http://www.sfgate.com/books/article/Must-read-books-by-famous-Bay-Area-authors-11182925.php
Famous Bay Area authors' must-read books and lesser-known gems
Updated 2:27 pm, Sunday, June 4, 2017
Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti is a jewel of the San Francisco literary community, having founded City Lights Booksellers and Publishers in 1953. An ardent supporter of local writers – he even went to trial for publishing fellow Beat poet Allen Ginsberg's "Howl" – Ferlinghetti was a prolific author himself, best known for his collection of poetry "A Coney Island of the Mind."
lessMust-read book: "A Coney Island of the Mind"
Lesser-known gem: "Time of Useful Consciousness"
Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Photo: CHRISTINA KOCI HERNANDEZ, SFC
Poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti is a jewel of the San Francisco literary community, having founded City Lights Booksellers and Publishers in 1953. An ardent supporter of local writers – he
... moreUrsula K. Le Guin
Born in Berkeley, Ursula K. Le Guin has influenced generations of science fiction writers, including Salman Rushdie and David Mitchell, although she prefers to be referred to as an "American novelist." Le Guin moved to Portland, Ore., with her husband in 1958, where she remains to this day.
lessMust-read book: "The Farthest Shore"
Lesser-known gem: "Voices"
Ursula K. Le Guin
Photo: Robin Merchant, Getty Images
Born in Berkeley, Ursula K. Le Guin has influenced generations of science fiction writers, including Salman Rushdie and David Mitchell, although she prefers to be referred to as an "American
... moreDaniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket)
Prolific author Daniel Handler is a fixture in the Bay Area literary scene. His young adult novels "A Series of Unfortunate Events" have been adapted for film and, recently, a Netflix series. Last year, he founded Per Diem Press with his earnings from that aforementioned Netflix show. Read more about the poetry publisher in The San Francisco Chronicle.
lessMust-read book: "A Series of Unfortunate Events"
Lesser-known book: "We Are Pirates"
Daniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket)
Photo: Sarah Rice, Special To The Chronicle
Prolific author Daniel Handler is a fixture in the Bay Area literary scene. His young adult novels "A Series of Unfortunate Events" have been adapted for film and,
... moreThomas Keller
Thomas Keller, the renowned chef of Yountville's The French Laundry, writes about food, of course. He is the only American chef to have two Michelin three-star restaurants.
Must-read book: "The French Laundry Cookbook"
Lesser-known gem: "Under Pressure: Cooking Sous Vide"
lessThomas Keller
Photo: Eric Risberg, Associated Press
Thomas Keller, the renowned chef of Yountville's The French Laundry, writes about food, of course. He is the only American chef to have two Michelin three-star restaurants.
Must-read book:
... moreAlice Walker
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Color Purple" is a longtime Berkeley resident. She sold her luxurious Craftsman home last year.
Must-read book: "The Color Purple"
Lesser-known gem: "Overcoming Speechlessness: A Poet Encounters the Horror in Rwanda, Eastern Congo, and Palestine/Israel"
lessAlice Walker
Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Color Purple" is a longtime Berkeley resident. She sold her luxurious Craftsman home last year.
Must-read book: "The Color Purple"
Lesser-known gem:
... moreJack London
Jack London is such an essential part of the Bay Area's literary history, he has a square named after him in Oakland. As The San Francisco Chronicle wrote, "the Bay Area was in his DNA."
lessMust-read book: "The Call of the Wild"
Lesser-known gem: "The Star Rover"
Jack London
Photo: Hulton Archive, Getty Images
Jack London is such an essential part of the Bay Area's literary history, he has a square named after him in Oakland. As The San Francisco Chronicle wrote, "the Bay Area was in his DNA."
... moreMust-read
Rebecca Solnit
Credited with coining the term "mansplaining" in her book of essays, "Men Explain Things to Me," Rebecca Solnit has established herself as one of the premiere voices of liberal San Francisco in recent years. The Harper's columnist and New Yorker contributor lives in San Francisco.
Must-read book: "Infinite City: A San Francisco Atlas"
Lesser-known gem: "Hope in the Dark"
lessRebecca Solnit
Photo: Sallie Dean Shatz
Credited with coining the term "mansplaining" in her book of essays, "Men Explain Things to Me," Rebecca Solnit has established herself as one of the premiere voices of liberal San Francisco in
... moreAmy Tan
Tan's Bay Area roots are extensive. The Chinese-American author was born in Oakland, attended San Jose State University and now lives in San Francisco. Her most famous novel "The Joy Luck Club" is set in San Francisco.
