Further Reading

Fiction

Angle of Repose, by Wallace Stegner. A reflective, Pulitzer Prize−winning work by a master of Western literature.

Blinded, by Stephen White. A mystery series set in Boulder, Colorado.

Centennial, by James A. Michener. An intergenerational epic set mostly on the plains of eastern Colorado.

Eventide, by Kent Haruf. The lives, loves, and trials of a small town on the high plains of Colorado by the late Salida author.

Hells Bottom Colorado, by Laura Pritchett. Linked short stories about families and ranch life on Colorado’s high plains by an award-winning young author.

On the Road, by Jack Kerouac. Much of Kerouac’s Beat Generation classic takes place in Denver.

The Serpents Trail: A Maxie and Stretch Mystery, by Sue Henry. This instalment of the series takes place in and around Grand Junction, Colorado.

Nonfiction

Culture and current events

The Beast in the Garden: A Modern Parable of Man and Nature, by David Baron. A mountain lion attack in Colorado prompts the writer to explore human–wildlife relations.

Culinary Colorado: The Ultimate Food Lover’s Guide, by Claire Walter. An encyclopedic tour of Colorado’s food culture.

Deep in the Heart of the Rockies, by Ed Quillen. Wit and wisdom from a Denver Post columnist.

No Easy Answers: The Truth Behind Death at Columbine, by Brooks Brown and Rob Merritt. One of the better treatments of the tragic Columbine High School shooting.

Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: The Uncensored Story of the JonBenét Murder and the Grand Jury’s Search for the Final Truth, by Lawrence Schiller. An investigation into the unsolved murder of a six-year-old child.

The Spiral Notebook: The Aurora Theater Shooter and the Epidemic of Mass Violence Committed by American Youth by Stephen and Joyce Singular. What started out as an exploration of the Aurora theater shooting by true crime writers ends up examining how bloodthirsty video games, school bullying, prescription drugs, and ineffective courts create an impossible environment for today’s youth.

When I Was Cool: My Life at the Jack Kerouac School, by Sam Kashner. A memoir of the author’s experiences as a student at Boulder’s Naropa University.

Whiteout: Lost in Aspen, by Ted Conover. A memoir of the author’s experiences as a low-wage worker in high-rent Aspen. A revealing look at celebrity culture and the transformation of a former mining town.

History

Colorado: A History of the Centennial State, by Carl Abbot, Stephen J. Leonard and David McComb. Modern urbanization, multiculturalism, boosterism, and Colorado history.

Colorado: Yesterday & Today, by Joseph Collier and Grant Collier. The descendant of 19th-century photographer Joseph Collier examines Colorado through photographs.

Denver: From Mining Camp to Metropolis, by Stephen J. Leonard and Thomas J. Noel offers a thorough examination of the Mile High City, then and now.

Eccentric Colorado: A Legacy of the Bizarre and Unusual, by Kenneth Jessen. Weird and wonderful lore about life in the Colorado Rockies.

I Never Knew That About Colorado: A Quaint Volume of Forgotten Lore, by Abbott Fay. Entertaining collection of little-known facts about Colorado.

A Lady’s Life in the Rocky Mountains, by Isabella Lucy Bird. Memoir of a 19th-century Englishwoman’s life exploring the Colorado Rockies, alone and on horseback.

Money Mountain: The Story of Cripple Creek Gold, by Marshall Sprague. Truth is more fantastic than fiction in this enjoyable look at Cripple Creek history.

The Rockies, by David Lavender. The standard history on the Rockies by the late Colorado historian.

Roof of the Rockies: A History of Colorado Mountaineering, by William M. Bueler. Details fourteener summit climbs with photos.

Stampede to Timberline: The Ghost Towns and Mining Camps of Colorado, by Muriel Sibell. Oral histories of pioneers.

Utes: A Forgotten People, by Wilson Rockwell. The most complete history of the Utes available.

Travel

100 Classic Hikes in Colorado, by Scott S. Warren. A good trail companion.

Colorado Close-Up, text by Conger Beasley, photos by J.C. Leacock. Nature essays and photos by a Colorado writer/photographer team.

Colorado’s Fourteeners: From Hikes to Climbs, by Gerry Roach. Ambitious hikes over 14,000ft (4,270 meters).

Colorado Scenic Byways: Taking the Other Road, text by Susan Tweit, photos by Jim Steinberg. Award-winning celebration of Colorado’s backroads by a Salida naturalist.

Colorado Wildlife Viewing Guide, by Mary Taylor Young. Watchable wildlife in Colorado.

Complete Guide to Colorado’s Wilderness Areas, text by Mark Pearson, photos by John Fielder.

Guide to Colorado Wildflowers, by G.K. Guennel. Identify columbines and more.

Roadside Geology of Colorado, by Halka Chronic. An excellent series on state geology.