The Harder They Come is a powerful, gripping novel that explores the roots of violence and anti-authoritarianism inherent in the American character. T.C. Boyle’s stories have won accolades for their irony and black humor, for their verbal pyrotechnics, for their fascination with everything bizarre and queasy, and for the razor-sharp way in which they dissect America’s obsession with image and materialism.

Gretchen Rubin is a thought-provoking and influential writer on the linked subjects of habits, happiness, and human nature. She’s the author of several books, including the New York Times bestsellers, Happier at Home and The Happiness Project.  In her upcoming book, Better Than Before, Gretchen Rubin  tackles the critical question: How do we change? Her answer: through habits.

Kim Gordon started out as a visual artist, rose to prominence as the bassist, guitarist, and vocalist of alternative rock band Sonic Youth.  In her memoir, Girl in a Band, she tells her story — of life as an artist, of music, marriage, motherhood, independence, and as one of the first women of rock and roll.

When President Clinton bestowed the National Medal of Arts on Norman Lear, he noted that “Norman Lear has held up a mirror to American society and changed the way we look at it.”  Lear has the distinction of being among the first seven television pioneers inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

Join us for a special event on the occasion of the release of Herb Alpert’s 40th album, In the Mood, his upcoming concert tour and the release of Grammy® Award–winning singer Lani Hall Alpert’s audio book, Emotional Memoirs & Short Stories.

Through her stage performances and television appearances, Deborah Voigt is known for the singular power and beauty of her voice. A leading dramatic soprano, she has portrayed some of the iconic heroines in German and Italian opera to great acclaim.  

Join us for a conversation between two friends on writing — books, television and film.  Seth Grahame-Smith is the author of the New York Times bestselling Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and it’s sequel, The Last American Vampire. Diablo Cody is a screenwriter, producer and director. She won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Juno.

Meghan Daum is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and the author of the essay collection My Misspent Youth. She is also the author of Life Would Be Perfect If I Lived in That House and The Quality of Life Report, a novel.  In her new book of essays, Daum pushes back against false sentimentality and manufactured emotion in American life.

Join us for an evening with Academy Award-winning actress and director Anjelica Huston.   In her upcoming memoir, she writes about her relationship with Jack Nicholson, her rise to stardom, her work with the greatest directors in Hollywood, her love affair with her husband, and much more.

Anne Rice is the author of 32 books, including “The Wolves of Midwinter” and “The Wolf Gift.” Her first novel, “Interview with the Vampire,” was published in 1976 and has gone on to become one of the best-selling novels of all time.