Want to better understand D.C.? Read these books.

Next month marks a decade in D.C. for me — almost longer than I’ve lived anywhere else. Over that time, I’ve noticed this city is often misunderstood, even by those of us who choose to settle down here. But D.C. residents are more than the stereotypes outsiders have about us. And I feel lucky that so many of my neighbors are thoughtful, passionate, and dedicated to lifelong learning.

That’s why recently, we asked The 51st’s readers to share their favorite D.C.-focused books. Below, you’ll find the beginnings of our 51st bookshelf — a guide for readers curious about D.C.’s history and culture. These recommendations (which were lightly edited for length and clarity) shed light on our city, the people who've shaped it, and the issues we face as the nation's capital.

Flee North by Scott Shane
In the 1840s, D.C. resident Thomas Smallwood led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom — and mocked the slavers as he did it. The book is a remarkable story of courage and commitment centered around D.C. and Baltimore’s vicious pre-Civil-War slave trade. — Megan

Dream City by Harry Jaffe and Tom Sherwood 
I grew up in D.C. during the Marion Barry years, and this book helped me get a better perspective on a complicated, controversial figure — and helped me understand the history of D.C. in a way I had not before. — Stephanie

For transplants, Dream City explains why longtime D.C. residents are still so loyal to Marion Barry (there are actual good reasons). — Anonymous

Chocolate City by Chris Myers Asch and George Derek Musgrove
Chocolate City gives context to D.C.'s role in the civil rights movement and local history of Black education. And it’s a nice complement to the DC History Center’s “Class Action” exhibit. — Anonymous

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
It's such an intense, emotional story about a very relevant issue: missing young Black girls. — Candace Y.A. Montague

The Revolution Will Not Be Rated G by Keya Chatterjee
It's set in a dystopian, authoritarian D.C. future and authored by Keya Chatterjee from Free DC! It's got a little romance and a lot of hope. — LJ Rivers

Lost in the City by Edward P. Jones
A great collection of short stories that gives glimpses into a range of different Black stories and lives. As a recent transplant to D.C., these stories brought to life D.C. when it was very much Chocolate City. It made me feel like I was meandering through the city with these characters as they went to work, attended funerals, fell in love, and experienced all the other ups and downs of city life. — Kris 

All Aunt Hagar's Children by Edward P. Jones
It is an amazing collection of short stories that speak to the Black experience in D.C. across decades. — Anonymous

Washington: The Making of the American Capital by Fergus M. Bordewich
An eye-opening and engagingly written history of the varieties of land speculation, enslaved labor, and wild political contingencies that went into the founding and development of the capital city. — Karl

Personal History by Katharine Graham
As someone who grew up reading The Post, this book gave me an appreciation for Katharine Graham and what a pioneer she was as a businesswoman and newspaper owner. When I first read it, it was impossible to imagine an administration more hostile to the media than Nixon's, but today's toxic environment makes the Watergate days look like a garden party. She tells the story of her remarkable life in a way that vividly illuminates the times she lived through — and makes past Washington conflicts look like the good old days. — Stephanie