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.
Vietnam, Rising Dragon
by Bill Hayton
The veteran BBC newsman covers the tangled politics, rapidly changing economy, culture, history and people of Vietnam with great insight in this timely portrait of a nation in transition.
The Eaves of Heaven, A Life in Three Wars
by Andrew X. Pham
Pham recounts the story of his father's life during the French occupation, Japanese invasion and the American War, weaving such momentous events with anecdotes from his childhood and details of family, friends, food and daily life.
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Map
by Nelles
A convenient, double-sided map of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam at a scale of 1:1,500,000, with city maps of Hanoi, Vientiane, Ho Chi Minh City, Luang Prabang, and Phnom Penh. Includes the eastern portion of Thailand and Bangkok.
Angkor: An Introduction to the Temples
by Dawn Rooney
Rooney’s Angkor: An Introduction to the Temples has grown in girth over the years, but remains one of
the most important and easy to understand guidebooks to the temples of Angkor. For those looking to
gain some insight on the temples before they go, use the maps and legends to help them explore the
temples’ features while in the park, or read after returning home to increase their understanding, this is
the book to buy.
Cambodia's Curse, The Modern History of a Troubled Land
by Joel Brinkley
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Joel Brinkley returns to Cambodia a generation after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime to report on the country's continuing struggle to recover from its past.
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".
A History of Cambodia
by David Chandler
An excellent, scholarly history from early civilization through the rise of Angkor, French colonial period, Vietnamization of Cambodia, Khmer Rouge and Coup de Force of 1997.
Birds of Southeast Asia
by Craig Robson
This authoritative, masterfully illustrated guide features 140 color plates covering 1,270 species from throughout the region including Malaysia, Burma, Borneo and Indonesia.
The Gods Drink Whiskey
by Stephen T. Asma
Asma writes with verve and wit in this eye-opening account of his yearlong stint teaching at the Buddhist Institute in Phnom Penh. His account is both an overview of Theravada Buddhism and a down-to-earth portrait of contemporary Cambodia.
The Road of Lost Innocence
by Somaly Mam
Sold into servitude by her grandfather, Mam recounts the experiences of her early life, her awakening as an activist -- and work to rescue thousands of women and children in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos.
Angkor and the Khmer Civilization
by David D. Coe
The author presents a concise but complete picture of Khmer cultural history from the Stone Age until the establishment of the French Protectorate in 1863, and is lavishly illustrated with maps, plans, drawings, and photographs.
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.
A Dragon Apparent, Travels in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
by Norman Lewis
A classic account of travels and adventure during the last years of French Indochina, strong on atmosphere and including wonderfully detailed descriptions of local cultures and archaeological treasures. First published in 1951.
Arts of Southeast Asia
by Fiona Kerlogue
A handsome guide to the art, architecture, textiles and crafts of Southeast Asia.
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 Asia. Each is profiled with detailed illustrations and easy-to-read descriptions.
Never Fall Down
by Patricia McCormick
An unforgettable story of Arn Chorn-Pond, who defied the odds to survive the Cambodian genocide of 1975-1979 and the labor camps of the Khmer Rouge. Based on the true story of a young boy, this novel is about a child of war who becomes a man of peace. It includes an author's note and acknowledgments from Arn Chorn-Pond himself.
Art & Architecture of Cambodia
by Helen Ibbitson Jessup
In the World of Art series illustrated overview of Angkor Wat, Banteay Srei and lesser-known recent discoveries in the surrounding jungle.
The Ravens
by Christopher Robbins
An in-depth look at the American government’s ‘secret war’ in Laos from 1961-75.
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.
Brother Number One: A Political Biography Of Pol Pot
by David P Chandler
A dramatic account of Pol Pot's rise to power in 1975 and his direction of Cambodia's auto-genocide. The book details an absorbing and authoritative portrait of Brother Number One and insight into Cambodia's cruel history.
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 Triangle: Inside Southeast Asia's Drug Trade
by Ko-Lin Chin
The Golden Triangle region that joins Burma, Thailand, and Laos is one of the global centers of opiate and methamphetamine production. Opportunistic Chinese businessmen and leaders of various armed groups are largely responsible for the manufacture of these drugs. The region is defined by the apparently conflicting parallel strands of criminality and efforts at state building, a tension embodied by a group of individuals who are simultaneously local political leaders, drug entrepreneurs, and members of heavily armed militias. Ko-lin Chin, a Chinese American criminologist who was born and raised in Burma, conducted five hundred face-to-face interviews with poppy growers, drug dealers, drug users, armed group leaders, law-enforcement authorities, and other key informants in Burma, Thailand, and China.
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.
A Short History of Laos, The Land in Between
by Grant Evans & Milton Osborne
A comprehensive history of Laos from the pre-modern dynastic era to the present day.
To Cambodia With Love
by Andy Brouwer
In this insightful guide of works of 50 writers on the history, culture and attractions of Cambodia, including Khmer specialist Dawn Rooney (Odyssey Guide Angkor) and memoirist Loung Ung (First They Killed My Father).
First They Killed My Father
by Loung Ung
A heart-wrenching historical autobiography that recounts the brutality of war with vivid detail. A story of political oppression in Cambodia, it is all the more striking and intense as it is told from the perspective of a child, one who is thrust into situations that she doesn't understand, as she is only five years old when the terror begins.