Must-read book: "The Joy Luck Club"
Lesser-known gem: "The Bonesetter's Daughter"
lessAmy Tan
Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle
Tan's Bay Area roots are extensive. The Chinese-American author was born in Oakland, attended San Jose State University and now lives in San Francisco. Her most famous novel "The Joy Luck Club" is set in
... moreIsabel Allende
Isabel Allende launched her career as a Latin-American writer, but San Rafael is her adopted city.
Must-read book: "The House of Spirits"
Lesser-known gem: "Maya's Notebook"
Isabel Allende
Photo: Lori Barra
Isabel Allende launched her career as a Latin-American writer, but San Rafael is her adopted city.
Must-read book: "The House of Spirits"
Lesser-known gem: "Maya's Notebook"
Greil Marcus
Famed music journalist and cultural critic Greil Marcus was born in San Francisco and attended UC Berkeley. "I think Berkeley, and I think Greil," local disc jockey Bonnie Simmons said of the writer. These days, Marcus lives on the border of Berkeley and Oakland.
Must-read book: "Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the Twentieth Century"
Lesser-known gem: "Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll Music"
lessGreil Marcus
Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle
Famed music journalist and cultural critic Greil Marcus was born in San Francisco and attended UC Berkeley. "I think Berkeley, and I think Greil," local disc jockey Bonnie Simmons said of the
... moreDanielle Steel
Danielle Steel is one of the world's most read authors. She resides in a controversially hedged house in San Francisco and recently made Forbes' list of wealthiest self-made women, with an estimated net worth of $330 million.
Must-read book: "Jewels"
Lesser-known gem: "Southern Lights"
lessDanielle Steel
Photo: Rindoff/Dufour/Getty Images
Danielle Steel is one of the world's most read authors. She resides in a controversially hedged house in San Francisco and recently made Forbes' list of wealthiest self-made women, with an
... moreMaxine Hong Kingston
Maxine Hong Kingston pioneered the contemporary memoir with "The Woman Warrior." Born in Stockton, Kingston went on to attend UC Berkeley – for medicine – before deciding writing was her calling. She lives in the Oakland Hills and published "I Love a Broad Margin to My Life" in 2011.
lessMust-read book: "The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts"
Lesser-known gem: "Hawai'i One Summer"
Maxine Hong Kingston
Photo: ERIC RISBERG, AP
Maxine Hong Kingston pioneered the contemporary memoir with "The Woman Warrior." Born in Stockton, Kingston went on to attend UC Berkeley – for medicine – before deciding writing was her
... moreArlie Russell Hochschild
A professor emerita of sociology at UC Berkeley, Arlie Russell Hochschild is also the author of a series of books that explore the human emotions underlying social practices.
Must-read book: "Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right"
Lesser-known gem: "The Outsourced Self: Intimate Life in Market Times"
lessArlie Russell Hochschild
Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle
A professor emerita of sociology at UC Berkeley, Arlie Russell Hochschild is also the author of a series of books that explore the human emotions underlying social
... moreAllen Ginsberg
A leader of the Beat movement, Allen Ginsberg was a bard of the San Francisco Renaissance in the 1950s. He and fellow Beatnik Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the founder of City Lights Bookstore, were put on trial for the publication of Ginsberg's "Howl." Bill Morgan, Ginsberg's former archivist, collected a series of the poet's lectures in the new book, "The Best Minds of My Generation: A Literary History of the Beats."
lessMust-read book: "Howl and Other Poems"
Lesser-known gem: "Planet News"
Allen Ginsberg
Photo: Redferns/Getty Images
A leader of the Beat movement, Allen Ginsberg was a bard of the San Francisco Renaissance in the 1950s. He and fellow Beatnik Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the founder of City Lights Bookstore, were put
... moreGene Luen Yang
Graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature for "American Born Chinese." He also got his start in Alameda and went on to attend CSU East Bay and UC Berkeley.
