‘Lessons Learned the Hard Way’ From a Speaker’s Rocky Road

Newt Gingrich, leader of the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, says his tenure as House speaker has been marked by both “unprecedented accomplishment and unprecedented conflict.”

It is a tenure in which, he says, he has endured unrelenting media scrutiny and “learned some difficult lessons that will shape my outlook forever.”

His new book, “Lessons Learned the Hard Way: A Personal Report” (HarperCollins; $25), is “a summation of these lessons,” he says.

Gingrich will do his only Orange County signing at noon Tuesday at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda. Only books purchased at the library gift shop will be signed.

Also This Week

* Mystery writer Carroll Lachnit, author of “A Blessed Death,” will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Fullerton Public Library, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave.

* “In the Company of Women,” a poetry reading featuring Donna Gebron, Jana McCarthy, Monica Brett-Serle and Catherine Spear, will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Barnes & Noble in Metro Pointe, 901 South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa.

* Magda Gerber and Allison Johnson, co-authors of “Your Self-Confident Baby,” will speak and sign at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble in Metro Pointe, 901 S. Coast Drive, Costa Mesa.

* Lawrence Schultz, author of “American Streets,” will read and sign at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble in Triangle Square, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa.

* Phil Stevens will read from “Stone Soup for the World,” a collection of inspirational stories of individuals who have helped improve lives and communities, at 7 p.m. Friday at Barnes & Noble in Metro Pointe, 901 South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa.

* Ann Hazard, author of “Cooking with Baja Magic,” will sign at 7 p.m. Friday at Barnes & Noble in the Huntington Beach Mall, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach. She will also sign at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble in Triangle Square, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa.

* CNN political commentator Jeff Greenfield will speak at 7 p.m. Friday at the Newport Beach Public Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach. Tickets: $20. For reservations, call (714) 644-3296.

* Bev Gillett and Laurey Venn, authors of “One Day Self-Guided Tours of Southern California,” will sign at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, 13712 Jamboree Road, Irvine.

* Poets Florinda Mintz and Marc Petri will read at 8 p.m. Saturday in Argyros Forum at Chapman University, 333 N. Glassell St., Orange. Admission: $4.

* Nevada Barr, author of “Blind Descent,” will sign at 1 p.m. Saturday at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange.

* Cartoonist Kevin Fagan will sign copies of “Son of Drabble” at 3 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble in the Huntington Beach Mall, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach.

* Disneyland and Disney film chronicler David Koenig, author of “Mouse Tales” and “Mouse Under Glass,” will sign at 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, 26751 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo.

* Children’s book illustrator Michael Martchenko, who has illustrated more than 20 books, including “Thomas’ Snowsuit,” will speak, draw and sign at 11 a.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, 26751 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo.