Our guide to readings, spoken word, and other literary events

Armistead Maupin: Wed., July 26, 12:30 p.m., free. Cody's Books/Stockton, 2 Stockton (at Ellis), 773-0444, www.codysbooks.com.

Chris Ballard: The author reads from The Butterfly Hunter: Adventures of People Who Found Their True Calling Way Off the Beaten Path. Thu., July 27, 7 p.m., free. Cody's Books/Fourth Street, 1730 Fourth St. (at Virginia), Berkeley, 510-559-9500.

Marybeth Bond: The author reads from Gutsy Women: More Travel Tips and Wisdom for the Road. Sun., July 30, 7 p.m., free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista (at Chickasaw), Corte Madera, 927-0960.

Justin Chin: The author reads from Attack of the Man-Eating Lotus Blossoms. Thu., July 27, 7:30 p.m., free. Books Inc./Castro, 2275 Market (at 16th St.), 864-6777, www.booksinc.net.

Jeff Cox: The author reads from The Organic Cook's Bible: How to Select and Cook the Best Ingredients on the Market. Sat., July 29, 10:30 a.m., free. Book Passage, Ferry Building (Embarcadero & Market), 835-1020, www.bookpassage.com.

John Dean: The author and former White House legal counsel reads from Conservatives Without Conscience. Thu., July 27, 7 p.m., free. Booksmith, 1644 Haight (at Cole), 863-8688, www.booksmith.com.

John Dean: The author and former White House counsel reads from Conservatives without Conscience. Fri., July 28, 12:30 p.m., free. Stacey's, 581 Market (at Second St.), 421-4687, www.staceys.com.

Abby Denson: The author reads from Tough Love: High School Confidential. Fri., July 28, 7:30 p.m., free. Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia (at 20th St.), 282-9246, www.mtbs.com.

William Eskridge: The author reads from Gay Marriage: For Better or for Worse?. Tue., Aug. 1, 7 p.m., free. A Different Light Bookstore, 489 Castro (at 18th St.), 431-0891.

Dan Fesperman: The author reads from Prisoner of Guantanamo. Thu., July 27, 7 p.m., free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista (at Chickasaw), Corte Madera, 927-0960.

Nancy MacLean: For LaborFest, the author reads from Freedom is Not Enough: The Opening of the American Workplace. Sun., July 30, 2 p.m. Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia (at 20th St.), 282-9246, www.mtbs.com.

The May Queen: The book is celebrated with a panel of its writers, including Andrea Nicole Richesin, Kimberley Askew, Michelle Richmond, Erin Cressida Wilson, and Dao Strom. Wed., July 26, 7 p.m., free. Cody's Books/Stockton, 2 Stockton (at Ellis), 773-0444, www.codysbooks.com.

Edie Meidav: The author reads from Crawl Space and is joined by authors Carolyn Cooke, Sylvia Brownrigg, and Joshua Braff. Wed., July 26, 7 p.m., free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista (at Chickasaw), Corte Madera, 927-0960.

Vern Morgensen: For this LaborFest event, the author reads from Worker Safety Under Siege: Labor, Capital, and the Politics of Workplace Safety in a Deregulated World. Wed., July 26, 7 p.m., free. Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia (at 20th St.), 282-9246, www.mtbs.com.

Scott Nadelson: The author reads from The Cantor's Daughter: Stories. Sat., July 29, 7 p.m., free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista (at Chickasaw), Corte Madera, 927-0960.

Annalee Newitz: The author and journalist reads from Pretend We're Dead: Capitalist Monsters in American Pop Culture. Thu., July 27, 7 p.m., free. City Lights, 261 Columbus (at Broadway), 362-8193, www.citylights.com.

Bill Pronzini: The author reads from The Crimes of Jordan Wise. Mon., July 31, 7 p.m., free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista (at Chickasaw), Corte Madera, 927-0960.

James Rollins: The author reads from Black Order: A Sigma Novel. Fri., July 28, 7 p.m., free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista (at Chickasaw), Corte Madera, 927-0960.

Roots of the Hyphy Movement: A hip-hop panel of journalists, writers, and artists break down the Bay Area hyphy movement. Wed., July 26, 6:30 p.m., free-$15. Commonwealth Club, 595 Market (at Second St.), 597-6701, www.commonwealthclub.org.

Dr. Zhi Gang Sha: The author reads from Soul Mind Body Medicine. Mon., July 31, 12:30 p.m., free. Stacey's, 581 Market (at Second St.), 421-4687, www.staceys.com.

Dr. Zhi Gang Sha: The author talks about his book Soul Mind Body Medicine. Mon., July 31, 6:30 p.m., free-$20. Commonwealth Club, 595 Market (at Second St.), 597-6701, www.commonwealthclub.org.

David Skibbens: The author reads from High Priestess. Wed., July 26, 7:30 p.m., free. Black Oak Books/Berkeley, 1491 Shattuck (at Vine), Berkeley, 510-486-0698.

Susan Swartz: The author reads from The Juicy Tomatoes Guide to Ripe Living After 50 and appears in a panel with Marybeth Bond, Barbara Rogers, and Brenda Kinsel. Sun., July 30, 7 p.m., free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista (at Chickasaw), Corte Madera, 927-0960.

Barbara Traub: The photographer presents her book Desert to Dream: A Decade of Burning Man Photography. Thu., July 27, 7:30 p.m., free. Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia (at 20th St.), 282-9246, www.mtbs.com.