A lifelong battle with epilepsy is related in vivid and often stomach-turning detail, and the author X-rays the often-alienating world of modern medicine.

For the original coffee culture, one has to head to Ethiopia. Nefisa Siraj’s Cini Coffee also sells beans imported beans – “the best there is” – at farmers markets in Cambridge and Somerville for far less than your Starbucks habit.

Craic Sauce sells in 306 markets, working with about 80 independent local sellers, partners, restaurants, stores, breweries, gift shops and coffee shops – and the Kendall Square Farmers Market is one. It’s open through Nov. 16.

Anyone can learn to sharpen a knife, but they should also know the schedule for getting it done professionally and what kind of treatment will force the issue more urgently – and how to find Harper the sharper to help.

A familiar face sells Depth N Green food and products weekly at a Cambridge farmers market: Pushpir Bhetia, once of Somerville’s Guru the Caterer.

The Kendall Square Farmers Market, in the area’s canal district, has colorful characters and captivating tales accompanying its locally sourced products.

Somerville resident Jean Duffy never imagined herself an athlete, much less a soccer granny like Beka Ntsanwisi, but the South African inspired her.

“Whether you believe in fate or not,” Cantabrigian cellist Jonah Ellsworth says, “it’s kind of incredible that I’m playing with the hometown orchestra.”

“Dirty Water” doesn’t sound like the most alluring name for a new business, much less a good come-on for people looking to fulfill their New Year’s resolutions. But to Josh Fox and his fellow entrepreneurs, the appeal was clear.

When Harvard professors Michael E. Porter and Mark Kramer published a 2011 Harvard Business Review article on “Creating Shared Value,” they probably never imagined it would be local teens championing the cause.