Book Events in September

Thursday, Sept. 4

In his new paperback It's Not You, It's the Biology, NorCal writer Joe Quirk takes "an average-guy look at the whole issue of relationships through the lens of biology, anthropology, sociology, and some pretty awful dates." According to the press materials, he spent seven years researching the book, talking to experts in sociobiology while also gaining insights from Hustler and Playboy. Quirk will answer age-old questions such as "What can the size of your balls tell you?" when he reads from his book at 12:20 p.m. at Stacey's, 581 Market (at Second St.), S.F. , www.staceys.com. He'll also be appearing at Book Passage in the Ferry Building on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 2 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 9

Anathem, the new sci-fi tome by Neal Stephenson, the bestselling post-cyberpunk author (Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon), is long. Really long. Like, 935 pages long. Who does he think he is, William T. Vollmann? If you're like us, you may not have time to read Anathem, but you probably have time to check out Stephenson's multimedia event promoting it. This is a ticketed event sponsored by Booksmith. Unfortunately, as of this writing, the venue has yet to be determined. To get updates, visit www.longnow.org.

Wednesday, Sept. 10

Terces and Matthew Engelhart are the husband-and-wife owners of Cafe Gratitude, the organic vegan restaurant chain with locations in the Mission and in Berkeley. That's the place where the waiters ask, "What are you grateful for today?" after taking your order. Yeah, it's kinda hippy-dippy, but it's healthy grub. The Engelharts have just written a book, Sacred Commerce: Business as a Path of Awakening, on how to run a "spiritually and financially profitable business." Come by Modern Times in the Mission at 7 p.m. and show your gratitude. Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia (at 20th St.), S.F., 282-9246, www.mtbs.com.

Wednesday, Sept. 24

During the daytime, Scott Pomfret is an attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission. But by night, he transforms into a writer of gay erotica. Some of the titles he's authored include Razor Burn, Hot Sauce, and Spare Parts. His latest, however, isn't porn-pulp, but the autobiographical Since My Last Confession: A Gay Catholic Memoir. Hmmm, actually, that still sounds kinda hot. Check out Pomfret for yourself at 7:30 p.m. at A Different Light Bookstore, 489 Castro (at 18th St.), S.F., 431-0891, www.adlbooks.com.

Saturday, Sept. 27

Remember Sean Wilsey? He's the San Francisco rich kid with the horrible stepmother and a dad who made his fortune in butter. He wrote a memoir about it, Oh the Glory of It All, a couple of years back. He has just co-edited a collection of essays titled State by State, "an American road trip in book form featuring original writing on all 50 states by 50 of our finest novelists, journalists, and essayists." Wilsey, an editor at large for McSweeney's, will be on hand at the Booksmith at 7:30 p.m. to talk about the book as well as screen a short behind-the-scenes film about the making of State by State. Seriously. Booksmith, 1644 Haight (at Cole), S.F., 863-8688, www.booksmith.com.