COSBY’S CONTENTIONS Michael Eric Dyson discusses and signs his new book “Is Bill Cosby Right? (Or Has the Black Middle Class Lost Its Mind?)” (Basic Civitas), which responds to Mr. Cosby’s much-repeated remarks during an NAACP awards ceremony in the spring of 2004. The comedian sharply criticized the black community’s “knuckleheads,” who he said have failed to take responsibility for parenting problems, crime, and poor academic performance. The outdoor event is part of the Word for Word series of summer afternoon readings. Today, 12:30 p.m., Bryant Park Reading Room, 42nd Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-803-6890, free.

WAR STORY Ha Jin reads from his third novel, “War Trash” (Vintage), as part of Central Park’s SummerStage. The book follows a Chinese soldier taken prisoner by U.N. forces during the Korean War. An interview with Mr. Jin follows. Tonight, 7:30 p.m., Central Park SummerStage, enter park at 69th Street and Fifth Avenue or 72nd Street and Central Park West, 212-360-2777, free.

OWEN PRINCE? Writer Owen King, the son of Stephen, reads from “We’re All in This Together” (Bloomsbury), his new novella and short-story collection with a political bent. (Tonight, 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble Chelsea, 675 Sixth Ave. at 21st Street, 212-727-1227, free.) Uptown, another child of a famous father reads from her own political first novel: Kristin Gore, daughter of Albert, is the author of “Sammy’s Hill” (Miramax), which boasts a neurotic heroine equally obsessed with health-care reform and her romance with a dashing speechwriter. (Tonight, 7:30 p.m., Barnes & Noble Upper West Side, 2289 Broadway at 82nd Street, 212-362-8835, free.)

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