Happening Monday

BOOKS

Gabriel Thompson The author of “Working in the Shadows” spent a backbreaking year laboring alongside Latino immigrants to gather material for his expose of the harsh underside of the American economy. He’ll present and sign his book, which outlines the many struggles of the working poor. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110. www.booksoup.com.

Joel Kotkin Can you imagine an America with an extra East Coast’s worth of people? Get ready, says author Kotkin in his book, “The Next Hundred Million,” which lays out the many political, economic and resource challenges of dealing with such a fast-growing population -- and how the United States can use the extra numbers to its advantage. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. www.vromans.com.

COMEDY

Doug Benson The comedian, of the relentlessly snide “Best Week Ever” and “Last Comic Standing,” invites some of his famous stand-up-comedian friends to the stage at Largo, then proceeds to interrupt them whenever he likes. Largo @ Coronet. 366 N. La Cienega Blvd. 9 p.m. $20. (310) 855-0350. www.largo-la.com.

FAMILY

Shannon & Dean Hale Graphic novels aren’t all for wan Chris Ware acolytes and recovering comic book disciples. The Hales’ “Calamity Jack” and “Rapunzel’s Revenge” are engrossing graphic novels that are meant for kids. They’ll move onto Gary Panter one of these days, but here’s a start. Westwood Branch Library, 1246 Glendon Ave., L.A. 4:15 p.m. Free. www.lapl.org.