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.

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

Fri, Nov 20 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Award-winning Writer Jayne Anne Phillips in Conversation New York City, NY; NYC
Fri, Nov 20 8:00PM	Reading $10 suggested donation	Freedom Writes: Writers in Performance New York City, NY; NYC
Sat, Nov 21 4:00PM	Poetry Reading free	Passages from T.S. Eliot New York City, NY; NYC
Sat, Nov 21 7:00PM	Open Mike Reading Free; RSVP required	Spic Up/Speak Out! Latino Spoken Word Open Mic New York City, NY; NYC
Sat, Nov 21 8:00PM	Reading $10 suggested donation	Freedom Writes: Writers in Performance New York City, NY; NYC
Sun, Nov 22 3:00PM	Open Mike Reading $3	SOS: The Sunday Open Series New York City, NY; NYC
Sun, Nov 22 8:00PM	Open Mike Reading $5	Experimental Music, Plus An Open Session New York City, NY; NYC
Mon, Nov 23 6:30PM	Book Reading free	Robert Ferguson reads from his book Enigma: The Life of Knut Hamsun New York City, NY; NYC
Mon, Nov 23 6:30PM to 8:00PM	Book Reading free	Paul Goldberger reads from his book Building Up and Tearing Down: Reflections on the Age of Architecture New York City, NY; NYC
Mon, Nov 23 7:00PM	Book Reading free	David Chang & Peter Meehan discuss their book Momofuku New York City, NY; NYC
Mon, Nov 23 7:00PM	Book Reading free	John Richard Paul discusses Unlikely Alliance: How a Merchant, a Playwright and a Spy Saved the American Revolution New York City, NY; NYC
Mon, Nov 23 7:00PM to 8:00PM	Book Reading free	Stuart Hample and Dick Cavett talk about Woody Allen New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Nov 24 6:30PM	Book Reading Free; call for reservations	Austrian author Josef Haslinger reads from his book phi phi island New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Nov 24 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Contributors read from book The Black Book: 35th Anniversary Edition New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Nov 24 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Yehuda Berg reads from his book Kabbalah: The Power to Change Everything New York City, NY; NYC
Fri, Nov 27 12:00PM	Book Reading free	Filmmaker Ken Burns discusses The National Parks New York City, NY; NYC
Sun, Nov 29 3:00PM	Open Mike Reading $3	SOS: The Sunday Open Series New York City, NY; NYC
Mon, Nov 30 6:00PM	Book Signing free	Michael Storrings signs A Very New York Christmas New York City, NY; NYC
Mon, Nov 30 6:00PM to 8:00PM	Book Reading free	Pulitzer Winner Mike Wallace discusses his book Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898 New York City, NY; NYC
Mon, Nov 30 6:30PM	Book Reading Free; call to RSVP	Jonathan Safran Foer reads from his book Eating Animals New York City, NY; NYC
Mon, Nov 30 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Hesh Kestin reads from his book The Iron Will of Shoeshine Cats New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Dec 1 6:30PM	Poetry Reading free	Award-Winning Poets Ron Padgett and Katha Pollitt New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Dec 1 6:30PM	Poetry Reading $5	Award-winning poet Catherine Bowman discusses her work New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Dec 1 7:00PM to 8:00PM	Book Reading free	Max Brenner reads from his book Chocolate: A Love Story New York City, NY; NYC
Wed, Dec 2 7:00PM	Book Reading free	David Chang & Peter Meehan discuss their book Momofuku New York City, NY; NYC
Thu, Dec 3 7:00PM	Poetry Reading free	Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poet John Ashbery reads his work New York City, NY; NYC
Fri, Dec 4 5:00PM	Poetry Reading free	Poets Denise Duhamel and Jill Bialosky read from their work New York City, NY; NYC
Fri, Dec 4 6:30PM	Book Reading free	New York Times' Neil MacFarquhar discusses his book The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Dec 8 6:30PM	Poetry Reading free	Poetics Document Initiative New York City, NY; NYC
Tue, Dec 8 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Lisa Kereszi discusses her book Fun and Games New York City, NY; NYC
Wed, Dec 9 6:30PM	Book Reading $5	George Packer, award-winning author, reads and discusses his work New York City, NY; NYC
Wed, Dec 9 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Photographer Joel Meyerowitz discusses Legacy: The Preservation of Wilderness in New York City Parks New York City, NY; NYC
Thu, Dec 10 6:00PM to 9:00PM	Book Reading free	Book Launch Party: Agenda New York City, NY; NYC
Thu, Dec 10 7:00PM	Poetry Reading Free; reservations recommended	An Interactive Performance with Award-Winning Poet Anne Carson New York City, NY; NYC
Fri, Dec 11 7:00PM	Reading free	Undergraduate Reading New York City, NY; NYC
Fri, Dec 11 7:00PM	Book Reading free	Award-winning author Michael Thomas reads from his memoir The Broken King New York City, NY; NYC
Mon, Dec 14 6:30PM	Poetry Reading $5	National Book Award winner Mark Doty reads and discusses his work New York City, NY; NYC
Thu, Dec 17 6:00PM	Reading free	Sixth Annual Holiday Reading of A Christmas Carol New York City, NY; NYC
Thu, Dec 17 7:00PM	Book Reading free	National Book Award winner Collum McCann reads from his book Let the Great World Spin New York City, NY; NYC
Fri, Dec 18 7:00PM	Poetry Reading free	Poet Matt Hart reads from his book You Are Mist New York City, NY; NYC