UC San Diego Libraries Summer Reading! discussion

I am really interested in LEARNING as I read for this year's Summer Reading contest (last year was about laughter). Does anyone have suggestions of books to read where I will learn something WHILE being entertained? The last two books I read were both informative and entertaining (The Dionne Years A Thirties Melodrama and People of the Book) and I would love to continue the trend. I'm really interested in San Diego history - since I don't really know much about it! I really do enjoy historical fiction - so it doesn't have to be straight up history/skills, but it can be if it is good enough.

I'm with Colleen here- I'd like to learn a little too this year. I'm looking more for nonfiction, social-commentary type books. On my list right now are "In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan and "Waste and Want" by Susan Strasser. Does anyone have any other recommendations?

Colleen, I think these books would be too long for this contest but Edward Rutherfurd and James Michener write some amazing epic historical novels. Rutherfurd's "Sarum" is especially good! "Born on a Blue Day" by Daniel Tammet is a great (and much much shorter) book about life as an autistic savant with synesthesia. What other subjects are you interested in?

I was going to suggest the Know It All or More Information Than Required, but sadly we don't have either. :( I'll keep thinking about it. . .