Must-read book: "American Born Chinese"
Lesser-known gem: "Level Up"
lessGene Luen Yang
Photo: Katy Raddatz, Chronicle
Graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature for "American Born Chinese." He also got his start in Alameda and went on to attend CSU East Bay and UC
... moreGertrude Stein
Gertrude Stein spent her childhood in Oakland, a reality that would later inspire her famous quote, "There is no there there." Although frequently invoked as a condemnation of the city, a closer look at its context suggests Stein was expressing a "painful nostalgia" for her hometown, posits the Huffington Post.
lessMust-read book: "The Making of Americans: Being a History of a Family's Progress"
Lesser-known gem: "Q.E.D. (Quod Erat Demonstrandum)
Gertrude Stein
Photo: Heritage Images/Getty Images, Contributor
Gertrude Stein spent her childhood in Oakland, a reality that would later inspire her famous quote, "There is no there there." Although frequently invoked as a condemnation of the city, a closer
... moreAnne Lamott
Novelist Anne Lamott resides in Marin County, a place that inspired her seventh novel, "Imperfect Birds." The story drew on neighborhood stories of privileged teens addicted to pharmaceuticals.
Must-read book: "Operating Instructions"
Lesser-known gem: "Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith"
lessAnne Lamott
Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle
Novelist Anne Lamott resides in Marin County, a place that inspired her seventh novel, "Imperfect Birds." The story drew on neighborhood stories of privileged teens addicted to
... moreDave Eggers
When it comes to local literary fixtures, Dave Eggers often springs to mind. Having first risen to fame on his memoir, "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius," Eggers later went on to co-found literary nonprofit 826 Valencia and publishing house McSweeney's. His novel inspired the recently released film "The Circle," starring Emma Watson and Tom Hanks.
Must-read book: "The Circle"
Lesser-known gem: "You Shall Know Our Velocity!"
lessDave Eggers
Photo: Courtesy Photo
When it comes to local literary fixtures, Dave Eggers often springs to mind. Having first risen to fame on his memoir, "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius," Eggers later went on to co-found
... moreDaniel Clowes
Graphic novelist Daniel Clowes, who released "Patience" last year, currently resides in Piedmont. One of his most beloved works, "Wilson," takes place in neighboring Oakland and stars a curmudgeonly loner.
Must-read book: "Ghost World"
Lesser-known gem: "Wilson"
lessDaniel Clowes
Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle
Graphic novelist Daniel Clowes, who released "Patience" last year, currently resides in Piedmont. One of his most beloved works, "Wilson," takes place in neighboring Oakland and stars a
... moreMark Twain
Although Mark Twain didn't actually say, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco," he did in fact reside in the city for 19 months. Twain worked as a journalist for the Enterprise before getting fired. "It was fearful drudgery, soulless drudgery, and almost destitute of interest," he said of his brief stint as a reporter.
Must-read book: "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"
Lesser-known gem: "Pudd'nhead Wilson"
lessMark Twain
Photo: AP
Although Mark Twain didn't actually say, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco," he did in fact reside in the city for 19 months. Twain worked as a journalist for the
... moreMichael Chabon
Novelist Michael Chabon, whose book "Telegraph Avenue" was obviously inspired by the famous street, lives with his author wife, Ayelet Waldman, in Berkeley. According to Remodelista, Chabon and Waldman's home is a classic Berkeley Craftsman strewn with books.
Must-read book: "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay"
Lesser-known gem: "Manhood for Amateurs"
lessMichael Chabon
Novelist Michael Chabon, whose book "Telegraph Avenue" was obviously inspired by the famous street, lives with his author wife, Ayelet Waldman, in Berkeley. According to Remodelista, Chabon and
... moreJaron Lanier
Jaron Lanier is a computer scientist and author based in Berkeley. He writes, naturally, about technology and even acted as an advisor on the movie adaptation of Dave Egger's "The Circle." Lanier spoke to The Chronicle in April about social media and its far-reaching impacts on society.
Must-read book: "Who Owns the Future?"
Lesser-known gem: "You Are Not a Gadget" lessJaron Lanier
Jaron Lanier is a computer scientist and author based in Berkeley. He writes, naturally, about technology and even acted as an advisor on the movie adaptation of Dave Egger's "The Circle." Lanier
... moreYiyun Li
Oakland-based author Yiyun Li released a memoir in February, called "Dear Friend, From My Life I Write to You in Your Life," chronicling her two-year battle with suicidal depression. Read The Chronicle's interview with Li here.
Must-read book: "The Vagrants"
Lesser-known gem: "Gold Boy, Emerald Girl"
lessYiyun Li
Oakland-based author Yiyun Li released a memoir in February, called "Dear Friend, From My Life I Write to You in Your Life," chronicling her two-year battle with suicidal depression. Read The
... moreRobin Sloan
Sloan was an executive at Twitter before he began writing. In his book "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore," Sloan "pits a bookstore whose customers play an ancient, mysterious game against a futuristic Google filled with bright young minds."
