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.
Southeast Asia Wildlife, A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Animals
by James Kavanagh
A laminated, pocket-sized reference to 140 birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians common to Southeast Asian. Each is profiled with detailed illustrations and easy-to-read descriptions.
The King Never Smiles, A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej
by Paul M. Handley
A balanced biography of Thailand's powerful king, a constitutional monarch who came to the throne of his country from the United States in 1946.
Bangkok 8, A Novel
by John Burdett
In this gritty, humorous and gruesome thriller, Burdett explores the criminal underworld of Bangkok and a series of mysterious deaths. Burdett's hero, Sonchai Jitpleecheep, becomes obsessed with finding the killer when his own partner is murdered.
Anna and the King of Siam
by Margaret Landon
The enduring, fanciful tale of a governess in mid-19th century Siam, which is the basis for the hit musical production The King and I.
Thailand, Traveller's Wildlife Guide
by David L. Pearson
Featuring full-color illustrations of 600 of Thailand's most common birds, mammals, reef fish, insects, amphibians and reptiles.
DK Eyewitness Top Ten Bangkok
by Eyewitness Guides
This slim guide, geared for visitors on a short stay, features color photographs and maps.
The Mekong, Turbulent Past, Uncertain Future
by Milton Osborne
A cultural history of the great river from prehistory to European exploration, colonial tensions and modern challenges. It's an engaging introduction to the history of Southeast Asia.
Bangkok, Recipes and Stories from the Heart of Thailand
by Leela Punyaratabandhu
With 120 recipes and location photography, this deeply personal ode to Thai food features heirloom family dishes, restaurant classics, modern cosmopolitan fare and street eats. A splendid way to experience the food that Thai people eat every day.
A Traveller's History of Southeast Asia
by J.M. Barwise, Nicholas J. White
A compact history of the region, including the Khmer and the various ancient kingdoms that produced Borobudur, Angkor and other architectural marvels.
The Golden Lands, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand & Vietnam
by Vikram Lall
The product of 25 years of research into Buddhist architecture, this survey takes us from the monastic complexes of India to the dzongs of Bhutan, inside the wats of Southeast Asia and through the simple wooden shrines of Japan. Gorgeously illustrated throughout with color photos and 3D renderings.
Sightseeing, Stories
by Rattawut Lapcharoensap
Lapcharoensap's remarkable debut collection of seven stories includes sharp, funny portraits of contemporary Thailand and its generation gap.
Birds of Thailand
by Craig Robson
A compact, comprehensive guide with 128 color plates by a team of illustrators. Robson is also the author of the authoritative Birds of Southeast Asia.
Culture Smart! Thailand
by Roger Jones
A concise, no-nonsense guide to local customs, etiquette and culture with practical travel advice and a short overview of the land and people.
Thailand Adventure Map
by National Geographic Society
A detailed relief map at a scale of 1:1,300,000.
What the Buddha Taught
by Walpola Sri Rahula
A classic introduction to Buddhism by a respected monk and scholar from Sri Lanka. Provides translations from original texts with explanations for Western readers. A good foundation for anyone interested in understanding the foundations of Buddhism.
The River's Tale, A Year on the Mekong
by Edward Gargan
A personal, probing chronicle of a 3,000-mile journey on the river from its source in China through Tibet, Burma, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam.
Thailand, The Cookbook
by Jean-Pierre Gabriel
With depth and dexterity, Gabriel explains ingredients and authentic techniques for 500 authentic Thai snacks, drinks, curries, stir fry, desserts and more.
Eyewitness Guide Thailand
by Eyewitness Guides
A compact illustrated guide featuring color photographs, excellent maps and a regional overview of Thailand's natural and cultural attractions.
Bangkok, A Cultural History
by Maryvelma O'Neil
O'Neil illuminates a city rich in art, history, royal ceremony and tradition in this engaging portrait.
Killed at the Whim of a Hat
by Colin Cotterill
First in the Jimm Juree mystery series. Cotterill trades in Laos -- and the elderly Dr. Paiboun -- for Jimm Juree, "a feisty Thai lady journalist with relatives that make the Adams family look like Alexander McCall Smith characters," for this wry book set in a dusty resort along the Gulf of Siam.
Letters from Thailand, A Novel
by Botan, Susan Fulop Kepner (Translator)
A prize-winning novel first published in 1969 and newly translated into English. Taking the form of a series of letters back home to his mother, it follows the fate of Tan Suang U, a Chinese immigrant in Bangkok at the close of World War II, who marries, raises a family and runs a successful business. The novel, among its many pleasures, depicts daily life in Bangkok's thriving Chinatown.
