All Upcoming Events
We're happy to bring you Refresh the Page, our new series of online programming. We'll keep our events calendar up to date—keep checking back for new programs and dates!
We look forward to seeing everyone in person when that becomes possible.
Kepler's Literary Foundation programs include live events that bring people face to face with leading intellectuals. Event formats include lectures, panel discussions, on-stage interviews, educational workshops, literary seminars, and community discussion groups covering the arts, culture, science, and current affairs. Our programs involve noted writers, artists, and original thinkers who engage with the community to discuss their ideas, insights, perspectives, and stories.
Dr. Tina Seelig is the bestselling author of What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20. She joins us with her new book, What I Wish I Knew About Luck, an engaging and practical guide to how to become lucky, based on her classes at Stanford and her hugely popular TED Talk.
Leading pain expert Dr. Rachel Zoffness joins us to discuss her new book, Tell Me Where It Hurts, which sets out to bridge the gap between medicine and psychology to get to the heart of understanding—and treating—pain.
Why do some books become classics? Two book buffs join us to explore why certain novels stand the test of time. Elizabeth Rosner is joined in lively conversation with veteran critic John McMurtrie (formerly of the San Francisco Chronicle) about what makes certain novels resonate with readers over time.
Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day at Kepler’s with an afternoon of bookish events. We’ll kick off the celebration at 2:00 with free literary trivia and, at 4:30, Laura Dave will take to the stage to talk about her bestselling novel The First Time I Saw Him with Pia Chatterjee.
The indefatigable and incomparable Rebecca Solnit returns to Kepler’s with The Beginning Comes After the End, described as an “urgent manifesto for our tumultuous time.”
The USA Today bestselling author of Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers joins us to discuss her fantastic new title, Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block.
What would the world look like if we couldn’t express outrage against the systems we disagree with or support the changes we seek? In Protest! Respect It Defend It Use It, lifelong activists Annie Leonard and André Carothers celebrate what collective action can achieve, and invite each of us to make a difference.
What happens when we prioritize competition over young people’s mental health? Mary Cain, one of the fastest runners of her generation, joins us to discuss her brutally honest memoir This Is Not About Running about elite youth sports gone wrong.
Always wanted to become a travel writer, a nature poet, or teller of your family story? In collaboration with the Bay Area Book Festival, we are delighted to present three 50-minute writing workshops which will be led by one or more highly accomplished authors. You are welcome to sign up for all three workshops or just one.
Lindy West has become an inspiration to many through her book Shrill and TV adaptation of the same name. We are delighted to welcome her to Kepler’s to discuss her new memoir, Adult Braces: Driving Myself Sane, in which she unpacks her last few tumultuous years, hits the road, rediscovers herself, and reinvents her marriage in the process.
Preeminent Martin Luther King, Jr., scholar Dr. Lerone A. Martin joins us with Young King, the origin story of the man, minister, and civil rights hero who would lead the nation and change the world.
Is AI ushering us into a utopian future or dragging us toward existential ruin? Josh Tyrangiel of The Atlantic makes the case for how artificial intelligence, in itself a neutral tool, can be used for good in the here and now.
Join us to celebrate Karen Nelson’s thrilling new novel, The Last Summer at Feather River which has been described as “a genuine page turner, driven by a galloping sense of suspense and delivered in deft and assured prose.”
Nobel Prize–winning economist Alvin E. Roth reframes some of our fiercest moral debates as markets, offering a solution that protects the vulnerable while preserving people’s rights to pursue their own interests.
Free! Meet and hear from local authors Ellen Barker, Meg Donohue, Portia Elan, and Victoria Tatum.
From slush funds to yacht parties to fraud Theo Baker shares his account of the investigation that led to the resignation of Stanford's President.
Nothing to See Here bestselling author Kevin Wilson joins us with his raucous and moving new novel about an unexpected road trip across America that brings a family together.
Deep Cuts Book Club is back with four incredible coming of age novels.
Eric Ries, creator of The Lean Startup, shares how success can betray even the most principled organizations, and offers an incorruptible design plan for making the organization you’ll be proud to build.
Join us to discuss Life at the Dakota: New York’s Most Unusual Address by Stephen Birmingham.
Bestselling author Ruth Ozeki returns to Kepler’s with The Typing Lady, her riveting new short story collection.
Join Kepler’s and Brooke Averick to celebrate the publication of PHOEBE BERMAN'S GONNA LOSE IT. Your ticket to the event guarantees a copy of Brooke's debut novel and a signed, Phoebe Berman cherry-designed bookplate. This is Brooke’s first ever tour so be ready for an amazing time!
James Ellroy joins us with Red Sheet, his most daring and subversive work of fiction to date.
Dave Eggers, the award-winning and bestselling author of The Circle, Hologram for the King, and The Eyes & the Impossible, returns to Kepler’s with Contrapposto, his sweeping new novel about friendship, love, and the lifelong pursuit of art.
Enshittification author Cory Doctorow joins us with his short, provocative guide to AI: the good, bad, and stupid.
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, New York Times journalist Jesse Wegman joins us to tell the story of James Wilson, a Founding Father whose bold vision shaped American democracy but whose legacy was lost to scandal.
Vinita Gupta joins us to share her memoir, Woman In Deed, which traces her extraordinary life story from India to America, her startup’s inception to IPO, and her rebirth as a bridge champion.
In the award-winning book The Mind Electric, Pria Anand, a neurologist described by the Times Literary Supplement as “Oliver Sacks’ most obvious heir,” reckons with the stories we tell about our brains–and the stories our brains tell us.
