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Editor’s Note: This is an updated and expanded version of an earlier post from 2017. For more book content, check out my new blog, leerlatam.com, which is entirely dedicated to Latin American literature written by women, non-binary and gender non-conforming writers.
You are reading: Books about mexican culture
Not long ago, I read a brilliant article about books that will help you understand the Caribbean and I thought, I’m definitely stealing that idea because nothing is sacred and nobody is original. That’s how this piece about essential books about Mexico and Mexican culture came about.
Even though I read a lot in English and Spanish, I was initially a little stumped as to what to include in this roundup of the best Mexican non-fiction books, both in English and Spanish, until I put metaphorical pen to paper metaphorical that is. That’s when the titles (some of which I’ve read and some I haven’t, this is basically a personal must-read list for me too) spilled over.
So, if you’re interested in learning more about Mexican food, history, culture, and more, these are the books for you. Are you more interested in fiction? this post (coming soon) has a bunch of ‘mexico in fiction’ book recommendations, while this one is about contemporary mexican writers.
essential books about mexico
Shop the (almost) complete list at bookshop.org and support independent booksellers!
culture | food + drink | history | travel notebook
mexico city reader for several
Before I start the list, I have to recommend the Mexico City reader. this book is (as far as I know) out of print and somewhat hard to come by, but I think most decent (read: big) libraries will have a copy or two. The ideal starting point for people who want to learn about Mexico City, the Mexico City Reader is a compendium of texts, from the journalistic to the fictional, that analyze the Mexican capital in all its splendor.
culture
This is the largest and most nebulous category that includes books on narcoculture, feminism, racism, and subcultures, as well as satirical essays on life in Mexico.
language-english
mexican postcardsby carlos monsivÁis
short essays on relatively recent Mexican history and culture by one of Mexico’s most prolific writers. Ideal if you are looking for an introduction to life in Mexico.
mourning of cristina rivera garza
I was kindly sent an advanced copy of the duel by cristina rivera garza e-book after requesting it from the feminist press. An incredible combined collection of personal essays, journalistic writings, and more, Dueling investigates and explores the violence that pervades Mexico and the borderlands, as well as the role dueling plays in resistance.
Related reading: 5 of the best publishers of Latin American literature in translation
cholombians by amanda watkins
I bought this book after seeing I’m not here anymore because of course I did, but I have to say I’ve been looking at it for a long time. A combination of photography and a bilingual background story on the Kolombian subculture and the Cholombian style, it’s a great book for anyone who wants to know more about the less discussed elements of Mexican culture.
Related reading: must-see Mexican films from the satirical to the sublime
the labyrinth of solitude by octavio paz
Full disclosure: I haven’t read anything by Octavio Paz. but Labyrinth of Solitude, his acclaimed book-length essay on Mexican identity, albeit dated, may be worth a read if that’s something that interests you. note that he absolutely accepts the notion that all Mexicans are mestizo (indigenous and Spanish), which is incorrect. however, it is considered by many to be one of the most important books on Mexico.
Related reading: Afro-Mexicans (re)exist: A brief history of Afro-Mexicanity
infamy of lydia cacho
lydia cacho is one of the most incisive journalists in mexico, known for exposing and denouncing the circles of pornography in the upper echelons of mexican society. This memoir details the aftermath of those revelations, during which she was arrested, tortured and abused in police custody, and the impunity of the Mexican government in the face of such events.
the pains of mexico for several
A collection of essays by some of the best Mexican journalists working today, las penas de méxico looks at some of the country’s most recent failures, from enforced disappearances to street children, ‘drug wars’, police violence and impunity.
Spanish language
See Also: Sarah Maas’ New ‘Crescent City’ Is A Fantasy Murder Mystery — And A Love Story : NPR
if you speak spanish (or should you read it in spanish?), then definitely also look for these books on mexico that haven’t been translated yet.
alphabet of mexican racism by federico navarrete
I bought this book on a whim; I guess it appeared as an ad somewhere. However, I am very glad I did, because writer and historian Federico Navarrete’s short, alphabetically arranged essays on the various facets of racism in Mexican culture are accessible and interesting. The only downside is that, for now, this book is only available in Spanish.
buy in mexico
malayerbaby javier valdez cÁrdenas
A relentless look at what life is like under the drug regime in northern Mexico by journalist Javier Váldez Cárdenas, this book is actually a compilation of the columns he wrote for the newspaper Ríodoce.
buy in mexico
instructions for living in mexico by jorge ibargÜengoitia
I love, love, love this book and it was perhaps one of the first collections of essays I tackled in Spanish. Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand a little more about Mexican culture, from the peculiarities of the language to the endless sound of car horns, before moving to or visiting Mexico.
