A poetry slam and a few other things going on tonight.

At Third Place Books, Kris Steinnes reads from Women of Wisdom: Empowering the Dreams and Spirit of Women. So if any of you ladies need your dreams and spirits empowered, you know where to go tonight; tell ‘em Paul Bobby sent you.

At the University Book Store, Sam Gosling reads from Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You, which is supposed to be about learning about people through their stuff. I have a confession to make: in the readings calendar, I say that this “looks like a fascinating book,” and I give the reading a star. This weekend, while I was sick, I read about half of Snoop. It’s a terrible book, one that makes Malcolm Gladwell look like Albert Einstein. We’re supposed to be shocked that people who use Stephen Wright quotes as signatures at the end of their e-mails are quirky and a little outsiderish. We’re told that a college student, a member of a sorority, has a bumper sticker in her dorm room that reads “Be Your Own Goddess,” and that that means she “broadcast(s) public self-affirmation with a feminist twist.” This is one of the dumbest, most obvious books I’ve read in a long time. Ignore the star, and don’t go to the reading. Sorry I got suckered.

At Elliott Bay Book Company, Sasa Stanisic reads from How the Soldier Repairs the Gramophone is a debut novel that’s getting great reviews. I want to say the author’s name over and over again. I’d also like to read the book, but I haven’t yet. Beware!

And at Town Hall is the most interesting reading of the night: Jeremy Scahill reads from Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army, which is just out in paperback. I’m convinced that if more people understood the story behind Blackwater, it would be the biggest scandal in America. Scahill’s a good writer, and this is an important book, and not at all stupid like some other books in this post that I could mention.

A full readings calendar, with mostly believable recommendations, is on our Books page.