In this book review you will find some great resources to master web development. Reading book can help you continue to learn and grow in web development or other related fields. If you are new to the industry or just want to try something new, there are multiple resources in design, development, usability, and marketing.

Site Planning

Web ReDesign 2.0: Workflow that Works (2nd Edition)

This book has a great workflow of the stages you should take a new site or a redesign though. It not only looks at design and layouts but also focuses on planning, target market and content creation.

Site Planning Runner Up:

The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web

Design

The Principles of Beautiful Web Design

This is probably the easiest book to understand if you have never studied design. He takes you through simple steps about specific elements of design. There are some HTML and CSS reference, but only basic knowledge is required to understand.

Design Runners Up:

Designing With Web Standards

Bulletproof Design

HTML

HTML, XHTML, and CSS, Sixth Edition

This is a great resource for jumping into HTML for the first time. The book isn’t very long and gets straight to the point. If has great examples that aren’t too technical.

HTML Runners Up:

Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML

Build Your Own Web Site The Right Way Using HTML & CSS

CSS

The CSS Anthology: 101 Essential Tips, Tricks & Hacks

When they say there is a 101 Essential Tips, they aren’t kidding. There are so many great tips, tricks and techniques. Covering some of the new elements like rounded corners, drop down menus, and W3C friendly code.

CSS Runners Up:

CSS Mastery: Advanced Web Standards Solutions

CSS: The Missing Manual

JavaScript, jQuery, & Ajax

JavaScript: The Definitive Guide

This book is great, it has beginner JavaScript examples and explanations. One thing to note is that you need some experience in basic web development. (HTML, CSS) Learning JavaScript is almost a must if you want to have a career in frontend development.

JavaScript, jQuery, & Ajax Runners Up:

Ajax and PHP: Building Responsive Web Application

Learning jQuery

PHP, MySQL, & ASP

Programming PHP

You need to know some HTML before getting into PHP. When you’re ready, this is a great book to get started and create some applications. Towards the end of the book you will learn some integration with MySQL databases.

PHP, MySQL, & ASP Runners Up:

Ajax and PHP: Building Responsive Web Application

ASP.NET 2.0 Website Programming

Content Management Systems (CMS)

Using Drupal

Drupal is one of the most universal open source content management systems available. Learning how Drupal will help you understand its platform, but how all content management systems work. Getting into the middle of it will help you current web development or open the doors to your next project.

CMS Runners Up:

WordPress for Dummies

Joomla! A User's Guide: Building a Successful Joomla!

Interactive Design

The Inmates Are Running the Asylum

If you want to start looking at websites in a different way, this is one of the best books for it. This book takes interfaces and twists them around on how the visitor would react to different scenarios. This book can really help you think about how your user interacts with your site.

Usability

Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability

This could be one of the best books you could read for development. This book is amazing. It breaks down what your visitors are actually doing on your site and explains how to make your site better. The areas they talk about in the book you would probably not thing about on your own site

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search Engine Optimization: An Hour a Day

There is one weird thing about this book. It encourages you to fill out multiple worksheets that you can download online. If you put that to the side and focus on what information they share with you. It has all the solid principles of SEO.

SEO Runner Up:

SEOMOZ Beginners Guide - (Free)

Try These Choices or Find Your Own

These are some of the best book I have found in various areas of web development. Most, if not all of these choices have been highly recommended or talked about in the industry. Pick what topic you would like to learn and start reading.

If you do not like the choice above, one of the quickest ways to find a great book is to head over to Amazon.com and read the reviews. They have all types of development books with multiple reviews and comments.

List some other books you would recommend in our comment section: