Unless you’re interested in poetry, brains, open mics, or hiking Snohomish County, it looks like a good night to stay in and read a book.

At the University Bookstore, Dr. Arthur Ginsberg reads from his new chapbook of poetry. Ginsberg is a neurologist who is also a poet, and he will read some poems and then talk about poetry’s effect on the human brain. Maybe he’ll explain why so many teenagers feel the need to write poetry, and maybe he’ll also explain why these people think that Jim Morrison is the greatest poet in the history of the world.

Meanwhile, up at Third Place Books, Ken Wilcox reads from the second edition of Hiking Snohomish County: 90 Selected Hikes & Walks on the Coast, & in the Lowlands, Foothills & North Cascades. If you’re passionate about hiking Snohomish County, this is the event for you. Well, actually, hiking Snohomish County would probably be the event for you, but if you’re passionate about listening to people talk about hiking Snohomish County, this really is the event for you.

Full readings calendar, including the next week or so, here.

Also, if you haven’t already, you should check out the nifty, brand-new books page, which has a ton more reviews and a mini-blog revue of the last week’s books-themed Slog posts, over here.