Literary Events

7:30 P.M. Howard Fineman, Newsweek magazine's senior Washington correspondent, discusses and signs The Thirteen American Arguments: Enduring Debates That Define and Inspire Our Country at Borders Books-Tysons Corner, 8027 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, Va., 703-556-7766.

15 THURSDAY

Noon. Jean Pfaelzer, a professor of English and American studies, discusses and signs Driven Out: The Forgotten War Against Chinese Americans as part of the "Books & Beyond" series at the Library of Congress, James Madison Bldg., Pickford Theater, 101 Independence Ave. SE, 202-707-5221.

6 P.M. Anti-war activist and politician Tom Hayden discusses and signs the anthology, Writings for a Democratic Society: The Tom Hayden Reader at Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. NW, 202-387-7638.

6:30 P.M. The Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington marks the 60th anniversary of the state of Israel with a series of book talks by Laura Cohen Apelbaum on Jewish Washington: Scrapbook of an American Community (the companion to the award-winning exhibit of the same name) beginning at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Great Hall, 901 G St. NW, co-sponsored by the Embassy of Israel and the B'nai B'rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum. RSVP at 202-789-0900 or e-mail Erin at emccormally@jhsgw.org. There will also be a presentation on Friday, May 16, at 12:30 p.m. at the Channel Inn, 650 Water St. SW as part of the monthly meeting/luncheon of the Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Columbia. Admission is $20; for details, visit their Website (type the group's name in your search engine). Another talk will be held on Sunday, May 18, at 3:30 p.m. at Barnes & Noble-Rockville, 12089 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md., 301-881-0237.

6:30 P.M. Ta-Nehisi Coates discusses and signs his new memoir, The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood (his father, a Vietnam vet and former Black Panther, founded the Black Classics Press), at the Sumner School, corner of 17th & M Sts. NW. For further details about this program, sponsored by Vertigo Books, call 301-779-9300.

6:30 P.M. Arthur Herman discusses and signs Gandhi & Churchill: The Epic Rivalry that Destroyed an Empire and Forged Our Age at Borders Books-Downtown, 18th & L Sts. NW, 202-466-4999.

7 P.M. Investigative reporter Tim Shorrock discusses and signs Spies for Hire: The Secret World of Intelligence Outsourcing at Olsson's Books-Penn Quarter, 202-638-7610.

7 P.M. Fareed Zakaria, the editor of Newsweek International, discusses and signs The Post-American World at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

7:30 P.M. Executive coach Anne Loehr discusses and signs A Manager's Guide to Coaching: Simple and Effective Ways to Get the Best Out of Your Employees (written with Brian Emerson, with whom she co-founded the leadership retreat firm Safaris for the Soul) at Barnes & Noble-Reston, 1851 Fountain Dr., Reston, Va., 703-437-9490.

7:30 P.M. Charlaine Harris reads from and signs From Dead to Worse, her new Southern Vampire Mystery featuring Soosie Stackhouse, at Borders Books-Baileys Crossroads, 703-998-0404.

17 SATURDAY

11 A.M. Children's book author and illustrator Jackie Urbanovic reads from and discusses her new picture book, Duck Soup, at Aladdin's Lamp Children's Bookstore, 2499 N. Harrison St., Arlington, Va., 703-241-8281.

2 P.M. Melissa Marr reads from and signs her new YA novel, Ink Exchange, at Borders Books-Woodbridge, 2904 Prince William Pkwy., Woodbridge, Va., 703-897-8100.

6 P.M. Rebecca Flowers reads from and signs her new novel, Nice to Come Home To, at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

SPECIAL NOTICES

The Howard County Library and over 40 Choose Civility partners are sponsoring the Choose Civility Symposium on Wednesday, May 14, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Grace Community Church (8200 Old Columbia Rd., Fulton, Md.) featuring U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings; former Baltimore Colts player Joe Ehrmann (co-founder of Building Men and Women for Others); BBC reporter Jane O'Brien, currently at work on a story about "Choose Civility"; and P.M. Forni, a professor of civility and Italian literature at Johns Hopkins University and author of Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct. The morning opens with registration and breakfast, followed by opening remarks from Elijah Cummings, a keynote speech by Joe Ehrmann, a book signing and a series of workshops. Admission is free; call 410-313-7762 or e-mail carol.murray@hclibrary.org by May 12 to RSVP.

The Carpe Librum Used Book Sale, being held at The Shops at 2000 Penn, 2000 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, will begin $10 bag days on Monday, May 12 (Sunday, May 11 is the final day of half-price discounts). The sale is a benefit for Turning the Page, a nonprofit group dedicated to supporting public schools in the District. Hours for the sale, which ends Friday, May 16, are Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For further details, visit http://www.turningthepage.org.