Travel Guides
Bradt Travel Guide: Madagascar by Hilary Bradt — The standard reference for independent travelers. Bradt has covered Madagascar more thoroughly than anyone else, and the guide is regularly updated. Worth having in your bag. ISBN: 1898323534
Lonely Planet Madagascar by Paul Greenway and Deanna Swaney — Solid for general orientation and city coverage, though the Bradt guide has more depth on wildlife and remote areas. ISBN: 0864424965
Wildlife
Mammals of Madagascar by Nick Garbutt — The reference work on lemurs and other Malagasy mammals, dense with species information and good photographs. ISBN: 0300077513
Madagascar Wildlife by Hilary Bradt, Derek Schuurman, and Nick Garbutt — A compact field companion covering mammals, birds, reptiles, and plants. Useful for ticking off species as you go. ISBN: 1564409473
Guide to the Birds of Madagascar by Olivier Langrand — Comprehensive guide to the island's remarkable endemic bird life. ISBN: 0300043104
Culture & History
Ritual, History and Power: Selected Papers in Anthropology by Maurice Bloch — Scholarly but illuminating on Merina society and the ancestor veneration practices that shape everyday life. ISBN: 0485195585