'Under The Perfect Sun' Book Talk
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Twenty years after "Under the Perfect Sun" was first published, authors Kelly Mayhew and Jim Miller return for a special anniversary conversation at the San Diego History Center on August 6, 2026, at 6 p.m.
Originally coauthored with the late Mike Davis, the book examines the city’s history of militarization, economic inequality, corruption, racial injustice, and political transformation, while highlighting the activists and communities who challenged entrenched power. This updated and expanded anniversary edition revisits San Diego’s evolution from a conservative stronghold to a more progressive city still shaped by ongoing struggles over gentrification, labor, and social justice.
Kelly Mayhew is a writer, editor, oral historian, and founding member of San Diego City Works Press and teaches English, Humanities, Labor Studies, and Gender Studies at San Diego City College.
Jim Miller has published poetry, fiction, and nonfiction in a wide range of journals and other publications, and teaches English, Humanities, and Labor Studies at San Diego City College.
Event Supported By
San Diego History Center
The San Diego History Center, located in the heart of Balboa Park, is the headquarters of the San Diego Historical Society. Here you will not only find a collection of intriguing exhibitions that chronicle San Diego’s diverse history, but also a Research Library. This is home to over 45 million pieces of paper and 2.5 million images that document the people, places and events of San Diego’s past. In addition to the exhibitions at the Museum of San Diego History, the museum also presents a number of public programs including lectures, workshops and educational programs. The Museum of San Diego History is FREE every second Tuesday of the month. See the full Free Tuesday schedule here. Admission $10 Adults $8 Seniors (65+), Students and Military (I.D. required) $6 Children ages 6-17 Free Children under 6 San Diego History Center members receive unlimited free admission.
