It's not that Sarah Vowell's first few books—Take the Cannoli and Radio On—were bad; they were really, really funny. But when the NPR commentator (and sometimes animated superhero) started writing books about American history, like Assassination Vacation (a road trip to presidential assassination sites) and this month's The Wordy Shipmates (about Puritans and their sexy, sexy secret lives), she found her calling. Vowell tells us where we are by exploring—hilariously—where we've been. (Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 800-838-3006. 7:30 pm, $5.)