Speakers Series: Premier Events
Our Premier Events bring the biggest names in literature, science, entertainment and the arts into our community for intriguing one-of-a-kind discussions.
Dr. Tina Seelig is the bestselling author of What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20. She joins us with her new book, What I Wish I Knew About Luck, an engaging and practical guide to how to become lucky, based on her classes at Stanford and her hugely popular TED Talk.
Leading pain expert Dr. Rachel Zoffness joins us to discuss her new book, Tell Me Where It Hurts, which sets out to bridge the gap between medicine and psychology to get to the heart of understanding—and treating—pain.
Why do some books become classics? Two book buffs join us to explore why certain novels stand the test of time. Elizabeth Rosner is joined in lively conversation with veteran critic John McMurtrie (formerly of the San Francisco Chronicle) about what makes certain novels resonate with readers over time.
Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day at Kepler’s with an afternoon of bookish events. We’ll kick off the celebration at 2:00 with free literary trivia and, at 4:30, Laura Dave will take to the stage to talk about her bestselling novel The First Time I Saw Him with Pia Chatterjee.
The indefatigable and incomparable Rebecca Solnit returns to Kepler’s with The Beginning Comes After the End, described as an “urgent manifesto for our tumultuous time.”
The USA Today bestselling author of Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers joins us to discuss her fantastic new title, Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block.
What would the world look like if we couldn’t express outrage against the systems we disagree with or support the changes we seek? In Protest! Respect It Defend It Use It, lifelong activists Annie Leonard and André Carothers celebrate what collective action can achieve, and invite each of us to make a difference.
What happens when we prioritize competition over young people’s mental health? Mary Cain, one of the fastest runners of her generation, joins us to discuss her brutally honest memoir This Is Not About Running about elite youth sports gone wrong.
Always wanted to become a travel writer, a nature poet, or teller of your family story? In collaboration with the Bay Area Book Festival, we are delighted to present three 50-minute writing workshops which will be led by one or more highly accomplished authors. You are welcome to sign up for all three workshops or just one.
Lindy West has become an inspiration to many through her book Shrill and TV adaptation of the same name. We are delighted to welcome her to Kepler’s to discuss her new memoir, Adult Braces: Driving Myself Sane, in which she unpacks her last few tumultuous years, hits the road, rediscovers herself, and reinvents her marriage in the process.
Preeminent Martin Luther King, Jr., scholar Dr. Lerone A. Martin joins us with Young King, the origin story of the man, minister, and civil rights hero who would lead the nation and change the world.
Is AI ushering us into a utopian future or dragging us toward existential ruin? Josh Tyrangiel of The Atlantic makes the case for how artificial intelligence, in itself a neutral tool, can be used for good in the here and now.
Join us to celebrate Karen Nelson’s thrilling new novel, The Last Summer at Feather River which has been described as “a genuine page turner, driven by a galloping sense of suspense and delivered in deft and assured prose.”
Nobel Prize–winning economist Alvin E. Roth reframes some of our fiercest moral debates as markets, offering a solution that protects the vulnerable while preserving people’s rights to pursue their own interests.
Free! Meet and hear from local authors Ellen Barker, Meg Donohue, Portia Elan, and Victoria Tatum.
From slush funds to yacht parties to fraud Theo Baker shares his account of the investigation that led to the resignation of Stanford's President.
Nothing to See Here bestselling author Kevin Wilson joins us with his raucous and moving new novel about an unexpected road trip across America that brings a family together.
Eric Ries, creator of The Lean Startup, shares how success can betray even the most principled organizations, and offers an incorruptible design plan for making the organization you’ll be proud to build.
Bestselling author Ruth Ozeki returns to Kepler’s with The Typing Lady, her riveting new short story collection.
Join Kepler’s and Brooke Averick to celebrate the publication of PHOEBE BERMAN'S GONNA LOSE IT. Your ticket to the event guarantees a copy of Brooke's debut novel and a signed, Phoebe Berman cherry-designed bookplate. This is Brooke’s first ever tour so be ready for an amazing time!
This Is Now with Angie Coiro
Our This Is Now series features headliner interviews by noted Bay Area interviewer Angie Coiro. The Foundation's in-house journalist since 2016, Angie brings wit, focus, and extensive research to every conversation.
The indefatigable and incomparable Rebecca Solnit returns to Kepler’s with The Beginning Comes After the End, described as an “urgent manifesto for our tumultuous time.”
From slush funds to yacht parties to fraud Theo Baker shares his account of the investigation that led to the resignation of Stanford's President.
Enshittification author Cory Doctorow joins us with his short, provocative guide to AI: the good, bad, and stupid.
Youth Events
Kepler's Literary Foundation currently produces nearly 100 cultural and literary events for local youth every year at Kepler's Books and in local schools. Every year, nearly 10,000 students benefit from our youth programs.
Story Is The Thing
This quarterly reading series is designed to bring emerging and established writers together to celebrate the art of storytelling.
Free! Meet and hear from local authors Ellen Barker, Meg Donohue, Portia Elan, and Victoria Tatum.
Literary Discussions
Kepler's Literary Foundation organizes 8–10 literary discussion groups each month. Literary Discussion Groups are hosted by Kepler's staff and community volunteers are free and open to the public on a drop-in basis.
Literary Seminars
Literary Seminars are hosted by Kimberly Ford, PhD, and include an in-depth lecture with group discussion. Seminars are ticketed and the book is included in the ticket price.
Writing Classes
Bestselling author Ruth Ozeki returns to Kepler’s with The Typing Lady, her riveting new short story collection.
