MONDAY
Daniel Gottlieb will be reading from Letters to Sam: A Grandfather’s Lesson on Love, Loss, and the Gifts of Life, which are much happier than his Letters to Comcast: Seriously, When The Hell Are You Guys Going to Have My Internet Hooked Up Because It’s Been Three Weeks For The Love of All that is Holy. Barnes & Noble, 4801 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda., at 7 p.m.

TUESDAY
Given the manifest inattention to the sort of “fish tales” Jayson Blair routinely reported back with, we’re a little surprised that Howell Raines went with the whole angler metaphor. But, you gotta write what you know. Raines discusses and signs The One That Got Away at Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW., at 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY
Celebrated biographer David Maraniss can typically be counted on to give great discussions, so baseball fans should take note of his appearance today talking about Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s Last Hero. Not to be confused with the forthcoming Clemens: Gah, Screw that Guy. Politics and Prose, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY
If you’re as big a slut for the Saturday programming on NPR as we are, then you won’t want to miss Whad’ya Know host and fierce Wisconsinite Michael Feldman as he gabs about his new book, Glad You Asked: Intriguing Names, Facts, and Ideas For the Curious Minded. Barnes & Noble, 555 12th St. NW., at noon.

FRIDAY through SUNDAY
Book Expo America takes up residence in the Convention Center for a weekend-long orgasm of literature. There will be exhibits, conferences and, of course, authors out the yin-yang: some well known, others up-and coming. Who’s idea was it to schedule Mary Cheney and Tommy Chong at the same time, though?

SUNDAY

The sports event of the year is nearly upon us, and what better way to get prepared for it than to join Matt Weiland, Sean Wilsey, and Franklin Foer as they discuss The Thinking Fan’s Guide to the World Cup. Please, no hooliganism. Politics and Prose, 1 pm.