How those Little White Rectangles Came to Run Our Lives, and much more

For complete listings, see www.seattleweekly.com

Pauline ChenFinal Exam: A Young Surgeon's Reflections on Mortality is her medical memoir. Elliott Bay Book Co. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Feb. 7.

Tom Clavin Read how weather affected military history in his Halsey's Typhoon: The True Story of a Fighting Admiral, an Epic Storm, and an Untold Rescue.University Book Store at Mill Creek Center, Bothell-Everett Highway & 153rd St. S.E., 425-385-3530. 7 p.m. Wed. Feb. 7.

Daveed Gartenstein-Ross Personal insight into a shadowy mindset in his memoir My Year Inside Radical Islam. University Book Store. 7 p.m. Wed. Feb. 7.

Thomas Graham, Jr. His lecture, "A World Free of Nuclear Weapons: Is It Possible?," will be followed by a panel discussion. Room 210, Kane Hall, UW campus. 7 p.m. Wed. Feb. 7.

Peter Himmelman Songs and stories about family, sex, Judaism, and music. Sponsored by Nextbook. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 888-219-5222, www.nextbook.org. $6-$8. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Feb. 7.

Kylie Kwong Explaining the basics in her Simple Chinese Cooking.Third Place Books. 7 p.m. Wed. Feb. 7.

Jennifer Maier Readings from her new poetry collection Dark Alphabet. Art Center Gallery, Seattle Pacific University campus, 281-2036. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Feb. 7.

N. Scott Momaday Restoring Native American culture is discussed in his lecture "Origins: The Reinvention of the Sacred." Co-sponsored by University Book Store. Room 130, Kane Hall, UW campus, www.grad.washington.edu/lectures/schedule.htm. 6:30 p.m. Wed. Feb. 7.

Suzan-Lori Parks SEE THE WIRE, WEDNESDAY.

Subtext Hugo House's monthly experimental writing series continues with readings by Lindsay Hill and Chris Putnam. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., 322-7030. Donation. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Feb. 7.

Joel Tickner The benefits and risks of nanotechnology explored in this lecture. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 360-331-7904, www.iceh.org. $10-$15. 6:30 p.m. Wed. Feb. 7.

Ruth Behar Her slideshow lecture "Looking at the Jews of Cuba" recounts her work with photojournalist Humberto Mayol. Room 120, Communications Bldg., UW campus. Free. 4 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 8.

Bruce Feiler His tour of Biblical sites in regions now torn by war recounted in Where God Was Born. Co-sponsored by University Book Store. University Temple United Methodist Church, 1415 N.E. 43rd St. 7 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 8.

Jim HarrisonReturning to Earth is his latest novel. Elliott Bay Book Co. 7:30 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 8.

Ralina JosephThis UW prof explores multiracialism in America through the lens of the census questionnaire in "Check All," a lecture sponsored by the Simpson Foundation. Tallmadge Hamilton House, 5225 15th Ave. N.E. 1 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 8.

Eoin McNameeNavigator is his latest young-adult fantasy novel. University Book Store at Mill Creek Center, Bothell-Everett Highway & 153rd St. S.E., 425-385-3530. 7 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 8.

Kris Radish In her new novel, The Sunday List of Dreams, 58-year-old Connie Nixon resolves to take charge of her life. Third Place Books. 7 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 8.

Paisley Rekdal Reading from her third poetry collection, The Invention of the Kaleidoscope. Open Books, 2414 N. 45th St. 633-0811, www.openpoetrybooks.com. 7:30 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 8.

Steve Wilson A slideshow of images of Texas and the Olympic Peninsula from this photographer's book A Natural Collection. Eagle Harbor Books, 157 Winslow Way E. (Bainbridge Island), 842-5332. 7:30 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 8.

Rene Denfeld Yet another reason to fear the different: All God's Children: Inside the Dark and Violent World of Street Familiesexamines a phenomenon begun in Portland. (Of course.) University Book Store. 7 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 8.

Robert GreerThe Fourth Perspective is his latest C.J. Floyd mystery. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St., 587-5737. Noon. Fri. Feb. 9.

Dean Kamen Having solved the world's transportation problems with the invention of the Segway, Kamen now explores global clean-water issues. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255. $5. 7:30 p.m. Fri. Feb. 9.

Kirby LarsonRelating a 16-year-old's adventures on a Montana homestead in Hattie Big Sky. Third Place Books. 6:30 p.m. Fri. Feb. 9.

Steven Levy How those little white rectangles came to run our lives (and why I still don't have one) in The Perfect Thing: How the iPod Shuffles Commerce, Culture, and Coolness. University Book Store. 7 p.m. Fri. Feb. 9.

Dennis Rea The Seattle author of Live at the Forbidden City: Musical Encounters in China and Taiwan presents an audio travelogue of his experiences. Floating Leaves Teahouse, 2213 N.W. Market St. 7:30 p.m. Fri. Feb. 9.

Bringing Black History Into Focus A lecture, video, book discussion, and open-mike at this all-day event. Seattle Public Library, Rainier Beach branch, 9125 Rainier Ave. S., www.spl.org. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sat. Feb. 10.

Dino DaySee a 40-million-year-old brontothere jaw being prepared for exhibit, among a feast of other activities and displays. The Burke Museum, N.E. 45th St. and 17th Ave. N.E., UW campus, 543-5590, www.burkemuseum.org. $5-$8 (kids 4 and under free). 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. Feb. 10.

Yolande Matore Hoisington Why, given a cuisine based on cream sauces, don't all French people weigh 350 pounds? This health counselor/psychologist tells you in "Healthy Eating the French Way." Richmond Beach Library, 19601 21st Ave N.W., Shoreline, 546-3522. 2 p.m. Sat. Feb. 10.

Jayne Ann Krentz Her White Lies introduces a "level 10 para-sensitive," i.e. a human lie detector. Third Place Books. 6:30 p.m. Sat. Feb. 10.

Mystery Book ExchangeThe old problem with mystery novels: do they bear rereading once you know whodunit? Trade ones you've enjoyed for new cases at Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., 783-2244. 10 a.m. Sat. Feb. 10.