Must-read book: "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore"
Lesser-known gem: "Annabel Scheme"
lessRobin Sloan
Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle
Sloan was an executive at Twitter before he began writing. In his book "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore," Sloan "pits a bookstore whose customers play an ancient, mysterious game against a
... moreDiane di Prima
The Beatnik writer spent most of the 1950s and 60s in New York City, but moved to San Francisco in the summer of 1968. She was named the city's poet laureate in 2009.
Must-read book: "This Kind of Bird Flies Backward"
Lesser-known gem: "Revolutionary Letters"
lessDiane di Prima
Photo: Chris Stewart, Chronicle
The Beatnik writer spent most of the 1950s and 60s in New York City, but moved to San Francisco in the summer of 1968. She was named the city's poet laureate in 2009.
Must-read book: "This
... moreAndy Weir
Weir was born in Davis and now lives in Mountain View. His debut novel "The Martian" was later turned into a blockbuster film starring Matt Damon.
Must-read book: "The Martian"
Lesser-known gem: "The Egg"
lessAndy Weir
Photo: James Blaire And Lauren Harnett, NASA
Weir was born in Davis and now lives in Mountain View. His debut novel "The Martian" was later turned into a blockbuster film starring Matt Damon.
Must-read book: "The Martian"
Lesser-known gem:
... moreRabih Alameddine
The Lebanese-American writer was born in Jordan, but moved to California as a teenager. He splits his time between San Francisco and Beirut.
Must-read book: "An Unnecessary Woman"
Lesser-known gem: The Hakawati"
lessRabih Alameddine
Photo: Benito Ordoñez
The Lebanese-American writer was born in Jordan, but moved to California as a teenager. He splits his time between San Francisco and Beirut.
Must-read book: "An Unnecessary Woman"
Lesser-known
... moreArmistead Maupin
Maupin's series of novels "Tales of the City" started as a series in the Marin County paper The Pacific Sun, which was later picked up by the San Francisco Chronicle before the stories were published as books.
Must-read book: "Tales of the City"
Lesser-known gem: "Significant Others"
lessArmistead Maupin
Maupin's series of novels "Tales of the City" started as a series in the Marin County paper The Pacific Sun, which was later picked up by the San Francisco Chronicle before the stories were
... moreJack Kerouac
The Beat Generation legend lived and wrote in San Francisco in the 1950s. He lived in a flophouse near Third and Howard at one point. Now, there's an alley in Chinatown named after him.
Must-read book: "On the Road"
Lesser-known gem: "Satori in Paris"
lessJack Kerouac
Photo: Stanley Twardowicz, AP
The Beat Generation legend lived and wrote in San Francisco in the 1950s. He lived in a flophouse near Third and Howard at one point. Now, there's an alley in Chinatown named after
... moreRon Hansen
Hansen received a master's degree in spirituality from Santa Clara University. These days he lives in the South Bay and teaches writing and literature at the same university he once attended.
Must-read book: "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Lesser-known gem: "A Wild Surge of Guilty Passion"
lessRon Hansen
Photo: Mathew Sumner, SFC
Hansen received a master's degree in spirituality from Santa Clara University. These days he lives in the South Bay and teaches writing and literature at the same university he once
... moreAnthony Marra
Marra lives in Oakland and was a Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University from 2011 to 2013. Now, he lectures at the school.
Must-read book: "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena"
Lesser-known gem: "The Wolves of Bilaya Forest"
lessAnthony Marra
Photo: Rohan Smith, The Chronicle
Marra lives in Oakland and was a Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University from 2011 to 2013. Now, he lectures at the school.
Must-read book: "A Constellation of Vital
... moreAdam Johnson
Johnson, who won a Pulitzer prize for his novel "The Orphan Master's Son" lives in San Francisco and teaches creative writing at Stanford University.
Must-read book: "The Orphan Master's Son"
Lesser-known gem: "Emporium"
lessAdam Johnson
Johnson, who won a Pulitzer prize for his novel "The Orphan Master's Son" lives in San Francisco and teaches creative writing at Stanford University.
Must-read book: "The Orphan Master's
... moreGlen David Gold
Gold lives in San Francisco, which he uses as inspiration. His book "Sunnyside" opens off the coast of Northern California.
Must-read book: "Carter Beats the Devil"
Lesser-known gem: "Sunnyside"
lessGlen David Gold
Photo: Jonathan Sprague
Gold lives in San Francisco, which he uses as inspiration. His book "Sunnyside" opens off the coast of Northern California.
