Recommended Books & Films

Studying up on Mexico can be one of the most fun bits of "research" you'll ever do. If you'd like to learn a bit more about this fascinating country before you go -- which I encourage -- these books and movies are enjoyable ways to do it.

Books

History & Culture -- For an overview of pre-Hispanic cultures, pick up a copy of Michael D. Coe's Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs (Thames & Hudson, 1994) or Nigel Davies's Ancient Kingdoms of Mexico (Penguin, 1991). Richard Townsend's The Aztecs (Thames & Hudson, 2000) is a thorough, well-researched examination of the Aztec and the Spanish conquest. For the Maya, Michael Coe's The Maya (Thames & Hudson, 2005) is probably the best general account. For a survey of Mexican history through modern times, A Short History of Mexico by J. Patrick McHenry (Doubleday, 1970) provides a complete, yet concise account.

For contemporary Mexican culture, start with Octavio Paz's classic, The Labyrinth of Solitude (Grove Press, 1985), which still generates controversy among Mexicans. For those already familiar with Mexico and its culture, Guillermo Bonfil's Mexico Profundo: Reclaiming a Civilization (University of Texas Press, 1996) is a rare bottom-up view of Mexico today.

Lesley Byrd Simpson's Many Mexicos (University of California Press, 1966) provides a comprehensive account of Mexican history with a cultural context. A classic on understanding the culture of this country is Distant Neighbors, by Alan Riding (Vintage, 1989).

Books on the history of mainland Mexico abound, but Baja's history is just as fascinating, although worlds apart. Check out Harry W. Crosby's The Cave Paintings of Baja California (Sunbelt Publications, 1997), a book that delves into the history and mystery of indigenous people long forgotten.

Miraculous Air (Milkweed Editions, 2007), a fictionlike travel memoir by C.M. Mayo, takes the reader on a journey through the history, culture, economics, and lifestyle of the entire Baja peninsula. John Steinbeck's The Log from the Sea of Cortez (Penguin Classics, 1951), while technical in spots, also is a must for those impassioned by Baja's sea. And for those looking for a whimsical take on Baja life, plus regional recipes, it doesn't get any better than Ann Hazard's Cooking with Baja Magic Dos (Renegade Enterprises, 1995), the sequel to her first cookbook of the same name.

Art & Architecture -- Art and Time in Mexico: From the Conquest to the Revolution, by Elizabeth Wilder Weismann (Harper & Row, 1985), covers religious, public, and private architecture. Casa Mexicana, by Tim Street-Porter (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 1989), takes readers through the interiors of some of Mexico's finest homes-turned-museums, public buildings, and private homes.

Folk Treasures of Mexico, by Marion Oettinger (Harry N. Abrams, 1990), is the fascinating story behind the 3,000-piece Mexican folk-art collection amassed by Nelson Rockefeller over a 50-year period.

Maya Art and Architecture, by Mary Ellen Miller (Thames & Hudson, 1999) showcases the best of the artistic expression of this culture, with interpretations into its meanings.

For a wonderful read on the food of the Yucatán and Mexico, pick up Mexico, One Plate at a Time, by celebrity chef and Mexico aficionado Rick Bayless (Scribner, 2000).

Nature -- A Naturalist's Mexico, by Roland H. Wauer (Texas A&M UP, 1992), is a fabulous guide to birding. Norman C. Roberts' Baja California Plant Field Guide (Longitude Books, 1989) is a fascinating illustrated guide to everything that grows in Baja.

Movies

Mexico has served as a backdrop for countless movies. Here are just a few of my favorites, all available on DVD.

The 2003 blockbuster Frida, starring Salma Hayek and Alfred Molina, is not only an entertaining way to learn about two of Mexico's most famous personalities, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, but also of its history. The exquisite cinematography perfectly captures Mexico's inherent spirit of magic realism.

Que Viva México is a little-known masterpiece by Russian filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein, who created a documentary of Mexican history, politics and culture, out of a series of short novellas, which ultimately tie together. Although Eisenstein's budget ran out before he could complete the project, in 1979, this film was completed by Grigory Alexandrov, the film's original producer. It's an absolute must for anyone interested in Mexico or Mexican cinema.

Mexico's contemporary filmmakers are creating a sensation lately, and none more so than director Alfonso Cuarón. One of his early and highly acclaimed movies is the 2001 classic Y Tu Mamá También (And Your Mother, Too), featuring current heartthrobs Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna. This sexy, yet compelling, coming-of-age movie not only showcases both the grit and beauty of Mexico, but the universality of love and life lessons.

Like Water for Chocolate is the 1993 film based on the book of the same name by Laura Esquivel, filmed by the author's husband, acclaimed contemporary Mexican director Alfonso Arau. Expect to be very hungry after watching this lushly visual film, which tells the story of a young woman who suppresses her passions under the watchful eye of a stern mother, and channels them into her cooking. In the process, we learn of the traditional norms of Mexican culture, and a great deal of the country's culinary treasures.