University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop alumnus Benjamin Nugent will read from his new book, Good Kids, at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, in a free reading at Prairie Lights Books in downtown Iowa City. The reading also will be streamed live on the University of Iowa Writing University website.

The plot of Good Kids: At 15, Josh Paquette and Khadijah Silverglate-Dunn catch Josh’s father and Khadijah’s mother kissing in a natural foods store. They make a pact never to cheat on anyone, ever. They have no problem keeping the vow—until they meet again at 28, both struggling with career and identity, and both engaged to other people.

Nugent is the author of American Nerd: The Story of My People, a history of the concept of the nerd, with some reporting on nerd subcultures, some memoir, and a short story. He was educated at Reed College and the Iowa Writers' Workshop. His essays have appeared in the New York Times’ op-ed page, the New York Times Magazine, and many other publications. His short stories have appeared in Tin House and The L Magazine. The director of creative writing at Southern New Hampshire University, he teaches in its MFA and undergraduate programs. He lives in Boston.

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop is a graduate program in the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

For more information or special accommodations to attend this reading, call Jan Weissmiller at Prairie Lights, 319-337-2681. For a UI arts calendar and details about upcoming events visit the new Arts Iowa website.