Book calendar

Words & Ideas

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

SUNDAY

AWA Architecture Symposium: The Assn. for Women in Architecture will offer a series of presentations by architects, artists, thinkers and public officials. Participants include Barbara Bestor, Elizabeth Gill Lui, Cara Lee, Susan Berson and Nancy Pearlman. Gin D. Wong Conference Center at the USC School of Fine Arts, Vermont and Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. noon-5 p.m. $5. (310) 534-8466.

The Evolution of Barbie: Author and social historian M.G. Lord (“Forever Barbie: The Unauthorized Biography of a Real Doll”) will give a talk on Barbie’s enduring, often contentious, cultural significance. Center for Inquiry, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., L.A. 11 a.m. $8. (323) 666-9797.

Dale Hrabi: The author of “The Perfect Baby Handbook: A Guide for Excessively Motivated Parents” will present and sign the new tounge-in-cheeck parenting guide. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Jennifer Mathews: The author of “Chicle: The Chewing Gum of the Americas, From the Ancient Maya to William Wrigley” will discuss and sign her new book. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Jennifer Ring: The author of “Stolen Bases: Why American Girls Don’t Play Baseball” will present and sign her new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. noon. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Deanne Stillman: The author of “Mustang: The Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West” will read and discuss her book. Autry National Center, 4700 Western Heritage Way, L.A. 2 p.m. Free with museum admission. (323) 667-2000.

Lisa Teasley: The author of “Heat Signature” will read and discuss her novel. Pounder-Koné, 5443 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. 3 p.m. Free. (323) 913-2247.

Tom Waldman & David Reyes: The authors of “Land of a Thousand Dances: Chicano Rock ‘n’ Roll From Southern California” will discuss and sign their new book. Singer-songwriter Lysa Flores will perform. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

MONDAY

Richard N. Haass: Zócalo presents the author of “War of Necessity, War of Choice: A Memoir of Two Iraq Wars” in a discussion: “When Should the U.S. Go to War?” www.zocalopublicsquare.org. RAND Corp., 1776 Main St., Santa Monica. 7:30 p.m. Free.

Danzy Senna: The author of “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” will read and sign her new memoir. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

TUESDAY

Gene Baur: The author of “Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food” will present and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. noon. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Christopher Buckley: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “Losing Mum and Pup” in conversation with Times columnist Gregory Rodriguez. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Full; standby only. (213) 228-7025.

Barry Gifford: The author of “The Imagination of the Heart” will read and sign his new novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Denise Hamilton: The author of “The Last Embrace” will read and discuss her noir novel. Palms-Rancho Park Library, 2920 Overland Ave., L.A. 6:30 p.m. Free. (310) 840-2142.

Danzy Senna: The author of “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” will read and sign her new memoir. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Alice Waters: The acclaimed chef, co-owner of Chez Panisse and proponent of the “Slow Food” movement will discuss her work in the Edible Schoolyard program. A book signing will follow the event. Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. 7 p.m. $10-$30. (917) 825-6505.

Whizin Center for Continuing Education Public Lecture Series: Madeleine Albright, Jehan Sadat and Dahlia Rabin will discuss issues that impact the Middle East. Gibson Amphitheatre, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. 7:30 p.m. $50. (310) 440-1246.

WEDNESDAY

James Frey and Chad Kultgen: The authors of the novels “Bright Shiny Morning” and “The Lie,” respectively, will read and sign their books. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Barry Gifford: The author will read and sign his new book, “The Imagination of the Heart: Book Seven of the Story of Sailor and Lula.” Diesel Bookstore, 225 26th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 576-9960.

Diane Hammond: The author of “Hannah’s Dream” will discuss and sign her book and give a slide presentation on the killer whale who inspired her novel. Village Books, 1049 Swarthmore Ave., Pacific Palisades. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 454-4063.

Josh Kun: The author of “And You Shall Know Us by the Trail of Our Vinyl: The Jewish Past as Told by the Records We Have Loved and Lost” will discuss and sign his book. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. $5-$10. (310) 440-4500.

David Pabian: The author of “Leatherstone” will read and sign his reinterpretation of the Frankenstein story. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

Colson Whitehead: Aloud at Central Library presents the author of “Sag Harbor” in conversation with Adam Bradley. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (213) 228-7025.

THURSDAY

Reza Aslan: The author of “How to Win a Cosmic War” will present and sign his new book. Borders Books & Music, 1360 Westwood Blvd., Westwood. 7:30 p.m. Free. (310) 475-3444.

Lynn Freed: The author of “The Servants’ Quarters” will read and sign her new novel. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

James Frey: The author of “Bright Shiny Morning” will read and sign his novel. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Candace Walsh, Laura Andre, H.K. Brown and Elaine Soloway: Contributors to “Ask Me About My Divorce: Women Open Up About Moving On” will discuss the new collection of essays. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

WOM-PO Anthology Reading: Contributors to the new anthology “Letters to the World: Poems From the WOM-PO Listserv,” Ann Fisher-Wirth, Kate Gale, Catherine Daly and Cati Porter, will read their work. Pharmaka, 101 W. 5th St., L.A. 8 p.m. $5. (213) 689-7799.

FRIDAY

Mark Arax: The author of “West of the West” will present and sign his new book. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Free. (626) 449-5320.

Black & Tan Poetry Series: Rafael Alvarado hosts this monthly reading series; this installment will feature poets Judi Smolker and A.K. Toney. An open reading will follow. Stories, 1716 Sunset Blvd., L.A. 8 p.m. Free. (213) 413-3733.

Aaron Cohen: The author of “Brotherhood of Warriors: Behind Enemy Lines With a Commando in One of the World’s Most Elite Counterterrorism Units” will present and sign his new book. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Kim Stringfellow and Chris Carraher: The author of the forthcoming “Jackrabbit Homestead: Tracing the Small Tract Act in the Southern California Landscape, 1938-2008” and the Wonder Valley artist will discuss the legacy of the Small Tract Act and jack-rabbit homesteading in the Joshua Tree area. Farmlab, 1745 N. Spring St., No. 4, L.A. noon. Free. (323) 226-1158.

SATURDAY

Paul Cook: The author of “Cooked in LA: I Shot for the Stars and Hit Bottom” will present and sign his new memoir. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 5 p.m. Free. (310) 659-3110.

Alvaro Uribe & Cristina Rivera-Garza: The editor and contributor to the new anthology “Best of Contemporary Mexican Fiction” will present and sign the new book. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 5 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175.

NEXT SUNDAY

Amanda Ackerman, Marcia Arrieta, Deborah Meadows and Joseph Mosconi: The poets will read and discuss their work. REDCAT at Walt Disney Concert Hall, 631 W. 2nd St., L.A. 2:30 p.m. Free.