by Josh Jackson
What Makes a Place Worth Protecting? Explore the Overlooked Wilderness of California’s Public Land
“Josh Jackson lives and breathes these lands. In them, it is clear he has discovered the secret heart of the West, and his approach to sharing it is full of genuine respect, enthusiastic admiration, and a love that shines like a sunrise.” —OBI KAUFMANN, author of The California Field Atlas
by Eddy Rubin, illustrated by Greg Wright
Part love letter, part guidebook, dive into this illustrated primer on the world-famous shoreline at San Francisco's outer rim
Scientist and surfer Eddy Rubin details the atmospheric forces that shape this shoreline and the plant and animal life teeming in the sea, soaring overhead, and burgeoning forth from its sands.
by Steve Wasserman
This exhilarating journey through the world of books delights and provokes
“With its deeply human portraits and incisive criticism, Tell Me Something, Tell Me Anything, Even If It’s a Lie is a record of a personal and intellectual journey like few others. A testament, above all, to a literary life lived to the fullest.” —HÉCTOR TOBAR
“A troublemaker of the good kind since his youth, Wasserman continues to inspire with his vigorous dedication to the life of the mind, exhibited with clarity and grace in this book.” —VIET THANH NGUYEN
by Gary L. Prost
A road trip through the geological wonders of California
“Geologist Prost takes us on a road trip to better understand California’s past. Blending science, history, and travel, he explores everything from the state’s earthquake activity to the messy legacy of the gold rush. Making 56 stops as he travels from the Marin coast to the Central Valley, Prost offers an engaging, in-depth look at the geology that continues to shape California and the lives of those who call it home.” —ALTA JOURNAL
by Tony Platt
An unflinching critical history of UC Berkeley
“Tony Platt’s The Scandal of Cal is a template for scrutinizing other land-grant universities with their pasts of land grabs and white supremacy.” —ROXANNE DUNBAR-ORTIZ, author of An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States
“A profound alternate institutional history, one that sees the long arm of institutional racism implicated everywhere.” —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
by Charles Hood
An adventurous, sometimes anxious, always surprising trip around the Pacific Rim
“Among nature writers now working, Charles Hood is my favorite. He never stops telling stories, and his perspective is fundamentally comic, even when he’s recounting a tragedy.” —JONATHAN FRANZEN
“Reading Hood’s work will make you feel smarter but, even more crucially in this dire age, more open to the sublime.” —LOS ANGELES TIMES
The Latest in News from Native California
This special summer issue is dedicated to California Native languages—Tolowa, Hupa, Karuk, Mono and more. Showcasing original poetry and tips for language reclamation, the features herein celebrate the polyphony of a new generation of Native speakers, language immersion communities, and the power of words—an indelible part of Indigenous heritage.
Recommended Reads
Summer Beach Reads About Actual Beaches
Water is a defining feature of California. From the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta to Lake Tahoe to the 1,200-mile long Golden Coast, these bodies of water draw tourists from near and far—both human and avian; their depths support abundant marine life; their flows influence our atmosphere; and, like many of our climate-sensitive systems, they face drastic changes on a warming planet. Thirsty to know more about them? Dive in to the books below.
Heyday is an independent publisher founded in 1974, headquartered in California. Over the last five decades, Heyday has dedicated itself to publishing books that delight in the Golden State’s natural splendor, explore its rich cultural history, amplify the voices of its first peoples, and advance social justice throughout the state and beyond. Since 1987, Heyday has also published the quarterly magazine News from Native California—celebrating Indigenous storytelling and culture-keeping. At Heyday, we believe that ideas matter, stories count, diversity of voices is crucial, and the book is still our best repository of knowledge and beauty.
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Heyday books promote civic engagement and social justice, celebrate nature’s beauty, center California Indian perspectives, and explore the state’s rich history, culture, and influence.
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