmons’s collection whispers the secrets of the
surf in the readers’ ears. Wed., Jan. 24, 7pm. Borders Books, 900
State St. 899‑3668.

Susan Whitfield Author of several books about
China, Whitfield directs the International Dunhuang Project at the
British Library, a collection of more than 50,000 Silk Road
manuscripts. She will delve into the archaeology and myth of the
evocative Silk Road. Mon., Jan. 29, 5:30pm. Karpeles Manuscript
Library, 21 W. Anapamu St. 962‑5322.

Prince Moulay Hicham Prince Moulay Hicham is a
member of Morocco’s royal family, giving him a unique perspective
as an outspoken and progressive writer, speaker, and lecturer who
serves as a spokesperson for human rights. Mon., Jan. 29, 8pm.
UCSB’s UCen Corwin Pavilion. Free. 893‑3535 or www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Doug Thompson We have the fortune in Santa
Barbara to catch a glimpse of whales when they migrate through the
channel waters and Thompson’s book, Whales: Touching the Mystery,
provides a closer look into their world. Tue., Jan. 30, 7pm.
Borders Books, 900 State St. Free. 899‑3668.

Kendall Conrad Conrad was inspired by
nutritionist Dale Figtree to try the Specific Carbohydrate Diet to
help her child overcome digestive problems. This cookbook, Eat
Well, Feel Well, contains nearly 200 recipes and chronicles
Conrad’s quest to create healthful, delicious food for her family.
Thu., Feb. 1, 5‑7pm. Tecolote Books, 1470 E. Valley Rd., Montecito.
969‑4977.

Dr. James Hansen Head of the NASA Goddard
Institute for Space Studies and one of the first scientists to
testify on climate change in the 1980s, Dr. Hansen received the
Heinz Environmental Award for his research on global warming. Mon.,
Feb. 5, 8pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Free. 893‑3535 or www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Solórzano Former governor,
mayor of Mexico City, three-time presidential candidate and founder
of Mexico’s Party of the Democratic Revolution, Cárdenas Solórzano
will speak about the current Mexican government as well as key
issues in Mexico-U.S. relations. Wed., Feb. 7, 8pm. UCSB’s Campbell
Hall. Free. 893‑3535 or www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Billy Collins The popular and critically
acclaimed Collins was U.S. poet laureate from 2001-03. Collins will
read from a lifetime of his humorous and insightful verse. Sun.,
Feb. 11, 4pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. $10‑$20. 893‑3535 or www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Harry Shearer Described as a “Renaissance man
in all things funny,” this host of the public radio program Le
Show, television and film writer, novelist, and former Saturday
Night Live cast member makes his first appearance in Santa Barbara.
Sun., Mar. 4, 4pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. $17‑$35. 893‑3535 or
www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Victor H. Mair The westernmost province of
China, Xinjiang contains the world’s best-preserved mummies.
Professor Mair unwraps the mummies’ secrets in this talk. Tue.,
Mar. 6, 5:30pm. Karpeles Manuscript Library, 21 W. Anapamu St.
Free. 962‑5322.

Mike Farrell Best known for starring in
television series such as M*A*S*H and Providence, Farrell is also
an activist who champions causes from the environment to social
justice. He shares his journey in this memoir. Wed., Mar. 7, 7pm.
Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St. 682‑8787 or chaucers.booksense.com.

Steve Koonin Peak oil is only one issue in
satisfying our energy hunger. Former professor of theoretical
physics at the California Institute of Technology and currently
chief scientist at British Petroleum, the world’s largest oil and
gas producer, Koonin will discuss our current energy issues. Thu.,
Mar. 8, 8pm. UCSB’s UCen Corwin Pavilion. Free. 893‑3535 or
www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Matthieu Ricard When trained scientist and
Buddhist monk Ricard spoke in Santa Barbara last year, Victoria
Hall Theater sold out. This year he returns to speak about research
into meditation’s effects on the brain and his book Happiness.
Mon., Mar. 12, 7:30pm. Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St.
Free. 963‑0761.