Links and Reading

MOSTLY BOOKS IN ENGLISH ABOUT COSTA RICA

We have many links we could point you to but I think of this section of our website as our "further research" page for those with a real interest in Costa Rica either as a tourist or for those who are interested in this unique culture that deserves some study.

Our links thus is made up mostly of books and information that we have found uniquely valuable in our understanding of our adopted country.

For our variety of book reviews and links check the LINKS submenu for my reviews of historical books, Flora and Fauna, Guide Books and such special items such as our "Moving Here Bookshelf".

A number of the books are hard to find as many are historical or of narrow interest. Many are available on Amazon and more as part of the Google Books project to scan and make available stuff that otherwise might be lost. This has been an incredible resource in trying to understand "what is Costa Rica".

We hope you find our links and old fashioned book reviews useful or interesting or perhaps the start of a love affair with Costa Rica. We'll keep adding links of interest so come on back or please provide links from your web site if you'd like.

THINKING ABOUT MOVING TO COSTA RICA

Here are 5 ways to become a resident. One of your reasons may be that we have no army - this is how it happened.

ABOUT OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS

We and the Pura Vida guests have been helping 2 local schools. One near the hotel, the Escuela Tuetal Sur - a primary school in a poor neighborhood. The other is up near Poas volcano and is in a farming area devastated by an earthquake a couple of years back - it is the Escuela Poasito. In both cases we are building libraries getting books into neighborhoods where there are none. More information is on the Links/Costa Rican Tales and School menu button.

Let us know if you'd like to visit during your trip to see the future of Costa Rica.

Links and Reading

  • Moving Here Bookshelf

    GET A HEAD START BOOK "The New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica" - by Christopher Howard. Charles Mills, another resident who benefited from this book, writes: "Chris has recently updated the 14th edition of his book, which is an...

  • Field Guides and the Like

    ALMOST BEST FIELD GUIDE "Field Guide to the Wildlife of Costa Rica" - by Henderson. If they did 26 more versions of this we'd get them all and be horribly broke. Not so many creatures - but a beautiful selection of the most interesting creatures....

  • Recommended by Friends

    ON OUR READING LIST - RECOMMENDED BY GUY DORE SURFING BOOKS "The Surfer's Guide to Costa Rica & SW Nicaragua" - by Mike Parise and Bob Towner Until Chavarria's book came out (see below), this was the bible for surfing Costa Rica. It's still well...

  • Fiction

    A FEW GREAT SHORT STORIES "Costa Rica: A Travelers Literary Companion" - edited by Barbara Ras. 26 short stories from each province of Costa Rica. There are some really marvellous tales (some not so) which provide insight into what makes a Costa...

  • Moving To Costa Rica - Tales

    AN ARTICLE FROM OUR ONLINE NEWSPAPER A.M. Costa Rica Here are some of the good reasons why expats stay By Sharon and Jay Brodellof the A.M. Costa Rica staff The front page is usually where crimes and other tragedies are reported. But good things...

  • 3 (or More) Books to Read First

    INSPIRING & EMPIRICAL TALE OF A PARK BEING REBUILT "The Green Phoenix" By William Allen The story of the founding and rebuilding of a unique tropical dry forest. The vision of a gringo genius, Dan Janzen, combined with the hard work and valiant...

  • Holidays in Costa Rica

    The following pages are a scan of an article written by a "tourist in Costa Rica" in 1858 - Thomas Francis Meagher. To set the stage, Costa Rica had recently been invaded by the so called filibusters - a group led by an American, William Walker....

  • Costa Rican Tales & The Schools

    BOOKS FOR SCHOOLS & COMMUNITY ABOUT OUR LOCAL SCHOOL - Escuela Tuetal Sur - the future of our planet is contained in the ecosystems that maintain the balance and health of our planet. The guardians of one of the most diverse ecosystems on this...

  • Natural History and a Few Books We Like

    HORTICULTURAL PERSPECTIVE "Manual of Tropical and Subtropical Fruits" - by Wilson Popenoe. This is a 1974 facsimile reprint of the 1920 classic hard cover. For years the only handbook of its kind helping those interested in subtropical horticulture - if...

  • Our Guide to Costa Rican Guide Books

    The best way to learn about a new country is through the excellent Travel Guides and Costa Rica has a few. If you need personal opinions of where to go we'd be happy to offer them. Each traveler will find something new in any one of these. We thank the...

  • An Historical and Political Perspective

    BAD IDEA TO START A HISTORY BOOK LIST WITH THIS "Webster's Timeline History of Costa Rica" - by Philip Parker. This is nothing more than a list VIZ: "1502 Costa Rica: In 1502, on his fourth and last voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus made the...

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