How to Be a Texan

Andrea Valdez is a native Houstonian who worked for Texas Monthly for ten years, first as a fact checker, then as the editor of texasmonthly.com. She has written on a wide range of subjects, including more than forty columns on activities every Texan should be able to do, which provided the inspiration for this book. She is currently Managing Editor, The Atlantic.

• Texas, the Texas Identity, and MeI. Talk Like a TexanEssential Vocabulary: Words and Phrases (and One Hand Gesture) You Oughta Know¿Hablas Spanglish?A Highly Idiosyncratic Selection of Favorite Texas SayingsYou’re Saying It Wrong: A Pronunciation Guide to Places in TexasRoot for the Home TeamDon’t Mess With Texas: More Than a SloganII. Look Like a TexanBuy Custom Cowboy BootsAttach Spurs to Those BootsChoose a Belt BuckleWear a Cowboy HatGet Big HairIII. Rites of PassageHandle the Texas FlagTake a Bluebonnet PhotoAttend Fiesta in San AntonioCelebrate Juneteenth Go to a Star PartyBuild a Día de los Muertos Altar Survive Cedar FeverShoot a .22IV. Tend the RanchGo Water DowsingBuild a Barbed Wire FenceShoe a HorseCut the HerdRope a CalfBrand the HerdBarrel RaceWrangle a RattlesnakeV. Hunting and FishingCut for SignTie a Texas RigNoodle for CatfishHunt for DoveBag a JavelinaField Dress a DeerTan a HideVI. Cook Like a TexanPork TamalesChili and Frito PieTexas CaviarBreakfast Tacos BarbacoaBrisketKing Ranch Chicken CasseroleFried ChickenKolachesPecan PieMargaritaVII. Relax Like a TexanSpit Watermelon SeedsPlay 42Float the RiverTailgateTwo-StepSquare DanceCumbiaVIII. Tour Like a TexanThe Texas Capitol BuildingBarton SpringsGruene HallCadillac RanchDealey PlazaSouthfork RanchSpindletopMirador de la FlorThe AlamoThe Window Trail at Big Bend National ParkAcknowledgments

Valdez’s book is a must-read manual for anyone looking to learn more about the wild and wonderful state. (Texas Monthly) If the title’s not enough of a selling point, consider a few of the important life lessons that TexasMonthly.com editor Andrea Valdez’s essential Texas tome will teach you, including, but not limited to, how to brand the herd, how to host a tamalada, how to survive cedar fever, how to cook brisket, how to noodle for catfish, and how to float the river. (Texas Monthly)