Cultural Reading Material: Laos, Cambodia
 

This is our first visit to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos and I want to do some history/culture reading before arrivial. I think it is important to understand the history of a country you visit.
Of course I have reviewed Amazon but thought I would ask if you all had any recemmendations.
Thank you.

I would have replied much sooner, but just joined. If you want some amusing reading about Laos, I suggest you get hold of Colin Cotteril's books. They are very funny as well as being well writeen.
Dakin's semi autobiographical nove, "Another Quiet American" is a good read. For something meaty, try Grant's "A History of laos".

When the War was Over by Elizabeth Becker (Modern Cambodian History)

If you are going to Laos, especially to Luang Prabang, do read Christopher Kremmer's STALKING THE ELEPHANT KINGS first.

support the suggestion of Colin Cotterill's books-easy reading and shows so much of the culture from someone who lives there.

This is not a reading but a film, which I just saw today. It's called "The Betrayal" and it's about a refugee family from Laos and their journey to the U.S. I'm not sure what sort of release it's having as I saw it at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, but it's well worth seeing.