Friday, Oct. 14. “The Year of Magical Thinking.” The prolific writer Joan Didion recounts her husband’s sudden death and her daughter’s extraordinary recovery from a massive blood clot. 6:30 p.m. First Parish Church, 3 Church St. $3. Tickets can be purchased at Harvard Book Store or by calling 617-661-1515.
Monday, Oct. 17. “The Planets.” The former New York Times science writer Dava Sobel, author of “Longitude” and “Galileo’s Daughter,” discusses her new book, which examines the planets through the lens of popular culture. 6 p.m. Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St. Free tickets are required and can be picked up at the Harvard Book Store information desk.
Tuesday Oct. 18. Crimson staff members sign copies of their two new books, “How They Got Into Harvard” and “50 Successful Harvard Application Essays.” 7 p.m. Harvard Coop, Third Floor.
Wednesday, Oct. 19. “One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer.” Nathaniel Fick, a student at Harvard Business School and the Kennedy School, who is also a retired Marine Corps captain who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, talks about his life as one of “the few, the proud.” 6:30 p.m. Harvard Book Store.
Thursday, Oct. 20. “Beethoven: Universal Composer.” Edmund Morris, who is best known for his biographies of Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan, discusses the brilliant (and ultimately deaf) composer. 6:30 p.m. First Parish Church, 3 Church St.
Friday, Oct. 21. “Frank J. Webb: Fiction, Essays, Poetry.” Cabot Professor of English Werner Sollors discusses the work of the titular mid-18th century African-American novelist. 3 p.m. Harvard Book Store.
Friday, Oct. 28. “The Line of Beauty.” Alan Hollinghurst, the winner of the 2004 Booker Prize, reads from his novel about Thatcher-era London. 6 p.m. Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St. Free tickets are required and can be picked up at the Harvard Book Store information desk.
Friday, Oct. 28. “Public Philosophy: Episodes and Arguments in American Civic Life.” If you can’t get into his popular core course “Justice,” you can still listen to Bass Professor of Government Michael J. Sandel, discuss his newest book. 3 p.m. Harvard Book Store.
Monday, Oct. 31. “Come Back to Afghanistan: A Californian Teenager’s Story.” Hyder Akbar was a teen living in a suburb of San Francisco before his father became Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s top spokesman. 6:30 p.m. Harvard Book Store.
Tuesday, Nov. 1. “Harvard’s Secret Court.” Author William Wright discusses former University President A. Lawrence Lowell’s purge of gay students from Harvard. Based on an article in The Harvard Crimson. 7 p.m. Harvard Coop, Third Floor.
Tuesday, Nov. 15. Liberal radio host Al Franken and his conservative counterpart, Rush Limbaugh, will appear together at an event that’s sure to be jam-packed. 7:30 p.m. The Charles Hotel, Regatta Bar Room. Only the first 200 people who arrive will be allowed to attend.
—Daniel J. Hemel