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If your New Year’s resolution involves starting a new reading list, Arts & Lectures, local bookstores, and the Mind/Supermind series, among others, have you in mind. While the written word can certainly inspire, lectures and readings make the words spring from the page. How’s that for a resolution?

Karin Finell Childhood is supposed to be a time of innocence. When Hitler rose to power in Germany, he took the innocence of a generation of children, including poignant memoirist Karin Finell. Sun., Jan. 14, 3pm. Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St. 682‑8787 or chaucers.booksense.com.

Robert Alter Alter’s careful translations of the Torah reveal his attention to preserving the meaning and language of Hebrew. His many works on the Bible, Hebrew literature, and narrative come to light in this lecture. Wed., Jan. 17, 8pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Free. 893‑3535 or www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

David Weinberg Weinberg’s urban photography has been described as gritty as well as magical. He will be signing his newest book, Towering Mirrors, Mirroring Towers, which depicts artistically imaged architecture. Thu., Jan. 18, 7pm. Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St. 682‑8787 or chaucers.booksense.com.

Mark Danner Both a journalist and professor, Danner explores essential information in the political climate of our undeclared State of Emergency and in this lecture asks us to question the current chaos. Thu., Jan. 18, 8pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Free. 893‑3535 or www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Peter Behrens Behrens’s novel, The Law of Dreams, follows a 15-year-old Irish boy after his family perishes in the Great Potato Famine. From Limerick to Wales, Canada to the U.S., the cinematic nature of the tale harkens to Behrens’s vocation as a screenwriter and his reading will only enhance the experience. Sat., Jan. 20, 3‑4:30pm. Tecolote Books, 1470 E. Valley Rd., Montecito. 969‑4977.

Cheri Harris Cheri Harris lives in both Santa Barbara and Italy, where she leads groups through places important in the life of St. Francis. Harris’s book, A Message from St. Francis, asserts that the 12th-century saint’s messages contain essential modern advice. Sun., Jan. 21, 3pm. Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St. 682‑8787 or chaucers.booksense.com.

Chungliang Al Huang Founder of the Living Tao Foundation, Al Huang returns to Santa Barbara for his 10th consecutive year appearing in the Mind/Supermind series. Cellist Michael Fitzpatrick performs with Al Huang in this lecture/concert. Mon., Jan. 22, 7:30pm. Marjorie Luke Theatre, 721 E. Cota St. 884‑4087.

Garrison Keillor For more than 30 years, Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion has been delighting live and radio audiences. His last visit to the Arlington for an evening of storytelling sold out and was filled with laughs. Tue., Jan. 23, 8pm. Arlington Theatre. $20‑$45. 893‑3535 or www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

UCSB Reads for Earth Day Kick-Off The UCSB library is one of the sponsors of this new program to inspire ecologically focused reading and discussion. Three thousand copies of Elizabeth Kolbert’s Field Notes from a Catastrophe will be distributed to UCSB students and covered in classes and lectures. Wed., Jan. 24. ucsbreads.library.ucsb.edu.

Robert Emmons In Santa Barbara, the ocean is a daily inspiration. Emmons’s collection whispers the secrets of the surf in the readers’ ears. Wed., Jan. 24, 7pm. Borders Books, 900 State St. 899‑3668.

Susan Whitfield Author of several books about China, Whitfield directs the International Dunhuang Project at the British Library, a collection of more than 50,000 Silk Road manuscripts. She will delve into the archaeology and myth of the evocative Silk Road. Mon., Jan. 29, 5:30pm. Karpeles Manuscript Library, 21 W. Anapamu St. 962‑5322.

Prince Moulay Hicham Prince Moulay Hicham is a member of Morocco’s royal family, giving him a unique perspective as an outspoken and progressive writer, speaker, and lecturer who serves as a spokesperson for human rights. Mon., Jan. 29, 8pm. UCSB’s UCen Corwin Pavilion. Free. 893‑3535 or www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Doug Thompson We have the fortune in Santa Barbara to catch a glimpse of whales when they migrate through the channel waters and Thompson’s book, Whales: Touching the Mystery, provides a closer look into their world. Tue., Jan. 30, 7pm. Borders Books, 900 State St. Free. 899‑3668.

Kendall Conrad Conrad was inspired by nutritionist Dale Figtree to try the Specific Carbohydrate Diet to help her child overcome digestive problems. This cookbook, Eat Well, Feel Well, contains nearly 200 recipes and chronicles Conrad’s quest to create healthful, delicious food for her family. Thu., Feb. 1, 5‑7pm. Tecolote Books, 1470 E. Valley Rd., Montecito. 969‑4977.

Dr. James Hansen Head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and one of the first scientists to testify on climate change in the 1980s, Dr. Hansen received the Heinz Environmental Award for his research on global warming. Mon., Feb. 5, 8pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Free. 893‑3535 or www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Solórzano Former governor, mayor of Mexico City, three-time presidential candidate and founder of Mexico’s Party of the Democratic Revolution, Cárdenas Solórzano will speak about the current Mexican government as well as key issues in Mexico-U.S. relations. Wed., Feb. 7, 8pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Free. 893‑3535 or www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Billy Collins The popular and critically acclaimed Collins was U.S. poet laureate from 2001-03. Collins will read from a lifetime of his humorous and insightful verse. Sun., Feb. 11, 4pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. $10‑$20. 893‑3535 or www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Harry Shearer Described as a “Renaissance man in all things funny,” this host of the public radio program Le Show, television and film writer, novelist, and former Saturday Night Live cast member makes his first appearance in Santa Barbara. Sun., Mar. 4, 4pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. $17‑$35. 893‑3535 or www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Victor H. Mair The westernmost province of China, Xinjiang contains the world’s best-preserved mummies. Professor Mair unwraps the mummies’ secrets in this talk. Tue., Mar. 6, 5:30pm. Karpeles Manuscript Library, 21 W. Anapamu St. Free. 962‑5322.

Mike Farrell Best known for starring in television series such as M*A*S*H and Providence, Farrell is also an activist who champions causes from the environment to social justice. He shares his journey in this memoir. Wed., Mar. 7, 7pm. Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St. 682‑8787 or chaucers.booksense.com.

Steve Koonin Peak oil is only one issue in satisfying our energy hunger. Former professor of theoretical physics at the California Institute of Technology and currently chief scientist at British Petroleum, the world’s largest oil and gas producer, Koonin will discuss our current energy issues. Thu., Mar. 8, 8pm. UCSB’s UCen Corwin Pavilion. Free. 893‑3535 or www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Matthieu Ricard When trained scientist and Buddhist monk Ricard spoke in Santa Barbara last year, Victoria Hall Theater sold out. This year he returns to speak about research into meditation’s effects on the brain and his book Happiness. Mon., Mar. 12, 7:30pm. Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. Free. 963‑0761.

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