sunday/8
“Spain in Our Hearts.” Adam Hochschild of Berkeley discusses his book about the Spanish Civil War and American Jews who fought in it, told through characters such as Hemingway and Orwell. At Berkeley Central Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 2 p.m. Free. www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org. Also May 9 at Commonwealth Club, 555 Post St., S.F. 6 p.m. $20, students $7, members free. www.commonwealthclub.org (See story, 32)
monday/16
The battle for Pumpkin Hill. Matti Friedman’s latest book, “Pumpkinflowers,” recounts his experience with a band of Israeli soldiers who are tasked with securing a Lebanese hilltop against a backdrop of Middle East chaos and change in the late ’90s. The former Associated Press Jerusalem reporter will discuss his work with New Yorker staff writer Philip Gourevitch.
7 p.m. Monday, May 16 at JCCSF, 3200 California St., S.F. $27. www.jccsf.org
thursday/19
One Bay One Book talk. Scientists Rabbi Ilana Goldhaber-Gordon and her husband, David, discuss their love of Primo Levi’s “The Periodic Table.” At Congregation Beth Jacob, 1550 Alameda de Las Pulgas, Redwood City. 7:30 p.m. Free. www.tinyurl.com/onebay-cbj