<\/p>\n
Here they are, nine necessary know-abouts for the week ahead. It\u2019s wake-me-up-when-September-ends B9:<\/p>\n
\u27a4 Is there a nonfiction writer in America with more market muscle and more critical scrutiny than Malcolm Gladwell<\/strong>? The Canadian-reared journalist for The New Yorker became a household name in the 2000s, thanks to his big-selling books \u201cThe Tipping Point,\u201d \u201cBlink\u201d and \u201cOutliers.\u201d Gladwell, 62, visits Santa Cruz next Tuesday, Oct. 14, to talk about his latest project, a sequel of sorts, titled \u201cRevenge of the Tipping Point.\u201d Two things we know about Gladwell are that his provocative ideas about the hidden links between social phenomena sell books, and that a lot of reviewers are going to paint him as an entertainer whose science is a bit suspect. The new book, like its original namesake, is all about overlaying the metaphor of contagion and epidemics on social science, with points to make about cheetahs, bank robbers and forgotten TV shows. The book is popular with Malcolm-ophiles, but Gladwell\u2019s hometown paper, The New York Times, headlined its review<\/a> \u201cIs Malcolm Gladwell Out of Ideas?\u201d It also accuses him of \u201cfatty, sugary pseudo-thinking\u201d (though, not everyone is so grouchy when it comes to the book<\/a>). Either way, Gladwell faces his public Tuesday<\/a> at the Rio Theatre in a show presented by Bookshop Santa Cruz.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u27a4 This weekend, your waking life can finally pay some due respect to your sleeping life at the Festival of Dreams<\/strong>, kicking off Friday<\/a> with presentations and art demos at the Museum of Art & History. It continues Saturday<\/a> with an all-day event culminating in the big Dream Ball, where everyone will be dressed as a meaningful dream figure \u2026 or nightmare figure.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u27a4 They are a couple of (usually) well-dressed guys named Mike. The duo Schoolcraft & Murray<\/strong> is all about entertaining through music and wit. Their cheeky acoustic songs \u2014 \u201cMy Sadomasochistic Baby,\u201d \u201cConsensual\u201d \u2014 sparkle with humor and edge. See them Saturday night<\/a> at the Ugly Mug in Soquel.<\/p>\n \u27a4 On Sunday<\/a>, a dazzling lineup of Santa Cruz musicians all come together at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center to entertain for the sake of domestic violence survivors. The show \u201cLet the Caged Bird Sing\u201d<\/strong> will feature an all-star lineup including pianist Kate Saphir Alm, bassist Etienne Franc, vocalists Ariel Thiermann and Gina Ren\u00e9 and several others, all to create a joyful space and bear witness to the experience of survivors. Things get started around 5 p.m.<\/p>\n \u27a4 The one and only Festival of Monsters<\/strong> hits UC Santa Cruz next weekend, but the slate of academic and public events kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 15,<\/a> at the MAH with a keynote address from scholar and philosopher David Livingstone Smith. The talk\u2019s title: \u201cFalse Monsters, True Horrors: The Uncanny Power of Dehumanization.\u201d How\u2019s that for a table-setter?\u00a0<\/p>\n \u27a4 Looking for an offbeat way to experience the Santa Cruz Film Festival? The Santa Cruz-based avant-garde group Indexical is hosting a few events, including \u201cDreams in Motion,\u201d<\/strong> a program of short films showcasing the best in independently produced animation. It includes everything from karaoke to a celebration of death (!). The shorts play at Indexical at the Tannery on Thursday and Friday<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u27a4 The People\u2019s Disco<\/strong> returns to Moe\u2019s Alley on Saturday night<\/a>, with DJ James Glass. This is a free event, which makes it, you know, the People\u2019s Disco.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u27a4 Next week, a fascinating literary event is in store when writer and editor John<\/strong> Freeman<\/strong> chats with UC Santa Cruz novelist Karen Tei Yamashita<\/strong> about his new book \u201cCalifornia Rewritten: A Journey Through the Golden State\u2019s New Literature.\u201d The book is a deep dive into the state of California\u2019s rich literary scene. It all happens next Thursday<\/a>, Oct. 16, at Bookshop Santa Cruz.\u00a0<\/p>\n