BookSwell

Join Ben Breen as he discusses his wild new book on the birth of psychedelic science. ABOUT THE BOOK A bold and brilliant revisionist take on the history of psychedelics in the twentieth century, illuminating how a culture of experimental drugs shaped the Cold War and the birth of Silicon Valley. Far from the repressed traditionalists they are often painted as, the generation that survived the second World War emerged with a profoundly ambitious sense of social experimentation. In the '40s and '50s, transformative drugs rapidly entered mainstream culture, where they were not only legal, but openly celebrated. American physician John C. Lilly infamously dosed dolphins (and himself) with LSD in a NASA-funded effort to teach dolphins to talk. A tripping Cary Grant mumbled into a Dictaphone about Hegel as astronaut John Glenn returned to Earth. At the center of this revolution were the pioneering anthropologists—and star-crossed lovers—Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson. Convinced the world was headed toward certain disaster, Mead and Bateson made it their life’s mission to reshape humanity through a new science of consciousness expansion, but soon found themselves at odds with the government bodies who funded their work, whose intentions were less than pure. Mead and Read More ...

How Amy Chua went from a shy Asian kid to a Yale Law professor and author of conversation-starting books! ABOUT THE EVENT Amy Chua will discuss her journey from the daughter of immigrants to Yale Law professor and author of conversation-starting books—and now novelist. Amy Chua’s most recent book is “The Golden Gate”, a historical novel. Perhaps her most famous (or infamous) book is “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Amy Chua is the John M. Duff, Jr. Professor of Law at Yale Law School. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and cum laude from Harvard Law School, where she was Executive Editor of the Harvard Law Review. After practicing on Wall Street for a few years, she joined the Yale Law School faculty in 2001 and is a noted expert in the areas of foreign policy, globalization, and ethnic conflict. Amy is the bestselling author of numerous books, including World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability (2002), which was selected by both The Economist and the U.K.’s Guardian as a Best Book of 2003; Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance – and Why They Read More ...

Join us for an evening of poetry, performance, and dance. Poet Cecilia Woloch and Roma performers Cristo Osorio (from Spain) and Bogumiła Delimata (from Poland) present an evening of passion and enchantment; combining spoken word, imagery, music, dance, and theater in the Gypsy spirit of duende.   Doors Open: 7:00 PM, Performances: 7:30 PM   Following the performances join us for an outdoors afterparty in the Poets’ Garden.     About the performers:   Cecilia Woloch is a poet, writer, and performer based in Los Angeles. She has published six collections of poems, most recently an expanded and updated edition of Tsigan: The Gypsy Poem. Her honors include fellowships from the Fulbright Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Center for International Theatre Development. She collaborates regularly with musicians, dancers, visual artists and theatre artists around the world.   Bogumila Delimata, born in Wroclaw, Poland of pure gypsy heritage. World renowned Impressionist Romani Painter combining feminist art with Romani roots, Romani and Flamenco dancer. Renowned actress both in film and theatre in her native Poland with musical and dance performances throughout Europe and the Americas.   Cristobal Osorio, born in Barcelona, Spain. Captivating singer and guitarist steeped in Read More ...

Featuring a panel of civil rights leaders, Palabras Literary Salon, a reception, and shopping with arts vendors. Join West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng for an afternoon celebrating civil rights heroes:   1:30pm-3pm: A panel of civil rights leaders speak about building coalitions. Rudy Ortega Shonda Buchanan Ronna Magy Miya Iwataki Marth Gonzalez 3:30pm-5pm: an edition of Palabras Literary Salon featuring BIPOC poets and writers sharing around the theme “visionaries.” Before, after and between these sessions enjoy a reception and shopping with arts vendors. The event is free admission, but we request that you RSVP here. For more information about the event, visit: https://go.weho.org/poet

Join us for a fantastic evening of literary bliss as we celebrate the book launch and signing of Angelina Sáenz and ire'ne lara silva, where Book Launch and Book Signing: Angelina Sáenz and ire'ne lara silva Please join Angelina Sáenz and Texas State Poet Laureate, ire'ne lara silva, for the Los Angeles book launch of their books, Maestra and the eaters of flowers. We will have books to sell and sign. Poet David Quiroz will be our esteemed MC, Poets Luivette Resto, Bridgette Bianca and Teresa Mei Chuc will feature as well. A dance party will follow and the music will be provided by the amazing, GFunk Trece. Artwork and merchandise by Lorna Alkana will be available for purchase. Food, drinks and postres can be bought with Horchatería Rio Luna. Come and enjoy the gorgeous space, beautiful people, the words and the celebration! Date: Saturday, Jan. 20th, 2023 Time: 5pm Location: Horchateria Rio Luna, Paramount Boulevard, Paramount, CA, USA Don't miss this opportunity to engage with these incredible writers and celebrate their latest creations. Get your books signed, ask questions, and connect with fellow book lovers. We can't wait to see you there!