Advance Notice. Rainn Wilson and "SoulPancake" at USC.

Rainn Wilson is best known as Dwight from "The Office," but you shouldn't dismiss Wilson as the heartless dork he plays on TV. It turns out that Wilson's actually written a book, and this ain't no Al Roker mystery novel.

No no, instead, Wilson implores readers of SoulPancake to ponder the big questions: "Have you ever wondered how your thoughts affect reality? Or if you only had one hour left to live, how you’d spend it? Would you want to know the exact moment you die? What does art have to do with the soul?" The book, thought great illustration and design, pushes readers to examine these thoughts while providing quotes and ideas from others that have circulated throughout history. "How do you determine truth?" for example, is seen above, accompanied by a quote from Harry Truman: "Intense feeling too often obscures the truth." The page also asks "What is truth?" and "What's one thing you know for sure?"

It's digging deep, but that's the point. And you can even get the choice to dig into Wilson's own mind, when he and his SoulPancake co-authors makes an appearance at USC on April 25th. The event is free, and there's a book signing to follow. Check out more info on the event here, and on the book here.

An Evening with the SoulPancake authors takes place on April 25th at 7:30pm at USC's Bovard Auditorium, located at 3551 Trousdale Pkwy. near downtown.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: SoulPancake

Advance Notice. Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser in Conversation at USC.

If you've ever thought in-depth about where the food we eat comes from and why, and considered how the industrialization of the food industry has affected people's health and the environment, you've probably been influenced in part by either Michael Pollan or Eric Schlosser. Pollan is the author of In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, primarily writing about food in its natural state, and how food and culture intersect. Schlosser is the author of Fast Food Nation, which went behind the scenes of how food is processed for wider consumption.

In terms of personal health and the environment, it's important to try and remind ourselves of such issues. To get a primer, head out to USC for an event featuring these two well-respected voices, and hear their take on the things we eat. They'll be joined by Evan Kleiman, the host of KCRW's "Good Food" and the owner and chef at Melrose's Angeli Caffe. It's sure to make you think twice before hitting the drive-thru at McDonald's, and your health and stomach is sure to be grateful for it.

Food, Inc., Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser in Conversation is occurring Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 7pm at USC's Bovard Auditorium, located at 3551 Trousdale Parkway near downtown. The event is free for everyone, but you should make reservations by clicking here.

-- Chau Tu