Read and share ideas in Windward Community College's Common Book program, which this year looks at Daniel Quinn's "Ishmael." A telepathic gorilla and disenchanted dreamer discuss the origins of human attitudes toward nature in "Ishmael," which "encourages readers to focus on the big picture," says Common Book coordinator Brian Richardson. At 4 p.m. today at WCC's Hale Akoakoa building, room 105, the Rev. Mike Young of the First Unitarian Church gives a free related talk, "Story as Tool." Learn more: www.wcc.hawaii.edu/CommonBook.

— Advertiser Staff

FASHION

'SWEET' CHANCE FOR ISLE JEWELER

Gwen Stefani has been spotted wearing Philip Rickard's Hawaiian heirloom bracelets. Last year she began putting the bracelets on her runway models. This year she took it a step further: Stefani stopped in at Rickard's Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center factory during her "The Sweet Escape" tour in August and asked him to create gold pieces decorated with enameled L.A.M.B. logos that reflect the mod theme of her spring line. She worked with Rickard to produce pieces for her L.A.M.B. Spring 2008 fashion show.

— Paula Rath

FINAL WORD

"If you're not feeling your life, you are obligated first to do everything it takes to feel your life."

Sean Penn | in defense of personal exploration in Time. Penn directed the film version of "Into the Wild," about a young college grad who explored the country before meeting his death in Alaska in 1992.