Fall Arts Books and Lecture

War, politics, adventure, literature,
and nature shine in this season’s book and lectures circuit. And
don’t forget the annual S.B. Books and Author Festival, which goes
down at the end of this month. Once again, it’s a great time to be
a reader in Santa Barbara.

Blind Into Baghdad: America’s War in
Iraq Atlantic Monthly correspondent James
Fallows’ book delves into what went wrong in with America’s war
with Iraq. Sun., Sept. 17, 3pm, Victoria Hall Theater,
cappscenter.ucsb.edu

The People’s Machine: Governor Schwarzenegger and
the Rise of Blockbuster Democracy Los Angeles
Times reporter Joe Mathews’ stories analyze the Governator’s
rise to and reign in power and discuss the implications of governor
as phenomenon. Sun., Sept. 17, 3pm, Chaucer’s Books,
682-6787

Optimal Health Through Integrative Medicine: What
Works? What Does Not? The title says it all as
medical professor and best-selling author Kenneth R. Pelletier
navigates the maze of integrative medicine. Mon. Sept. 18,
7:30pm, Lobero Theatre, 687-0812

Stories From the Edge Speaking of
Stories’ fall reading features a glimpse into darkness with a
selection of stories by Santa Barbara-based writers about crime,
sexuality, and other whispers in the night. Fri. and Sat., Sept
22 and 23, Center Stage Theater, 963-0408

Amy Goodman The Democracy Now!
anchorwoman is on tour to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the
Pacifica Network’s independent news program and the release of her
newest book, Static: Government Liars, Media Cheerleaders, and
the People Who Fight Back The event will benefit KCSB.
Sun., Sept. 24, 7:30pm, UCSB’s Campbell Hall, 893-2064

Santa Barbara Books & Author Festival The
library flings open its doors to invite in some eyebrow-raising,
endearing, thought-provoking, and lyrical writers for a day of
events. The event includes discussion of the Santa Barbara Reads!
selection My California; poetry from Jane Hirschfield,
who’ll receive the Glenna Luschi Distinguished Poet Fellowship; a
talk on the power of the press moderated by former
News-Press editor Jerry Roberts; and award ceremonies for
Robert Crais and Helena Marie Viramontes. Sat., Sept. 30,
10am-5pm, Santa Barbara Central Public Library,
sbbookfestial.org

Faces of Your Soul Authors Kaleo Ching
and Elise Dirlam Ching collaborated on this work exploring guided
imagery and maskmaking rituals. Fantasy and dreams are literally in
our faces in the worlds of masks. Sun., Oct. 1, 3pm, Chaucer’s
Books, 682-6787

The City of Fallen Angels John Berendt
inspired acolytes to search for statues in Savannah after the
publication of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
His new book takes Venice as its muse for equal inspiration.
Sun., Oct. 1, 3pm, Victoria Hall Theater, 893-3535

Preventing Extinction: The Global Strategy for Plant
Conservation Botanic Gardens Conservation
International secretary general Sara Oldfield outlines efforts to
prevent rare and endangered plant species from becoming extinct as
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s Vernon Cheadle lecture. Tue.,
Oct. 3, 7pm, Santa Barbara Public Library Faulkner Gallery,
682-4726

Canyon Voices: The Nature of Rattlesnake
Canyon Karen Telleen-Lawton explores Santa Barbara’s
beloved Rattlesnake Canyon to make a case for conservation through
the relationships between people and place. Sat., Oct. 7, 3pm,
Tecolote Book Shop, 969-4977

The Other Side of War: Women’s Stories of Survival
and Hope Zainab Salbi demonstrates that one woman can
make a difference. Through Women for Women International, more than
$24 million in micro-credit loans and aid has been awarded to
rebuild women’s lives. Mon., Oct. 9, 8pm, Victoria Hall
Theater, 893-3535

Making Globalization Work There is no
question that we’ve entered a global society, which is why Nobel
Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz strives to answer the
difficult questions inherent in economic processes and policies.
Tue., Oct. 10, 8pm, UCSB’s Campbell Hall, 893-3535

Channel Islands National Park: A Status Report
We see the islands on clear days, just offshore. Russell Galipeau
will be talking about what we don’t see with the naked eye—the
status of pigs, foxes, eagles, endemic plants, recreation, kelp
forests, and hiking trails—in this informative talk. Tue., Oct.
10, 7pm, Chase Palm Park,
channelislands.nos.noaa.gov/focus/calendar.html

The War of the World: Twentieth-Century Conflict and
the Descent of the West Niall Ferguson’s new book
details the consumer debacle that is our modern economy. Sun.,
Oct. 15, 3pm, UCSB’s Campbell Hall, 893-3535

American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of
Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money Former
Republican strategist Kevin Phillips’s book has been called
scathing and alarming in its criticism of current policies.
Thu., Oct. 19, 8pm, UCSB’s Campbell Hall,
cappscenter.ucsb.edu

Gary Trudeau For more than 35 years, Doonesbury
has been a constant comic critique of social norms and political
abnormalities. Cartoonist Trudeau delivers his Pulitzer
Prize-winning sharpness of pen and tongue in this evening event.
Thu., Oct. 26, 8pm, Arlington Theater, 893-3535

Poetry with Lawrence Ferlinghetti A literary
living legend and founder of S.F.’s City Lights Bookstore,
Ferlinghetti keeps the Beat torch alight with his popular and
pioneering poetry that constantly risks absurdity. Thu., Nov.
2, 8pm, UCSB’s Campbell Hall, 893-3535

Madeline Albright Her position and her writings
are themselves mighty, and so is her new book, The Mighty and
the Almighty, which investigates religion in today’s world.
The first woman to serve as secretary of state will offer unique
insight into public service and the interplay between church and
state. Mon., Nov. 6, 8pm, Arlington Theatre, 893-3535

Gary Wills The Pulitzer Prize-winning history
professor is one of the most controversial Catholics writing today
about faith and the historic person of Jesus. This year, Wills
released What Jesus Meant and What Paul Meant in an effort to
understand the faith asked of us. Sun., Nov. 12, 3pm, Victoria
Hall Theater, 893-3535

Marni McGee and Ellen Kelly Lucky lizards,
cowgirls, book wolves, and farm animals populate the funny and
lavishly-illustrated books by McGee and Kelly for the young and
young-at-heart. Sun., Nov. 12, 3pm, Chaucer’s Books,
682-6787

Ng Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o with Chris Abani Two
powerful and prolific African writers share the stage. Abani,
exiled from his Nigerian home, and Thiong’ o, who survived
imprisonment for his written work, are known for their incisive
work reflecting on destruction, history, and hope. Wed., Nov.
15, 8pm, Victoria Hall Theater, 893-3535

Christopher Buckley Award-winning master of
humor, satire, and wit, Buckley pokes fun at politics with
favorites like Thank You for Smoking, God is My
Broker, and his latest, Florence of Arabia. Sun.,
Nov. 19, 4pm, UCSB’s Campbell Hall, 893-3535