Getting to Know Cambodia Through Books
Whether you’re planning your first visit, deepening your understanding of Southeast Asian history, or exploring Cambodia’s rich literary traditions, books are one of the best windows into the soul of a place. Cambodia’s story spans ancient empires, Buddhist heritage, French colonial influence, and tragedy under the Khmer Rouge, all of which have inspired powerful nonfiction, memoirs, and fiction alike. From historical overviews and survivor accounts to classic Khmer novels and cultural explorations, the books below offer varied pathways to learn about Cambodia’s past and present — and to gain insight into the lives and voices of its people.
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Cambodian History & Culture
| Book | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Cambodia’s Curse: The Modern History of a Troubled Land | Get the book | Modern Cambodian history, from Pol Pot to present. |
| When the War Was Over | Get the book | Politics & peace building after Khmer Rouge. |
| A History of Cambodia | Get the book | Definitive academic history from early to modern era. |
| The Gate: A Memoir | Get the book | First-person account of Khmer Rouge era. |
| Voices From S-21 | Get the book | Testimonies from Tuol Sleng prison survivors. |
| First They Killed My Father | Get the book | Memoir of surviving Khmer Rouge. |
| The Lost Executioner | Get the book | A Khmer Rouge executioner’s story. |
| Hun Sen’s Cambodia | Get the book | Politics in post-genocide Cambodia. |
| Cambodian Buddhism & History | Get the book | Cambodian religion & social history. |
| A History of the Khmer Empire | Get the book | Rise & fall of the Angkor empire. |
| The Ancient Civilization of Angkor | Get the book | Story of Khmer people and Angkor’s legacy. |
| Angkor: Heart of an Asian Empire | Get the book | Rediscovery & archaeology of Angkor. |
| Earth in Flower – The Divine Mystery of the Cambodian Dance Drama | Get the book | History of Cambodian classical dance. |
| Khmer: The Lost Empire of Cambodia | Get the book | Overview of the Khmer empire and culture. |
| A Dragon Apparent | Get the book | Travel history across Cambodia & Laos. |
Khmer Temples, Archaeology & Architecture
| Book | Amazon Link | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Angkor: Cambodia’s Wondrous Khmer Temples | Get the book | Photo guide to Angkor’s major monuments. |
| The Temples of Angkor | Get the book | Detailed look at temple structures & art. |
| Ancient Angkor | Get the book | Temple history and photography. |
| Angkor Wat: Time, Space, and Kingship | Get the book | Scholarly analysis of Angkor Wat layout. |
| Sacred Angkor | Get the book | Study of carved reliefs at Angkor Wat. |
| The Angkor Guidebook | Get the book | Essential companion to temple complexes. |
| Focusing on the Angkor Temples | Get the book | Illustrated guide to 80+ temples. |
| Ancient Cambodia: Photo Journey | Get the book | Archaeological intro with temple photos. |
| Wandering Angkor | Get the book | Illustrated travel & Angkor insights. |
| Mystical Cambodia | Get the book | Travel temples, culture & nature. |
| In the Shadow of Angkor – Unknown Temples of Ancient Cambodia | Get the book | Guide to lesser-known temple sites. |
| The Temples of Southeast Asia | Get the book | Broader regional temple studies. |
| Cambodia: Decoding Khmer Architecture | Get the book | Academic architecture reference. |
| Angkor’s Temples in the Modern Era: War, Pride and Tourist Dollars | Get the book | Photo book of Angkor region. |
Cambodian Cuisine & Food Culture
| Book | Amazon Link | Description |
|---|---|---|
| My Cambodia: A Khmer Cookbook | Get the book | Modern & traditional Khmer recipes. |
| NHUM: Recipes from a Cambodian Home Kitchen | Get the book | Home cooking from a Cambodian chef. |
| The Elephant Walk Cookbook | Get the book | Cambodian favorite recipes & stories. |
| The Food & Cooking of Cambodia | Get the book | Step-by-step Khmer dishes. |
| Royal Cambodian Cuisine | Get the book | Dishes of Cambodian royalty. |
| Authentic Cambodian Cooking | Get the book | Classic Khmer home recipes. |
| Culinary Traditions of Cambodia | Get the book | Cambodia’s food heritage. |
| Cambodian Food and Drink: A Journey Through Siem Reap’s Streets, Flavors, and Culture | Get the book | Street food flavors & dishes. |
| The Ultimate Cambodian Cookbook | Get the book | 100+ Khmer recipes. |
| Cambodian Cooking | Get the book | A humanitarian project in collaboration with Act for Cambodia |
| A Cambodian Cookbook | Get the book | Selected popular dishes from the Kitchen of Angkor Wat Restaurant San Francisco 1983 – 2005 |
Cambodia Travel & General Guides
| Book | Amazon Link | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lonely Planet Cambodia | Get the book | Practical travel guide to Cambodia. |
| DK Eyewitness Cambodia | Get the book | Visual travel guide with maps. |
| Insight Guides Cambodia | Get the book | Culture + history + itineraries. |
| Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos Handbook | Get the book | In-depth cultural travel guide. |
| Cambodia Wildlife & Nature Guide | Get the book | Nature travel beyond temples. |