Dewey know about the Wisconsin Book Festival? 📚

The event is back in a hybrid-virtual format this year + kicks off on Thurs., Oct. 21. We’re *writing down* how to get the most of the free, 5-day book lover’s extravaganza.

A Page of History

The festival was started in 2001 by the Wisconsin Humanities Council — which means this is the 20th year of celebrating + discussing renowned authors.
It is currently a partnership between Madison Public Library + Madison Public Library Foundation.
Over 900 writers have participated in the festival — ranging from Celeste Ng to James Patterson.
The Wisconsin Book Festival technically runs all year long, but kicks into gear with a fall celebration of events this week.

The last time the event was in person was in 2019. | Photo via Wisconsin Book Festival

LITerary Events

Carol Anderson | Thurs., Oct. 21 | 7 p.m. | Virtual | Join award-winning educator + historian for a talk on her newest book — The Second — about how the 2nd amendment has impacted African Americans.
Jaquira Diaz | Sat., Oct. 23 | 3 p.m. | Central Library, Community Room 302 | The Whiting Award recipient will be discussing her memoir — Ordinary Girls.
Nick Petrie | Sat., Oct. 23 | 4:30 p.m. | Central Library, Community Room 301 | Best-selling thriller writer of The Breaker will talk about his newest novel.
Nickolas Butler | Sat., Oct. 23 | 6 p.m. | Central Library, Community Room 302 | Wisconsin writer of Godspeed — a 21st century morality tale set in Jackson Hole — is the focus of the discussion.

Book Your Schedule

Friends of the UW-Madison Libraries Book Sale | Wed., Oct. 20-Sat., Oct. 23 | Times Vary | Memorial Library, Room 116 | Free+ | Thousands of books with proceeds benefiting the university’s lecture series, special purchases + other library events.
Big Ideas for Busy People: How Do We Know What We Know | Thurs., Oct. 21 | 7 p.m. | Discovery Building, 330 N. Orchard St. | A series of 5-minute flash talks from experts in anthropology, astronomy, law + more.