Important Questions

In the ’90s, Robin Pearce was one of Kansas City’s bright young stars: She acted, performed stand-up comedy, did a little modeling, bartended and promoted theatrical events. These days, the former Miss Pearce is now Robin Abrahams, a research associate at Harvard Business School and the weekly “Miss Conduct” columnist for The Boston Globe Magazine, for which she answers important philosophical questions such as “Is it polite to say ‘God bless you’ to a sneezing atheist?” (Yes, but gesundheit works just as well). She’s no Miss Manners, Abrahams says, because, unlike that syndicated columnist, she’s a lot more interested in the “psychology and evolutionary history at looking at what we do.” Life is filled with complicated questions — how to split a restaurant tab with a cheapskate? — so Abrahams will confront those issues head-on tonight at 7, when she reads from her new book, Miss Conduct’s Mind Over Manners, at Rainy Day Books (2706 West 53rd Street, Fairway) and takes audience questions. Cost is the price of the book, $15. Call 913-384-3126 for reservations.

Wed., July 8, 7 p.m., 2009