Must-read book: "Carter Beats the Devil"
Lesser-known gem:
... moreDashiell Hammett
Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon" was famously set in San Francisco and was later adapted into a film starring Humphrey Bogart. Hammett himself lived in San Francisco for only eight years – he settled here to marry. Read more about Hammett's San Francisco here.
Must-read book: "The Maltese Falcon"
Lesser-known gem: "Red Harvest"
lessDashiell Hammett
Photo: AP
Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon" was famously set in San Francisco and was later adapted into a film starring Humphrey Bogart. Hammett himself lived in San Francisco for only eight years – he
... moreHerbert Gold
At 93, the "elder statesman of the Beat Generation" still lives in one-room Russian Hill flat. Over his career, he's written more than 20 books.
lessMust-read book: "Birth of a Hero"
Lesser-known gem: "Not Dead Yet: A Fesity Bohemian Explores the Art of Growing Old"
Herbert Gold
Photo: Chronicle File Photo
At 93, the "elder statesman of the Beat Generation" still lives in one-room Russian Hill flat. Over his career, he's written more than 20 books.
... moreMust-read book: "Birth of a Hero"
Lesser-known gem:
Vendela Vida
Vida, the author of five books and co-founder of literary nonprofit 826 Valencia, lives in San Francisco with her author husband, Dave Eggers.
Must-read book: "The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty"
Lesser-known gem: "And Now Your Can Go"
lessVendela Vida
Photo: Chloe Aftel, Associated Press
Vida, the author of five books and co-founder of literary nonprofit 826 Valencia, lives in San Francisco with her author husband, Dave Eggers.
Must-read book: "The Diver's Clothes Lie
... moreSean Greer
Greer splits his time between San Francisco and Tuscany, according to his website. His novel "A Story of a Marriage" is set in 1950s San Francisco.
Must-read book: "The Confessions of Max Tivoli"
Lesser-known gem: "The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells"
lessSean Greer
Photo: Kaliel Roberts
Greer splits his time between San Francisco and Tuscany, according to his website. His novel "A Story of a Marriage" is set in 1950s San Francisco.
Must-read book: "The Confessions of Max
... moreRobert Hass
A San Francisco native, Hass teaches poetry and creative writing at UC Berkeley.
Must-read book: "The Apple Trees at Olema"
Lesser-known gem: "What Light Can Do"
Robert Hass
Photo: Chris Stewart, San Francisco Chronicle
A San Francisco native, Hass teaches poetry and creative writing at UC Berkeley.
Must-read book: "The Apple Trees at Olema"
Lesser-known gem: "What Light Can Do"
Peter Orner
Though born in Chicago, Orner has lived in San Francisco for nearly two decades. He teaches creative writing at San Francisco State University.
Must-read book: "Last Car Over the Sagamore Bridge"
Lesser-known gem: "The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo"
lessPeter Orner
Photo: Traci Griffin
Though born in Chicago, Orner has lived in San Francisco for nearly two decades. He teaches creative writing at San Francisco State University.
Must-read book: "Last Car Over the Sagamore
... moreJane Hirshfield
Hirshfield lives in the Bay Area and is a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets.
Must-read book: "Come, Thief"
Lesser-known gem: "The Lives of the Heart"
Jane Hirshfield
Photo: Michael Lionstar
Hirshfield lives in the Bay Area and is a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets.
Must-read book: "Come, Thief"
Lesser-known gem: "The Lives of the Heart"
Adam Hochschild
The co-founder of "Mother Jones" is also the "resident journalist-historian" at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
Must-read book: "King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa"
Lesser-known gem: "To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918"
lessAdam Hochschild
Photo: Spark Media
The co-founder of "Mother Jones" is also the "resident journalist-historian" at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
Must-read book: "King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and
... moreKhaled Hosseini
Hosseini was born in Afghanistan but moved to San Jose in 1990 after he and his family were granted political asylum.
Must-read book: "The Kite Runner"
Lesser-known gem: "And the Mountains Echoed"
Khaled Hosseini
Photo: Elena Seibert
Hosseini was born in Afghanistan but moved to San Jose in 1990 after he and his family were granted political asylum.
Must-read book: "The Kite Runner"
Lesser-known gem: "And the Mountains Echoed"
Shirley Jackson
Born in San Francisco in 1916, Jackson died in Vermont 51 years later.
