Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on
bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Early Pasadena (Images of America)
by Cedar Imboden Phillips
Synonymous with roses because of its annual Rose Parade®, Pasadena has a history that extends beyond the fragrant flower. Through historic photos, this Images of America installment covers the evolution of the city.
California, A History
by Kevin Starr
A lively short history in the excellent Modern Library Chronicles series, written by a renowned historian.
The Golden West, Hollywood Stories
by Daniel Fuchs
This marvelous collection of stories and essays from Sunny California, many originally appearing in The New Yorker and Commentary, capture the spirit (and personalities) of Hollywood in the heyday of the studio era.
Lonely Planet Los Angeles & Southern California
by Lonely Planet Publications
This practical guide to Los Angeles, San Diego, and Southern California features maps, a good overview of culture, history and nature, and plenty of information on excursions, accommodations and sightseeing. Includes color photographs and excellent travel information.
The Golden Shore, California's Love Affair With the Sea
by David Helvarg
In this eminently readable and well-researched tribute, Helvarg, an environmental journalist and filmmaker, considers the crosscurrents of culture, history, economy and myth that come together on the state’s golden shores.
A Rose by Any Name
by Douglas Brenner, Stephen Scanniello
This social and cultural history of the rose touches on art, literature, science, technology and history as the authors impart fun trivia about the world’s most beloved flower. Includes full-color art throughout.
Tales of the Rose Tree, Ravishing Rhododendrons and Their Travels Around the World
by Jane Brown
An English garden writer, Brown offers an entertaining, learned whirlwind tour through the social, commercial and botanical history of the much-loved ornamental, including a roundup of early collecting forays into Asia and the Himalayas.
The Rose Bowl
by Michelle L. Turner
A tribute to the Rose Bowl stadium, with photos from the archives of the Pasadena Museum of History, that highlights memorable sports moments as well as the stadium's role in Pasadena's cultural life.