Your Oaxacan journey can begin before you ever leave home.

Here are a few favorite books about Oaxaca we suggest for anyone who is curious about our favorite place in the world.

• Oliver Sacks, Oaxaca Journal A trip to see ferns in Mexico turns into a meditation on Mesoamerican civilization,chocolate, agriculture, mescal, and amateur naturalists, by the renowned neurologist and author.

• Paul Theroux, On the Plain of Snakes In one of Theroux’s great adventures, a solo road trip from Reynosa to Chiapas and back, he spends time in Oaxaca reflecting on his own life and career and the myths and realities of modern Mexico.

• Mary Jane Gagnier De Mendoza, Oaxaca Celebration: Family, Food, and Fiestas in Teotitlan Explore Zapotec rituals and traditions as they are celebrated by many Teotitlan del Valle families.

• Keith Recker, True Colors Presenting the work and vision of twenty-six natural dye artists from around the world, including Juana Gutierrez, our dear friend and collaborator in our educational programs.

• Ron Cooper and Chantal Martineau, Finding Mezcal Cooper, a leading voice in the artisanal mezcal movement, shares everything he knows about this storied, culturally significant spirit that defines Oaxaca for many people.

• Lynn Stephen Zapotec Women: Gender, Class, and Ethnicity in Globalized Oaxaca A detailed study of how the lives of women weavers and merchants in Teotitlán del Valle have changed in response to the international demand for Oaxacan textiles.

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• An overview of Oaxaca’s geography, indigenous cultures, languages and regions written by John Schmal: /www.indigenousmexico.org/articles/oaxaca-a-land-of-amazing-diversity

• The Zapotec Language Project a collaboration between linguists at the University of California, Santa Cruz and members of Zapotec language communities across Oaxaca