Must-read book: "The Lottery"
Lesser-known gem: "Life Among the Savages"
Shirley Jackson
Photo: Courtesy Photo
Born in San Francisco in 1916, Jackson died in Vermont 51 years later.
Must-read book: "The Lottery"
Lesser-known gem: "Life Among the Savages"
Diane Johnson
Before dying unexpectedly last year at the age of 49, Johnson split her time between Daly City and Paris.
Must-read book: "Le Divorce"
Lesser-known gem: "The Shadow Knows"
Diane Johnson
Photo: Miriam Berkley
Before dying unexpectedly last year at the age of 49, Johnson split her time between Daly City and Paris.
Must-read book: "Le Divorce"
Lesser-known gem: "The Shadow Knows"
Steven Johnson
A longtime New Yorker, Johnson and his family moved to Marin for a two-year stint in 2011.
lessMust-read book: "How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World"
Lesser-known gem: "Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation"
Steven Johnson
Photo: Brant Ward / The Chronicle
A longtime New Yorker, Johnson and his family moved to Marin for a two-year stint in 2011.
... moreMust-read book: "How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World"
Lesser-known gem:
Michael Lewis
The best-selling author of "Moneyball" and "The Big Short" resides in Berkeley with his wife and three children.
Must-read book: "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game"
Lesser-known gem: "Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt"
lessMichael Lewis
Photo: Tabitha Soren
The best-selling author of "Moneyball" and "The Big Short" resides in Berkeley with his wife and three children.
Must-read book: "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game"
Lesser-known gem:
... moreJoyce Maynard
The author who famously dropped out of Yale to move in with J.D. Salinger now resides in Mill Valley.
Must-read book: "To Die For"
Lesser-known gem: "The Usual Rules"
Joyce Maynard
Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle
The author who famously dropped out of Yale to move in with J.D. Salinger now resides in Mill Valley.
Must-read book: "To Die For"
Lesser-known gem: "The Usual Rules"
Michael McClure
McClure was a mainstay of the Beat Generation, who haunted the famous alleys of North Beach alongside fellow poets.
Must-read book: "Of Indigo and Saffron"
Lesser-known gem: "The Beard"
Michael McClure
Photo: Chronicle
McClure was a mainstay of the Beat Generation, who haunted the famous alleys of North Beach alongside fellow poets.
Must-read book: "Of Indigo and Saffron"
Lesser-known gem: "The Beard"
Peggy Orenstein
The bestselling author of "Girls & Sex" currently resides in Berkeley.
Must-read book: "Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture"
Lesser-know gem: "Girls & Sex: Navigating the New Complicated Landscape"
lessPeggy Orenstein
Photo: Michael Short, Special To The Chronicle
The bestselling author of "Girls & Sex" currently resides in Berkeley.
Must-read book: "Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture"
Lesser-know
... moreAnn Packer
Packer was born in Stanford, Calif., to two professors at Stanford University and still lives in the Bay Area.
Must-read book: "The Dive From Clausen's Pier"
Lesser-known gem: "The Children's Crusade"
lessAnn Packer
Photo: Mike Kepka, SFC
Packer was born in Stanford, Calif., to two professors at Stanford University and still lives in the Bay Area.
Must-read book: "The Dive From Clausen's Pier"
Lesser-known gem: "The Children's
... moreRobert Reich
The former secretary of labor now teaches at UC Berkeley.
Must-read book: "Aftershock: The Next Economy and America's Future"
Lesser-known gem: "Beyond Outrage: What has gone wrong with our economy and our democracy, and how to fix it"
lessRobert Reich
Photo: Russell Yip, The Chronicle
The former secretary of labor now teaches at UC Berkeley.
Must-read book: "Aftershock: The Next Economy and America's Future"
Lesser-known gem: "Beyond Outrage: What has gone wrong with our
... morePhilip K. Dick
Dick moved with his family to San Francisco as a child, but he later settled into a "hermit house" in San Rafael with his fourth wife in 1968.
lessMust-read book: "The Man in the High Castle"
Lesser-known gem: "Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said"
Philip K. Dick
Photo: Nicole Panter
Dick moved with his family to San Francisco as a child, but he later settled into a "hermit house" in San Rafael with his fourth wife in 1968.
... moreMust-read book: "The Man in the High
Mary Roach
New York Times bestseller Mary Roach lives in Oakland.
Must-read book: "Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void"
Lesser-known gem: "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers"
Mary Roach
Photo: Courtesy Photo
New York Times bestseller Mary Roach lives in Oakland.
