free (and almost free) readings

Not a day goes by in New York City without a free poetry reading or a book signing by a famous or not yet famous author. Please see below the schedule of free literary events in New York City and choose one (or more) to your liking.

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
Click on an event to see more details.

Thu, Jul 29 4:00PM	Book Reading free	Vivian Wagner reads from her book Fiddle: One Woman, Four Strings, and 8,000 Miles of Music New York City, NY; NYC
Thu, Jul 29 6:30PM	Book Reading free	Allegra Goodman reads from her book The Cookbook Collector New York City, NY; NYC
Thu, Jul 29 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Joe Hill discusses his book Locke and Key: Crown of Shadows New York City, NY; NYC
Thu, Jul 29 7:30PM	Book Reading free	Randy L. Schmidt discusses his book Little Girl Blue New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Aug 3 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Jeff Parker reads from his book The Taste of Penny New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Aug 3 7:00PM	Poetry Reading free	3 Poets: Marcus Jackson / Dante Michaeux / Tara Betts New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Aug 3 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Marcus Samuelsson discusses his book New American Table New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Aug 3 9:00PM	Open Mike Reading $3	Penny's Open Mic New York City, NY; NYC
Wed, Aug 4 12:30PM	Book Reading free	Fictiononomy: A Fictional Look at the Economy New York City, NY; NYC
Wed, Aug 4 7:00PM	Book Reading free	5th Annual The Shrinks Are Away! Reading New York City, NY; NYC
Wed, Aug 4 7:00PM	Book Reading Free; reservations required	Jennifer Egan reads from her book A Visit from the Goon Squad New York City, NY; NYC
Thu, Aug 5 6:30PM	Book Reading free	Steven Jay Griffel discusses his digital novel Forty Years Later New York City, NY; NYC
Thu, Aug 5 6:30PM	Book Reading free	Rachel McPherson reads from her book Every Dog Has a Gift: True Stories of Dogs Who Bring Hope & Healing Into Our Lives New York City, NY; NYC
Thu, Aug 5 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Geoffrey O'Brien reads from his book The Fall of the House of Walworth: Madness and Murder in Gilded Age America New York City, NY; NYC
Thu, Aug 5 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Mary Roach discusses her book Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void New York City, NY; NYC
Fri, Aug 6 7:30PM	Open Mike Reading free	Open Mic Night with Stur Richards New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Aug 10 12:30PM	Book Reading free	Megadeath frontman Dave Mustaine discusses his book Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Aug 10 7:00PM	Poetry Reading free	3 Poets: John Murillo / Willie Perdomo / Brenda Cardenas New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Aug 10 9:00PM	Open Mike Reading $3	Penny's Open Mic New York City, NY; NYC
Wed, Aug 11 12:30PM	Book Reading free	Terry Teachout reads from his biography Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong New York City, NY; NYC
Wed, Aug 11 7:00PM	Book Reading $5	Mark Cohen discisses his book Missing a Beat: The Rants and Regrets of Seymour Krim New York City, NY; NYC
Wed, Aug 11 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Martin Amis reads from his novel The Pregnant Widow New York City, NY; NYC
Thu, Aug 12 7:30PM	Book Reading free	Adam Ross discusses his book Mr. Peanut New York City, NY; NYC
Sat, Aug 14 12:00PM to 5:30PM	Poetry Reading free	La Casita: A Home for the Heart/ Un Hogar Para El Corazon New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Aug 17 7:00PM	Poetry Reading free	Canadian poets read their work New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Aug 17 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Zen Ohashi discusses his book Wow: A Handbook for Living New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Aug 17 9:00PM	Open Mike Reading $3	Penny's Open Mic New York City, NY; NYC
Wed, Aug 18 12:30PM	Book Reading free	Mona Simpson reads from her book My Hollywood New York City, NY; NYC
Wed, Aug 18 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Tom Grimes discusses his book Mentor New York City, NY; NYC
Thu, Aug 19 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Gail Caldwell discusses her book Let's Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship New York City, NY; NYC
Thu, Aug 19 8:00PM	Reading free	In the Flesh: Erotica Reading Series New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Aug 24 7:00PM	Poetry Reading free	4 contemporary poets read their work New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Aug 24 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Roy Cohen discusses his book The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Aug 24 9:00PM	Open Mike Reading $3	Penny's Open Mic New York City, NY; NYC
Wed, Aug 25 12:30PM	Book Reading free	Rick Moody reads from his book The Four Fingers of Death New York City, NY; NYC
Wed, Aug 25 6:30PM	Book Reading free	Jason D. Antos discusses his book Shea Stadium New York City, NY; NYC
Wed, Aug 25 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Schmuley Boteach discusses his book Renewal: A Guide to the Values-Filled Life New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Aug 31 7:00PM	Poetry Reading free	The Katrina Project presents Pulitzer-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Aug 31 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Kristin Hersh discusses her book Rat Girl New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Aug 31 9:00PM	Open Mike Reading $3	Penny's Open Mic New York City, NY; NYC