Washington Area Literary Calendar July 27-Aug. 1

27 MONDAY

6:30 P.M. Zach Lynch, the founder and executive director of the global trade association Neurotechnology Industry Organization, discusses and signs The Neuro Revolution: How Brain Science Is Changing Our World (written with Byron Laursen) at Borders Books-Downtown, 18th & L Sts. NW, 202-466-4999.

7 P.M. Washington Post reporter Bradley Graham discusses and signs By His Own Rules: The Ambitions, Successes, and Ultimate Failures of Donald Rumsfeld at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-364-1919. (Read the review on page x.)

28 TUESDAY

7 P.M. Chris Mooney, a contributing editor to Science Progress and author of Storm World: Hurricanes, Politics, and the Battle Over Global Warming, discusses and signs his new book, Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens our Future (written with Sheril Kirshenbaum), at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

7:30 P.M. January Gill O'Neil, author of the forthcoming collection Underlife, Joseph O. Legaspi, author of Imago, and Joseph Ross, co-editor of Cut Loose the Body: An Anthology of Poems on Torture, all read from their work in the finale of the Joaquin Miller Cabin Poetry Series' 2009 season at Picnic Grove #6, Beach Dr. at the Military Road overpass in Rock Creek Park, 703-820-8113. An open reading (sign-up at 7 p.m.) will conclude the program.

7 P.M. Father Patrick Desbois, secretary to the French Conference of Bishops for relations with Judaism as well as an adviser to the Vatican on the Jewish religion, discusses The Holocaust by Bullets: A Priest's Journey to Uncover the Truth Behind the Murder of 1.5 Million Jews, an investigation of German atrocities in the Ukraine in World War II, at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 600 "Eye" St. NW. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door or one free with purchase of the book at the start of the event. For complete details, call 202-408-3100 or visit www.sixthandi.org.

29 WEDNESDAY

7 P.M. Sarah Dunant, author of the bestselling novel The Birth of Venus, reads from and signs her new historical novel, Sacred Hearts, at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919. (Read Book World's review in the Style section on July 28.)

7:30 P.M. The Smithsonian Resident Associate Program presents "Baseball-ese: The Language of Baseball," a discussion of the terminology that defines the classic American sport, with Paul Dickson, author of The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, and Phil Hochberg, the former stadium announcer for the Washington Senators, at the National Museum of the American Indian, Rasmuson Theater, Fourth St. & Independence Ave. SW. Tickets are $20 for nonmembers; call 202-633-3030 or visit www.smithsonianassociates.org to RSVP.

7:30 P.M. Sharon Kay Penman reads from and signs The Devil's Brood, the final installment in her trilogy on the lives of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine (just published in paperback) at Borders Books-Baileys Crossroads, Route 7 at Columbia Pike, Baileys Crossroads, Va., 703-998-0404.

30 THURSDAY

7 P.M. Patrick Radden Keefe, a fellow at the Century Foundation and the author of Chatter: Dispatches from the Secret World of Global Eavesdropping, discusses and signs his new book, The Snakehead: An Epic Tale of the Chinatown Underworld and the American Dream, at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

7:30 P.M. Nature photographer and writer Joseph Rossbach discusses and signs his new guidebook, 50 Amazing Things You Must See and Do in the Greater D.C. Area: The Ultimate Outdoor Adventure Guide (created with Ian J. Plant) at Barnes & Noble-Annapolis Harbour Center, 2516 Solomon's Island Rd., Annapolis, Md., 410-573-1115.

31 FRIDAY

7:30 P.M. Daniel Silva reads from and signs his new Gabriel Allon thriller, The Defector, at Barnes & Noble-Bethesda, 4801 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, Md., 301-986-1761.

1 SATURDAY

1 P.M. Mark Faram, a U.S. Navy veteran and currently a reporter and photographer for the Navy Times, discusses and signs his new illustrated history, Faces of War: The Untold Story of Edward Steichen's WWII Photographers, at the National Museum of American History, Museum Store, 14th St. & Constitution Ave. NW.

7:30 P.M. (William) Paul Young, author of the Christian fable/novel The Shack (it has been on Book World's fiction paperback bestseller list for 57 weeks), discusses his book at the Timonium United Methodist Church, 2300 Pot Spring Rd., Timonium, Md. A book signing follows. He will return to the church the following morning, Sunday, Aug. 2, to preach at the 9:30 a.m. service and then meet with several small discussion groups. Tickets for the Saturday evening event are $25 (all are welcome to attend the service Sunday morning); contact the church at 410-252-5500 for details and to make reservations.

VOLUNTEER FOR LITERACY

The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia will hold a basic literacy training workshop for volunteers over three consecutive Saturdays (all sessions are required): August 1, 8 and 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day at the James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Rd., Falls Church, Va. There is a one-time fee of $40 to help defray the cost of books and materials; call 703-237-0866, ext. 111, e-mail volunteers@lcnv.org or visit www.lcnv.org.

The Literacy Council of Montgomery County will hold several orientation sessions for volunteers interested in helping adults learn to read, write and speak English: Wednesday, August 5, at 7:30 p.m., and Tuesday, August 25, at 7:30 p.m., both at the Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md. Once volunteers have completed the orientation, they can select a two-part training session that fits their schedules. The next planned workshop will be on Sunday, August 9 and 15, from 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at the Washington Hebrew Congregation, 11810 Falls Rd., Potomac, Md. There will also be one held on Saturday, Sept. 12 and 26, from 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at the Rockville Library. For complete details, call 301-610-0030, e-mail info@literacycouncilmcmd.org or visit www.literacycouncilmcmd.org.

The Washington Literacy Council, a volunteer organization dedicated to helping adults learn to read, will hold an information session for those interested in training as tutors on Saturday, August 1, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. This initial meeting provides information on the program and the chance to get your questions answered. It's also mandatory in order to take part in the council's upcoming tutor training workshop: Saturdays, August 15 and 22, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (both sessions required). All training is held at the council's location, 1918 18th St. NW, Ste. B-2. A $50 fee (tax deductible) is requested to help offset the cost of materials; for more details and to download a tutor application, visit www.washingtonliteracycouncil.org.