MONDAY
When it comes to issues of globalization, nobody rocks the field like Joseph Stiglitz, whose last book, Globalization and its Discontents, should be a must-read for everyone who thinks they can change the world with a papier-mâché puppet. Now he’s back to discuss the ways of Making Globalization Work. Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW, at 7 p.m.
TUESDAY
She’s short. She’s tenacious. She’s stalking Stephen Colbert. No, we’re not talking about Senator Barbara Mikulski. Yet, anyway. We’re talking about la grand doyenne of the White House Press Corps, Helen Thomas. She’ll be sitting down for dinner at the American News Women’s Club to read from The Watchdogs of Democracy?: The Waning Washington Press Corps and How It Has Failed the Public. 1607 22nd St. NW., at 6:30 p.m. $30 (includes dinner). (202) 332-6770.
WEDNESDAY
Ken Jennings walked onto the set of Jeopardy and carted off a sizable chunk of booty, setting new records and returning as champion for what seemed like an eternity. Since then, he’s gone seeking fellow trivia heads and has documented his experiences in Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs. As Sean Connery would say: “The penis mightier!” Your move, Trebek. Olsson’s Books & Records, 2111 Wilson Blvd., Arlington., at 7 p.m.
FRIDAY
If you are a fan of comic books, faeries, goth culture, or parsing the hidden meanings of Tori Amos lyrics, then you won’t want to miss your personal Jesus when He comes to Politics and Prose to discuss the new book you’ll be wrapping in gossamer and mounting in a heart-shaped memory box. Neil Gaiman reads from Fragile Things, Politics and Prose, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
Is America ready for the coming Stem Cell Wars? Eve Herold comes to town to discuss her book, the research, and the ideological divide that must be bridged for stem cell research to go forward. Herold is the director of public policy research and education at the Genetics Policy Institute, so we’ll give you a million free guesses as to what side of the debate she’s on, and the first nine hundred thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine don’t count, ‘kay? Politics and Prose, 3 p.m.
SUNDAY
Speaking of wars, there’s nothing Washingtonians love more than getting embroiled in a frenzied debate over area grocery stores — now significantly more stupid than getting involved in a land war in Asia. The joke’s on the big box marketers, because the folks that are truly rocking with culinary aplomb are going local and scoring big food finds. Annie Wayte, author of Keep It Seasonal, comes to the Freshfarm Market in Dupont Circle to dispense the knowledge. 1500 block of 20th St., between Massachusetts Ave. and Q St., in the adjacent parking lot of PNC Bank. 11 a.m.