Must-read book: "Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void"
Lesser-known gem: "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers"
Martin Cruz Smith
The mystery novelist was born in Pennsylvania and now resides in the Bay Area.
Must-read book: "Gorky Park"
Lesser-known gem: "Wolves Eat Dogs"
Martin Cruz Smith
Photo: Doug Menuez
The mystery novelist was born in Pennsylvania and now resides in the Bay Area.
Must-read book: "Gorky Park"
Lesser-known gem: "Wolves Eat Dogs"
Abraham Verghese
Verghese is a physician-author who currently teaches at the Stanford University Medical School.
Must-read book: "Cutting for Stone"
Lesser-known gem: "The Tennis Player"
Abraham Verghese
Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle
Verghese is a physician-author who currently teaches at the Stanford University Medical School.
Must-read book: "Cutting for Stone"
Lesser-known gem: "The Tennis Player"
T.J. Stiles
Biographer T.J. Stiles moved to the Presidio in San Francisco in 2007.
Must-read book: "The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt"
Lesser-known gem: "Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War"
lessT.J. Stiles
Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle
Biographer T.J. Stiles moved to the Presidio in San Francisco in 2007.
Must-read book: "The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt"
Lesser-known gem: "Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil
... moreIshmael Reed
Ishmael Reed, a Pulitzer finalist and recipient of the MacArthur Genius Grant, taught creative writing at UC Berkeley for over 30 years before retiring in 2005. He is currently a visiting scholar at California College of the Arts.
Must-read book: "Mumbo Jumbo"
Lesser-known gem: "Juice!"
lessIshmael Reed
Photo: Adm Golub, The Chronicle
Ishmael Reed, a Pulitzer finalist and recipient of the MacArthur Genius Grant, taught creative writing at UC Berkeley for over 30 years before retiring in 2005. He is currently a visiting scholar at
... moreAyelet Waldman
The Israeli-American novelist and essayist lives in Berkeley with her husband, author Michael Chabon.
Must-read book: "Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace"
Lesser-known gem: "Red Hook Road"
lessAyelet Waldman
Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle
The Israeli-American novelist and essayist lives in Berkeley with her husband, author Michael Chabon.
Must-read book: "Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional
... moreAlice Waters
Alice Waters founded Berkeley's Chez Panisse, which is credited with kicking off the slow food movement in the U.S.
Must-read book: "40 Years of Chez Panisse: The Power of Gathering"
Lesser-known gem: "The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution"
lessAlice Waters
Photo: Susan Walsh, AP
Alice Waters founded Berkeley's Chez Panisse, which is credited with kicking off the slow food movement in the U.S.
Must-read book: "40 Years of Chez Panisse: The Power of
... moreTobias Wolff
The memoirist, novelist, and short story writer teaches creative writing at Stanford University.
Must-read book: "This Boy's Life"
Lesser-known gem: "The Night in Question"
Tobias Wolff
Photo: Mark Costantini, San Francisco Chronicle
The memoirist, novelist, and short story writer teaches creative writing at Stanford University.
Must-read book: "This Boy's Life"
Lesser-known gem: "The Night in Question"
Al Young
Young, a Poet Laureate Emeritus of California, currently teaches at California College of the Arts.
Must-read book: "Something About the Blues: An Unlikely Collection of Poetry"
Lesser-known gem: "Sitting Pretty"
lessAl Young
Photo: Victoria Smith
Young, a Poet Laureate Emeritus of California, currently teaches at California College of the Arts.
Must-read book: "Something About the Blues: An Unlikely Collection of Poetry"
Lesser-known gem: "Sitting
... moreRobert Frost
Although most often associated with New England, Frost was born in San Francisco and lived there until his father died in 1885. A plaque on Market St. near the Embarcadero commemorates the poet's time in the city.
lessMust-read book: "Mountain Interval"
Lesser-known gem: "In the Clearing"
Robert Frost
Photo: KARSH, OTTAWA
Although most often associated with New England, Frost was born in San Francisco and lived there until his father died in 1885. A plaque on Market St. near the Embarcadero commemorates the poet's
... moreMichael Pollan
Author Michael Pollan, known for his writings about food, is a professor of journalism at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
lessMust-read book: "The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals"
Lesser-known gem: "A Place of My Own: The Education of an Amateur Builder"
Michael Pollan
Photo: Fran Collin
Author Michael Pollan, known for his writings about food, is a professor of journalism at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
... moreMust-read book: "The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History
Chang-Rae Lee
Korean-American Chang-Rae Lee teaches creative writing at Stanford University.
