Books on LA (Non-fiction)
Explore the best non-fiction books on Los Angeles, featuring insightful reads on its history, culture, and iconic landmarks. Discover must-read LA books today!
Book
The Projects
by James Diego Vigil
2008 — ALLA Prize for Best Book on Latina/o Anthropology The Pico Gardens housing development in East Los Angeles has a high percentage of resident families with a history of persistent poverty, gang involvement, and crime. In some families, members of three generations have belonged to gangs. Many other Pico Gardens families, however, have managed to avoid the cycle of gang involvement. In this work, Vigil adds to the tradition of poverty research and elaborates on the association of family dynamics and gang membership. The main objective of his research was to discover what factors make some families more vulnerable to gang membership, and why gang resistance was evidenced in similarly situated non-gang-involved families. Providing rich, in-depth interviews and observations, Vigil examines the wide variations in income and social capital that exist among the ostensibly poor, mostly Mexican American residents. Vigil documents how families connect and interact with social agencies in greater East Los Angeles to help chart the routines and rhythms of the lives of public housing residents. He presents family life histories to augment and provide texture to the quantitative information. By studying life in Pico Gardens, Vigil feels we can better understand how human agency interacts with structural factors to produce the reality that families living in all public housing developments must contend with daily.
Book
Where the Locals Eat Los Angeles
by Charles Harris
Where the Locals Eat: Los Angeles spotlights the 100 best restaurants in Los Angeles, California. Whether you are a local, a tourist, or passionate foodie, this comprehensive guide provides the ultimate culinary snapshot of L.A., from diners and delis to the finest steak houses, sushi bars and New American hot spots. Perfect for a briefcase, purse or backpack, this pocket-sized guide also showcases hundreds of the best restaurants in America's largest cities.
