Dance of Days: Two Decades of Punk in the Nation's Capital (2009)

This comprehensive history of Washington's famed punk scene probably won't mean much to anyone else, but it's a must-read for fans of D.C. greats like Fugazi, Bad Brains, and Minor Threat. Written by longtime scene chronicler Jenkins and D.C. punk activist Andersen, Days is an unblinking, deeply knowledgeable inside account of the conflicting ideologies and external pressures that have continually threatened D.C.'s punk community, which has nonetheless flourished for more than 20 years. Andersen and Jenkins nicely articulate the scene's complicated politics without losing sight of the music; their simple, evocative descriptions of harDCore's intense live shows perfectly capture the passion and sincerity that have made this small world important.