(Raymond Rivera/LAist)
Mantle is back again with his annual book recommendations, many with deep Southern California ties.
The former Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles was recently renamed for this giant of local history. Waite is a historian who was born and raised in Southern California and dedicated himself to revealing Mason’s accomplishments and formidable challenges. She was brought to California by a Southern slaveholder, won her freedom in a landmark court case and went on to become one of L.A.’s most prominent residents and landowners. Waite details the many ways Mason’s philanthropy and medical skills left a strong mark on late 19th- and early 20th-century Los Angeles.
Forest of the Sea: The Remarkable Life and Imperiled Future of Kelp
By David Helvarg
(Island Press)
One of the pleasures of hosting AirTalk over such a long span is getting to talk with writers over a period of years as each of their books comes out. That’s the case with David Helvarg. This book is particularly timely, as we’re seeing the effects of the warming Pacific on our local weather and shoreline. This book focuses on how the largest kelp beds along the U.S. West Coast are being rapidly depleted by warmer water. Helvarg also details what the fascinating ecosystems of these massive beds are like.
