Travel and background reading
The Labyrinth of Solitude by Octavio Paz (1950) — Mexico's Nobel laureate examines Mexican identity, history, and the national psyche. Dense but essential for understanding the country's cultural self-image.
Mexico by Lonely Planet or Rough Guides — Updated regularly, these are the standard practical references for travelers. Worth buying a current edition before a long trip.
The Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Díaz del Castillo — A soldier's firsthand account of Cortés's conquest, written decades later. Vivid, opinionated, and strangely readable.
Like Water for Chocolate (Como agua para chocolate) by Laura Esquivel — A love story set in northern Mexico, intertwined with traditional recipes. A good entry point into Mexican magical realism.
The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow — A brutal, thoroughly researched novel about the Mexican drug trade from the 1970s through the 1990s. Not a travel book, but it provides context for the forces that shaped modern Mexico.
Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo (1955) — A short, haunting novel considered the masterpiece of Mexican literature. Gabriel García Márquez claimed he could recite it from memory.
On Mexican food
Mexico from the Inside Out by Enrique Olvera — The chef behind Pujol in Mexico City writes about Mexican cuisine and its evolution. Beautiful book for food-focused travelers.
Decolonize Your Diet by Luz Calvo and Catriona Rueda Esquibel — Explores the pre-colonial food traditions of Mexico and the borderlands.