Summer's almost here and we're on our way to unbearable heat and serious stench in New York.  The lucky will flee to woods and water, but if, like me, you're not going anywhere, the first whiffs of hot trash herald an entire season of obscene perspiration and insufferable stickiness.   But have no fear--there is plenty to do in the city that requires little to no physical exertion, and will take your mind far beyond the confines of this concrete oven.  Check out these readings by Harper authors for the month of June (no poets, but we could all use a change of pace now and then).

June NYC Events for Our Authors

Thursday, June 1 - 7:30 PM - Full of Grace, Dorthea Benton Frank - B&N (Springfield, NJ)

Friday, June 2, 7:00 PM - The Pursuit of Happyness, Chris Gardner - B&N (Lincoln Center)

Friday, June 2, 7:30 PM - Full of Grace, Dorthea Benton Frank - Watchung Booksellers (Montclair, NJ)

Saturday, June 3, 11:00 AM - Keep It Seasonal, Annie Wayte - B&N (Union Square)

Saturday, June 3, 12:00 PM - Play, Mozart, Play, Peter Sis - Books of Wonder (18 West 18th Street)

Monday, June 5, 7:00 PM - But Enough About Me, Jancee Dunn - B&N (Astor Place)

Tuesday, June 6, 7:00 PM - Good Fight, Peter Beinart - Strand Bookstore (828 Broadway)

Tuesday, June 6, 7:00 PM  - Dispatches from the Edge, Anderson Cooper - B&N (Union Square)

Tuesday, June 6, 7:00 PM  - FUBAR, Sam Seder and Stephen Sherrill - B&N (Chelsea)

Wednesday, June 7, 12:30 PM - Freakonomics Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner - B&N (Citicorp)

Wednesday, June 7, 6:30 PM - Cooking from the Heart of Spain, Janet Mendel - NY Culinary Historians

Thursday, June 8, 12:00 PM - Cooking from the Heart of Spain, Janet Mendel  - 92nd Street Y

Saturday, June 10, 11:00 AM - Oscar, Amy Schwartz - B&N (East 86th St. and 2nd Ave.)

Saturday, June 10, 2:00 PM - Hot Italian Dish, Victoria Gotti - Borders (Syosset)

Tuesday, June 13, 7:00 PM - Revolution Will Be Accessorized, Aaron Hicklin - McNally Robinson (52 Prince St.)

Tuesday, June 13, 8:00 PM - But Enough About Me, Jancee Dunn - Borders (Ramsey, NJ)

Wednesday, June 14, 7:30 PM - Dizzy, Donald L. Maggin, 92nd Street Y

Thursday, June 15, 8:00 AM - Overcoming Underearning, Barbara Stanny - B&N Business Breakfast (555 Fifth Ave.)

Thursday, June 15, 6:00 PM - Challenging Nature, Lee M. Silver - NY Academy of Sciences (2 East 63rd St.)

Thursday, June 15, 7:00 PM - Leeway Cottage, Beth Gutcheon - B&N (Freehold, NJ)

Monday, June 19, 6:30 PM - Overcoming Underearning, Barbara Stanny - Gotham Hall (1356 Broadway)

Tuesday, June 20, 7:00 PM - Pale Blue Eyes, Louis Bayard - B&N (Village)

Thursday, June 22, 8:30 AM - Dispatches From the Edge, Anderson Cooper - Bergdorf's

Monday, June 26, 8:15 PM - Original Zinn, Howard Zinn - 92nd Street Y

Wednesday, June 28, 12:30 PM - No Good Deeds, Laura Lipman - Bryant Park Word for Word Series

Wednesday, June 28, 6:30 PM - No Good Deeds, Laura Lipman - Black Orchid (303 East 81st St.)

Thursday, June 29, 7:30 PM - FUBAR, Sam Seder - Strand Bookstore (828 Broadway)