Best Bets For The Book Festival

expects more than 70,000 people to crowd into downtown this weekend. Go to the book festival website for complete information, such as schedules and author bios. You can also download .

If you have a short attention span, here are some events that sound provocative or entertaining. All are free unless otherwise noted.

FRIDAY, AUG. 31

Kickoff of kid's festival. . The book selected for On The Same Page, the citywide reading project, will be announced. 4 p.m. in Presser Hall at Agnes Scott College.

Keynote address. , the recently appointed U.S. poet laureate, is the speaker. This event is free but ticketed, and all the tickets have been taken. 8 p.m. at Emory University’s Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 1

How To Be Black. That's the title of Baratunde Thurston's new book. He'll talk about racial politics and personal identity at 10 a.m. at Decatur Presbyterian Church.

Two Mikes. Mystery writers Michael Connelly and Michael Koryta talk about their latest books and mystery writing in general at 11:15 a.m. at Decatur First Baptist Church.

Football book. Atlantan Drew Jubera's book about Valdosta football, Must Win, is about to be published. He's discuss this town's obsession with the sport at 12:30 p.m. at the Decatur Library.

Fightin' words. This may be the most provocative event of the festival. Chuck Thompson will be interviewed about his new book, Better Off Without 'Em: A Northern Manifesto for Southern Secession. The Wall Street Journal calls it a "diatribe against the backwardness, reactionary politics and manifold perversity of the American South." 4:15 p.m. at the Decatur Conference Center.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 2

Let's eat. Sheri Castle will share recipes from her book, The New Southern Garden Cookbook: Enjoying the Best from Homegrown Gardens, Farmers’ Markets, Roadside Stands and CSA Farm Boxes. Noon at .

A deadly combo. Tess Gerritsen (author of Rizzoli & Isles mystery series) and Kathy Reichs (of the Bones mysteries) talk about having a book series turned into a TV show. Decatur's Amanda Kyle Williams leads the discussion. 2:30 p.m. at Decatur First Baptist.

Food trucks. John T. Edge will talk about this food trend and his book on the subject with his co-author, Angie Mosier, at 3:45 p.m. at the Decatur Library.

The World's Most Entertaining Writing Workshop - Ever. In writing circles, Roy Peter Clark is famed for his workshops. He'll take the stage at 3:45 p.m. Sunday at the Decatur Conference Center.