Good Morning! Some interesting guest speakers are presenting in the month of October. Please see below! Inside Our Minds, Inside Our Lives Technology, cognitive science and memoir, this fall we are talking about the systems that shape our lives. When I started researching this book, I thought that the Internet was a metaphor for life; now I think that life is a metaphor for the internet. - Douglas Coupland

Douglas Coupland Kitten Clone Wednesday October 8th In 2013, Douglas Coupland set out on a journey to find out what "data, speed and optical wiring are doing to us as a species." This quest sent Coupland to Alcatel-Lucent, an international company responsible for running and operating the systems that support the Internet. In one year he visited its offices in four different countries in an attempt to figure out exactly what and where the Internet is. In the process, he completely changed his perspective on the world's largest and current colonising force. Click here for tickets and details. Jim Davies Riveted Saturday October 25th When you think of your favourite movies, books, or paintings what draws you in? Is it a character? The set-up? The story behind it all? In his new book Riveted, Jim Davies sets out to explain what it is about art that captivates us. From our need for hope and fear, to the psychological desire to believe and disbelieve, Davies explores the deepest parts of our human need for art and religion. Join us for a riveting conversation with Jim Davies about what makes art (and storytelling!) a compelling and important part of our lives. Click here for tickets and details. Facebook Twitter Website Are you a university student in Ottawa? Does someone you know attend Carleton or uOttawa? This year students at both of Ottawa's universities get free tickets to all our mainstage events. All you need to reserve tickets is your Student ID. Susan Pinker - The Village Effect Saturday, October 25th As technology changes and evolves it seems we are placing more and more screens in front of our faces and in place of real people. But what about the human connection? Tracing recent studies in neuroscience and biology Susan Pinker investigates how reaching out to other human beings and creating our own villages is integral to our survival. In The Village Effect, Pinker explores the physical and psychological benefits of our social networks and how they are key to our survival. Click here for tickets and details. Steven Pinker - The Sense of Style Sunday, October 26th How do we interpret the language that surrounds us? Whay is "I can't get no satisfaction" more attractive than the grammatically correct "I can't get any"? These are questions Steven Pinker tries to unwind in his latest book The Sense of Style. If you are the one always nit-picking your co-workers e-mails, advising your kids and friends about using proper grammar, or could use some tips on dressing up your conversations you will not want to miss this discussion with bestselling author and renowned psychologist Steven Pinker. Click here for tickets and details. Do you want the best in books Ottawa has to offer? Then become a festival member and get reserved seating, advance information, book discounts and invites to exclusive events! Memberships are on sale now for the the Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 seasons. Check out our membership page. Daniel J. Levitin - Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload Friday October 24th With the ever changing digital landscape our minds are being trained to work faster, to accommodate more windows, screens and conversations. But what is that doing to our brains? How do some of us excel at this point while others flounder in a stream of information? In his latest book, Daniel J. Levitin, Ph.D., delves into new research in cognitive neuroscience to look at how attention and memory function in our daily lives. He will not only explore how our brains adapt and handle this age of information but what we can do to master our homes, workplaces and lives. Click here for tickets and details Chris Turner - Write On! Writing for Social Change Monday October 27th Join us for an afternoon with bestselling author, journalist and former Green Party candidate Chris Turner as we discuss the necessity and importance of writing from a socially conscious perspective. From the Simpsons in his first bestselling book, to his discussions about climate change and the Harper government's stance on scientific research, Turner has taken on many different cultural issues in his writing. But what can we do? In his latest book, How to Breathe Underwater, he suggests that we need to meet the challenges of ecological, economic, and cultural sustainability with innovation instead of lamentation. Click here for tickets and details. Donna Thomson - The Four Walls of My Freedom Tuesday October 28th There are always changes we cannot prepare for, experience we have to live through, learn from and make our own as best we can. This is only part of what Donna Thomson learned when her newborn son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. On top of all the book learning and social networking with parents, Donna learned the most from her son. Having worked as a director and teacher, Donna's path changed as she embarked on a second career as a caregiver, disability activist, author and consultant. Her memoir takes us through her learning process and life, as she opens our eyes and hearts to the experiences of people with disabilities and their families. She will be joined in conversation with Alison Pick and Catherine Gildiner to discuss the unexpected turns our lives take and how writing about them can bring value to both author and reader. Click here for tickets and details.