Andreas Feininger, The Complete Photographer. First published in 1965, some of the technical parts of this book are, of course, out of date. But this is much more a philosophical book about the nature and purpose of photography, what it means to take a photo, and how to use the elements of photos to create a message. Willard Morgan and Henry Lester, Graphic Graflex Photography, various editions from 1940 to about 1960. Billed as the "master book for the larger camera," much of the technical information specific to the camera is, not surprisingly, far outdated. However, the principles and guidance here--such points as technical foundation, composition, how lenses work, using light, and the uses of photography--are still valuable. Before you close the book, look carefully through the back to remember the days when some of the world's great cameras were made in the USA. Ted Schwarz and Brian Stoppee, The Photographer's Guide to Using Light (Amphoto, 1996). A testimonial of how good this book is: as word spread after publication, even the "old head" pros came around to pick up a copy. It covers enough basics that a beginner won't get lost, but doesn't dwell on them as so many books do. The authors deal with all aspects of light, natural and artificial, with clear explanations of how they differ and how they can be used to best advantage to create the photograph you want. William Leach, Land of Desire: Merchants, Power, and the Rise of a New American Culture (Vintage Books, 1994). This is not a photography book as such, although it is well-illustrated with fascinating photos. It will help you understand the "consumer" mindset that permeates our world today, and why industries work so hard to convince you that your perfectly-functional camera is an outdated piece of dinosaur doo-doo. Lawrence W. Levine, Highbrow / Lowbrow: The Emergence of Cultural Hierarchy in Amerca (Harvard University Press, 1988). This is also not a photography book, but if you're interested in understanding my occasional rants about snobbery in the arts, and my insistence that rail photography is art, you need to read this book. I would also suggest that you obtain a "system manual" or similar book about your camera and its accessories. These are invaluable for learning what you can do with your camera, what fits what, and so on. If you're having trouble with the instruction book, which is probably written in shattered English and presumes that you know what you're doing anyway, look around. Some offer history, some offer instruction. Many can be found online, and many cameras are the topic of discussion groups at places like Yahoo! Groups.