Further Reading

Non-fiction

The Battle in Seattle: The Story Behind and Beyond the WTO Demonstrations, by Janet Thomas. Analysis of the events surrounding the violent clashes that took place in Seattle in 1999.

Boeing Versus Airbus: The Inside Story of the Greatest International Competition in Business, by John Newhouse.

Business @ the Speed of Thought, by Bill Gates. Microsoft CEO Bill Gates makes the case that businesses must make use of technology to succeed.

Eccentric Seattle: Pillars and Pariahs Who Made the City Not Such a Boring Place After All, by J. Kingston Pierce. A good read to get to know the characters of the early days, and how their influence is still felt in Seattle.

The Great Northwest Nature Factbook: A Guide to the Region’s Remarkable Animals, Plants and Natural Features, by Ann Saling.

Journals, by Kurt Cobain. The lead singer of Nirvana in his own words.

Native Peoples of the Northwest: A Traveler’s Guide to Land, Art and Culture, by Jan Halliday. Highly informative guide to places of interest related to Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest and their culture, arts, and history.

Native Visions: Evolution in Northwest Coast Art from the 18th Through the 20th Century, by Steven C. Brown, Seattle Art Museum. A noted carver himself, Brown traces the ever-changing Native coastal art from some of the earliest documented artifacts to contemporary works.

Of Men and Mountains: The Classic Memoir of Wilderness Adventure, by William O. Douglas. Inspirational book revealing a love and deep knowledge of the Cascade Mountains and the adventures of young men in the early 1900s.

Pour Your Heart into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time, by Howard Schultz and Dori Jones Yang. The chronicle of the Seattle-based coffee empire, written by the CEO.

Redhook: Beer Pioneer, by Peter J. Krebs. The struggles and triumphs of a fledgling brewery that became a star in the Northwest’s craft-brewing industry.

Seattle and the Demons of Ambition, by Fred Moody. The former managing editor of the Seattle Weekly provides an interesting perspective on Seattle in the 1990s.

Seattle Cityscape #2, by Victor Steinbrueck. Evocative sketches of the city by talented architect and civic activist.

Shaping Seattle Architecture: A Historical Guide to the Architects, by Jeffrey Karl Ochsner, editor. Engaging words and pictures about the city’s diverse architectural styles.

Skid Road: An Informal Portrait of Seattle, by Murray Morgan. Morgan paints a great narrative of Seattle’s history and its wild characters.

Wet and Wired: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Pacific Northwest, by Randy Hodges and Steve McLellan. A humorous take on the arts, food, music, and attractions of the Northwest.

Fiction

Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, by EL James. These wildly popular S&M-tinged erotic novels are based in Seattle.

Hannah West in the Belltown Towers, by Linda Johns. A mystery, with a sleuthing 12-year-old protagonist in a Seattle high-rise.

Longtime Gone, by J.A. Jance. Heart-stopping suspense and local flavor in this thriller revolving around a Seattle investigator.

Snow Falling on Cedars, by David Guterson. A riveting tale set on a fictional island based on Bainbridge Island in the Puget Sound.

Ten Little Indians, by Sherman Alexie. Wise, funny and touching stories about modern Native Americans by this Seattle resident and Native American.

Twilight series, by Stephenie Meyer. The best-selling vampire romance series set in the small logging town of Forks, Washington.

Waxwings, by Jonathan Raban. British expat Raban’s novel, set in his adopted hometown of Seattle, follows the story of two immigrants and their struggles of exile and settling into a foreign land.

When She Flew, by Jennie Shortridge. Local author weaves a compelling tale based on a true story.

Other Insight Guides

Insight Guides publishes numerous other guides covering the United States, from Alaska to Florida, and New England to California. One title, USA On the Road, suggests itineraries designed to explore every part of the country. Insight City Guides include Boston, Las Vegas, New York, and San Francisco.