Must-read book: "Native Speaker"
Lesser-known gem: "Aloft"
Chang-Rae Lee
Photo: David Burnett
Korean-American Chang-Rae Lee teaches creative writing at Stanford University.
Must-read book: "Native Speaker"
Lesser-known gem: "Aloft"
Joyce Carol Oates
Prolific novelist Joyce Carol Oates is a visiting professor of creative writing at UC Berkeley.
Must-read book: "them"
Lesser-known gem: "Zombie"
Joyce Carol Oates
Photo: Dustin Cohen
Prolific novelist Joyce Carol Oates is a visiting professor of creative writing at UC Berkeley.
Must-read book: "them"
Lesser-known gem: "Zombie"
Kim Addonizio
Addonzio received a BA and MA from San Francisco State University. She later joined the faculty of her alma mater.
Must-read book: "Jimmy & Rita"
Lesser-known gem: "Tell Me"
Kim Addonizio
Photo: Elizabeth Sanderson
Addonzio received a BA and MA from San Francisco State University. She later joined the faculty of her alma mater.
Must-read book: "Jimmy & Rita"
Lesser-known gem: "Tell Me"
Jennifer Egan
Egan moved with her family to San Francisco from Chicago when she was seven. In an interview with the Huffington Post, Egan discussed how the city – and its infamous fog – has influenced her work. "It's a city where extreme inquiry has always had a place," she said. "That seems very basic to San Francisco for me, and it dates back to the Gold Rush.
Must-read book: "A Visit from the Goon Squad"
Lesser-known gem: "Emerald City"
lessJennifer Egan
Photo: Pieter M. Van Hatten
Egan moved with her family to San Francisco from Chicago when she was seven. In an interview with the Huffington Post, Egan discussed how the city – and its infamous fog – has influenced her
... moreEthan Canin
An Ann Arbor, Mich. expat, Ethan Canin moved to San Francisco with his family. He later graduated from Stanford University, Harvard Medicine School, and the Iowa Writer's Workshop before returning to San Francisco to co-found the San Francisco Writers' Grotto.
Must-read book: "America America"
Lesser-known gem: "Blue River"
lessEthan Canin
Photo: Nina Subin
An Ann Arbor, Mich. expat, Ethan Canin moved to San Francisco with his family. He later graduated from Stanford University, Harvard Medicine School, and the Iowa Writer's Workshop before returning to
... moreErle Stanley Gardner
The author-lawyer first touched down in California when his family moved to Oroville. He would later go on to graduate from Palo Alto High School in 1909.
Must-read book: "The Case of the Velvet Claws"
Lesser-known gem: "The Case of the Turning Tide"
lessErle Stanley Gardner
Photo: Ray Fisher, The LIFE Images Collection/Getty
The author-lawyer first touched down in California when his family moved to Oroville. He would later go on to graduate from Palo Alto High School in 1909.
Must-read book: "The Case of
... moreThe Bay Area Book Festival has attracted writers from all over the world to the region, but the Bay Area itself has a rich literary history.
From legendary writers like Jack London and Robert Frost (who was born in San Francisco) to contemporary authors like Dave Eggers and Kim Addonizio, there is a vast amount of literature written by authors who either grew up in the Bay Area, or created their important work here.
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With that in mind, and with the help of Chronicle Book Editor John McMurtrie, we came up with a list of some of the most famous Bay Area authors. We included a "must-read book" for each author for anyone who wants to sample the writer's best work and also a "lesser-known gem" for those wanting to go a little deeper.
Our criteria for selection was broad. Some of the authors in the collection, like Mark Twain, have produced work more closely associated with other regions of the U.S. Others, like Amy Tan, are Bay Area natives and long-time residents. But they all have one thing (at least) one thing in common: they lived, and wrote, in the Bay Area.
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Some of these featured books feature the Bay Area more prominently than others.
Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon," Amy Tan's "The Joy Luck Club," and Robin Sloan's "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" are all based in San Francisco.
Gertrude Stein famously wrote about Oakland, referring to it with the line "there is no there over there."
Much more recently, Michael Chabon wrote an entire book – "Telegraph Avenue" – as a sort of quirky love letter to Oakland. Without a doubt, the Bay Area has served a backdrop to and an inspiration for some of most well-known American literature.
For more on the Bay Area book scene, check out the San Francisco Chronicle's book section and in-depth literary map of San Francisco.
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