Patton Oswalt may be the most brilliant, creative linguist of all comedians working today. As his remarkable work on albums like 2007’s Werewolves and Lollipops shows, Oswalt is more a joke sculptor than a joke teller, a comic who cares as much about diction as he does selling a punchline. So it’s no big surprise that his upcoming visit to Sixth & I doesn’t involve a stand-up performance. Instead, he’ll discuss his new book, Silver Screen Fiend: Learning About Life from an Addiction to Film—a memoir about his early days as a writer, performer, and movie devourer in Los Angeles—with Slate culture editor Dan Kois. The tone of the book may or may not reflect the essence of his stand-up, but since Oswalt and his fans view him as a bonafide wordsmith, a foray into literature makes sense. He’s been crafting it all along. Patton Oswalt reads at 5 p.m. at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW. $35. (202) 408-3100. sixthandi.org.