Charles Fleming poses for the L.A. Times

Good friend and fantastic writer Charles Fleming has released a book compiling more than 40 urban (some less so) hikes around Los Angeles, revolving around this city’s largely unexplored network of public staircases. Some climb through the woods, others wind through architectural landmarks and celebrity estates, all offer an informative, intimate look at one of the world’s most misunderstood metropolises. Buy it at Skylight if you’re able (where it’s currently number five among “Paperback Nonfiction Bestsellers”), or here if you have to. It’s called Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles, and you can read Fleming’s story in this piece by L.A. Times‘ Steve Lopez.