Today’s top events

BOOKS

Jesus Was a Liberal The Rev. Scotty McLennan, Stanford’s dean for religious life and the model for “Doonesbury’s” Rev. Scott Sloan, discusses his recent book with the Rev. Jim Burklo of USC. Central Library, 630 W. 5th St. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025. www.lfla .org.

Andrew Porter The author of “The Theory of Light and Matter” will read from one of his 10 stories that take place deep in the dissatisfactions and secret cravings of ordinary Americans. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd. 7 p.m. (626) 449-5320.

EVENTS

Joy of Chinese Cooking Cookbook author and chef Theresa Cheng will instruct the assembled on the finer points of Chinese cuisine. East Los Angeles Library, 4837 E. 3rd St., L.A. 6:30 p.m. Free. (323) 264-0155.