Jake Halpern’s Fame Junkies may be an uncomfortable read for those addicted to In Touch and OK! magazines. (And, come to that, for those who follow politics by personalities and equate conspicuous consumption with success.) The Buffalonian, a graduate of City Honors, holds a mirror before America’s cultural fixation with celebrity and reveals what Americans are willing to do do to pursue it, as well as what the pursuit does to them. (Buffalo’s Personal Best modeling and acting school is profiled, as is a Duke University primatologist who demonstrates that chimps prefer to gaze at the dominant chimps in their social groups.) Halpern has written for the The New Yorker, the New York Times and LA Weekly, among other publications, and is a commentator on NPR’s All Things Considered. At the invitation of Talking Leaves Books and Hallwalls Cntemporary Arts Center, Halpern comes to town this week to read from his book, lead a discussion and sign copies.

Thursday, January 11 at 7pm. Hallwalls at the Church, 341 Delaware Avenue (854-1694, hallwalls.org). FREE.