WEDNESDAY
Fast Company’s Charles Fishman has a dirty little secret: he loves him some savings at Wal-Mart. It makes him all hot and bothered. But he feels really guilty about it, because, apparently, the retail behemoth may have certain deleterious effects on the marketplace. Who knew? Join Fishman as he discusses The Wal-Mart Effect at Politics and Prose. 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY
Pint-sized author and newly minted voiceover star Sarah Vowell will be debuting some new work and signing copies of her last book Assassination Vacation at Lisner tonight, but be warned, it’s gonna cost you Pixar money–$15 to $30 bucks a ticket. If that’s too rich for your blood, head on over to Olssons to see James Carville and Paul Begala go through Crossfire withdrawal and attempt to explain why this time the Democrats will succeed in winning by default. Attendees should bring their own effigy of Bob Shrum and choice of accelerant. (Vowell: 730 21st Street, NW @ 8 p.m. Carvigala: 2111 Wilson Boulevard in Arlington @ 7 p.m.)

SATURDAY

Day-to-day life at Fort Bragg is a different kind of thing when its troops are on deployment, a life that Kristin Henderson, who’s wed to a Navy chaplain, knows well. In While They’re At War, she eschews controversy in favor of complexity and over the course of the book finds a fair share of sorrow and joy. She’ll be on hand at Politics & Prose to share her stories this evening at 6 p.m.

SUNDAY

Benjamin Franklin concluded his autobiography at age 51 and then perversely went ahead and, against the advice of publishers, lived for another thirty-some-odd years. Luckily, one of his descendants, Mark Skousen, has filled in the blanks for us. He’ll be discussing The Completed Autobiography By Benjamin Franklin at Politics & Prose this evening at 5 p.m. One day, David Eggers’ great-great-great granddaughter will do the same for him.