Steve Almond

It’s rare that someone else’s rant is tolerable to a listener and rarer still that it’s enjoyable, so writer Steve Almond has achieved quite a feat with his collection of commentaries and essays, (Not That You Asked): Rants, Exploits and Obsessions. The book, which he’ll present today at Brazos Bookstore, features everything from a light-hearted attack on Oprah to a heartfelt celebration of Kurt Vonnegut, whom Almond refers to as “a figure of tremendous hope.”

Almond clearly likes to be a contrarian, but he isn’t afraid to poke fun at himself in the process: He openly professes his love for the metal band Tesla and his addiction to reality television. (He’s also brutally candid about his past sexual exploits.) Love him or hate him, at least he’s thought about his diatribes before subjecting us to them. 7:30 p.m. 2421 Bissonnet. For information, call 713-523-0701 or visit brazos.booksense.com. Free.
Mon., Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m., 2008