Despite finding the sections on Mexican heroes a bit tedious, the rest was hilarious, dark, disturbing and witty all at once, with a knack for highlighting Mexico’s penchant for bureaucracy.
buy in mexico
new instructions to live in mexico for several
I just bought a copy of new instructions for living in mexico from home taken here in mexico city. A collection of essays by dozens of Mexican writers, this book addresses, updates, and reflects on the writing of Ibargüengoitia.
buy in mexico
tsunami for several
A collection of feminist essays edited by Gabriela Jauregui, Tsunami brings together different perspectives on feminism from prolific Mexican writers and activists like Yásnaya Elena A. gil, vivian abenshushan and cristina rivera garza.
buy in mexico
related reading: review: tsunami and tsunami 2, edited by gabriela jauregui
#they speak by lydia cacho
#They Speak features testimonials from Mexican men from across the country, collected and collated by Lydia Cacho, who speak about violence, machismo and more in an attempt to understand where this culture comes from. so to speak.
buy in mexico
the glow of the night by marta lamas
Marta Lamas is a fundamental Mexican feminist, who for years has led the fight for legal abortion and better reproductive services in this highly conservative Catholic country. She is also an anthropologist and recently published a text about sex workers on the streets of Mexico City, El fulgor de la noche, which she bought by chance.
In it, Lamas takes an academic yet accessible look at the state of sex work in Mexico City and thoughtfully argues why it should be decriminalized, though the best parts are definitely the verbatim interviews with the sex workers themselves.
buy in mexico
food + drink
See Also: Jack Ryan Reading Order: How to read Tom Clancy&039s books?
This section is about food writing, not cookbooks.
oaxaca drinks for several
Available in English and Spanish, Bebidas de Oaxaca is a wonderful book that combines advertising notes on various Oaxacan drinks accompanied by incredible photos that make it the perfect text for the coffee table.
Buy directly from the publisher here (international)
Related reading: An introduction to 33 traditional Mexican drinks
tacopedia of several
I tried to buy this book directly from trilce publishing house but it was out of print for a long time; However, I’m sure you can find it in many independent and online bookstores in and outside of Mexico. Anyway, what I mean is that although I haven’t read it, I have had the tachograph map on my wall for years. read this book if you want your eyes to be opened to the wonderful world of tacos.
story
Mexican history books, I don’t know what else I can say? Titles in English and Spanish. And it goes without saying, but to avoid sarcasm in advance, this is not an exhaustive selection. obviously.
a massacre in mexico by anabel hernÁndez
A look back at the horrific events of 2014, when 43 Mexican students in Ayotzinapa were forcibly disappeared (read: murdered) on the purported orders of the Mexican government.
it should be added that the title of hernández’s book is surely a nod to poniatowska’s night of tlatelolco, since both deal with massacres of students at the hands of the mexican government. yes, not much has changed on that front in mexico in the last 50 years.
democracy interrupted by jo tuckman
I haven’t read Democracy Interrupted by the late British journalist Jo Tuckman, but if you’re interested in learning more about contemporary Mexico, from the ‘war on drugs’ to politics, then this is essential reading.
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méxico is spelled with j by michael karl schuessler and miguel capistrÁn
queer history is history, and mexico is spelled with j provides a compelling overview (in Spanish) of gay history in mexico, as well as culture, art, literature, and more, through dozens of essays .
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FYI: The title is a play on the fact that Mexico is often spelled with a ‘j’ or ‘jota’, a word similar to ‘joto’, which is used to refer to gay men in mexico.
fifth sun by camilla townsend
A sympathetic look at the Aztecs, Fifth Sun is based on original texts written by the indigenous people themselves – that is, this is not written from the perspective of the Spanish colonizers like much Mexican history. According to the propaganda, “the conquest, in this work, is not an apocalyptic moment, nor is it a story of origin that launches Mexicans into existence.” I can’t wait to have a copy here in Mexico.
travelogue
Mostly non-Mexicans writing about their travels in Mexico.
mornings in mexico by d.h. lawrence
It’s problematic to learn about a country only through the eyes of foreign interlopers (ahem, hello!), and yet these accounts, while obviously dated, can be interesting as long as you take them with a grain of salt. This collection of essays by British writer D.H. Lawrence is one of the ‘classics’ in the Mexican travelogue genre and a highly recommended book on Mexico. however, I still prefer lady chatterley’s lover ~scandalous and crafty~. (can’t wait to see how all the hating readers react when I swear on my own blog!)
first stop in the new world by david lida
Touted as the definitive title on 21st century Mexico City. the people who advertised this book clearly haven’t read my blog! – the first stop in the new world dives deep into mexico city charting the ups and downs of the megalopolis i call home.
bottom & raving in mexico city: the aztec metropolis in the 21st century by daniel hernandez
& raving in mexico city. even first stop david lida called this book about mexico essential reading.
Are there other must-read books on Mexican history, culture, and food that I missed? let me know in the comments!
See Also: Free Beginning Reading Program, Sam Books – Homeschool Den