Did you know that WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet? And almost all of the big successful companies use it, I believe that if you want to find a high-paying job as a web developer, you should too. That’s staggering information that shows just how important this platform has become to the whole internet! Whether you’re a complete beginner thinking of picking up WordPress for building a personal website or a seasoned developer looking to master advanced WordPress topics, the right book can bring you the knowledge and details that no other information source can.
After I earned a solid amount of experience with WordPress and web development, I started spending time with beginner developers, and I can tell you this: while online tutorials are great, there’s something irreplaceable about a well-structured book that makes people learn and absorb information faster than any other source. With dozens of WordPress books flooding the market, finding the best among the mediocre can feel overwhelming.
That’s exactly why I’ve compiled this definitive guide to the 5 best WordPress books in 2025. From beginner-friendly guides that start with the pure basics through your first site to advanced development resources that’ll turn you into a full-time WordPress developer.
If you haven’t, I would advise you to read my article about 5 BEST WEB DEVELOPMENT BOOKS FOR NEW DEVELOPERS right now, or you can read it after finishing this one if you want.
The Top 5 WordPress Books in 2025 (Complete Reviews)
Book #1: WordPress All-in-One For Dummies by Lisa Sabin-Wilson
This Comprehensive 8-in-1 guide will cover all WordPress fundamentals and more. You will learn about every topic needed for you to start your WordPress career, and pretty detailed as well.
As the title says, this book is perfect for complete beginners who don’t know one singular thing about WordPress and web development. If you are struggling with self-teaching, there is no problem because this book will lead you step by step, like there is a professional WordPress developer in the room teaching you one. Most people don’t quit because they become bored with WordPress or they are not talented enough to find a solution to a problem; it is because they can’t learn the fundamentals properly. You need to make sure that doesn’t happen to you by starting with a high-quality book like this one. You will start with installing WordPress and then quickly work your way to plugins, security, themes, and speed.
This is one of the highest-rated books on Amazon, not only about WordPress but about web development in general.
Book #2: WordPress for Dummies by Lisa Sabin-Wilson
This book will start by teaching you the essentials and the fundamentals of WordPress and then work its way through, practically teaching you how to build your first website from scratch. Even thou this book will cover everything you need to know to start building incredible WordPress websites, don’t worry about it not going enouph in dept. Because it will cover all of those topics in great detail. It will go through content creation, customization, and basic troubleshooting, which is ideal if you are looking to start a Blog or an e-commerce business store.
You know I rate this book highly when the Author is on the list twice.
Book #3: Professional WordPress: Design and Development by Brad Williams, David Damstra, and Hal Stern
This one is more advanced than the first two, and it focuses on a deeper dive into WordPress and all the things surrounding it, like themes and plugins. This fantastic book also explains the PHP, MySQL, and WordPress architecture, which you will not see in most other books and online resources. You will also learn a lot about how to optimize Security and performance, and some tips and best practices.
In my opinion contexts of this book are essential for anyone building client websites or complex projects like e-commerce platforms.
Book #4: WordPress in Easy Steps by Darryl Bartlett
If you are a visual learner, this book is a perfect match for you. Focusing on visual learning with screenshots and illustrations, this book will teach and show you hard concepts in an easy-to-understand way. Covering the modern and the best WordPress editor (Gutenberg) very detailed, but in a way that you will not get overwhelmed, but still learn everything you need to know. If you already have some experience with WordPress, you will also find this book very useful because it contains a Quick reference format that can also be used as a new user.
To make it short, this book is the best fit for a Visual learner, no matter the skill level.
Book #5: Wicked WordPress Themes by Allan Cole, Raena Jackson Armitage, and Brandon R. Jones
Unlike other tutorial books that talk a little about everything, this book will give you a detailed overview of custom theme development and design, which is great, especially if you already know the basics of WordPress and want to learn more and have deeper knowledge about theme development and design. This book especially specializes in responsive design, which, in my opinion, is by far the most important thing you can learn, especially in recent years. Today, websites are not working without a great responsive design because more and more people have different-sized screens, so you need to maximise the experience for everybody. You will not only learn a lot of theoretical knowledge from Wicked WordPress Themes because it also provides Real-world examples and exercises that are carefully designed for your the sake of your knowledge. This is very important because if you only learthe n the theoretical part and don’t know how to implement that on your website, you will get nowhere as a web developer and a designer.
If you choose to buy this book, that will be a great decision because it might be the only one you will ever need, as it covers both aesthetic and functional theme creation
What Makes a WordPress Book Worth Reading
- This is a tough question that doesn’t really have a concrete answer, which means that if you ask 10 WordPress developers, 10 will tell you things differently. I personally have put a lot of effort into giving users the best information on books in the Web design community, and I especially researched WP books, so I definitely have a lot of knowledge on this topic.
- It shouldn’t even be an argument that if the book doesn’t cover the Current WordPress version compatibility, then it is almost worthless. The most important new features are full-site editing, block themes, and the latest Gutenberg capabilities. This is the exact reason why I chose the best books that are up to date with everything that WordPress offers.
- Because we are already on the topic of the importance of up-to-date content, you should also think about the best security practices and speed optimization. It is very important that you learn this early in your career because these two things always change, so you need to know how to shift and adapt with the performance of your website.
- I am a big believer that you are going to progress the most when you actually practise something and fail, and then learn and adapt. This is because even though theoretical knowledge is great, I would advise you to do yourself a favour and try to create actual projects. I think that these 5 books are the best at providing you with the best ratio of practical to theoretical knowledge.
- I don’t know about you, but I think that in 2025, responsive design is king, as I mentioned earlier, more and more people use devices that are different from others. There are more and more options now when we talk about screen sizes than ever before, and that is not going to change. Learning how to optimize your website in this way may be the most important thing you can learn.
- Last but not least, SEO, there is nothing more complicated than SEO Even if you create the best site ever, if it is not SEO optimized, no one will know about it. That is why these books cover the most important things about SEO without confusing you as a reader.
Why Choose Books Over Online WordPress Tutorials?
- Structured learning progression: Books follow a tested blueprint that was used by hundreds of writers for hundreds of books, which means that the layout and the blueprint of the books you will read are tested and experienced by tens of thousands of people before you. This is a big difference from YouTube videos because they have no credibility or need to create the best learning experience possible. Unlike video tutorials, books provide a systematic learning curve, which means that you will learn everything from start to end at the pace that a professional chooses.
- Offline accessibility and focus: Now, people struggle more than ever with a lack of focus and internet addiction, and that is another reason I advise you to try to experience the benefits of learning without internet distractions and having reliable access to information anywhere.
- Expert author credibility: There is nothing more trustworthy than a professional author with multiple books under their belt, and nothing is less trustworthy than a random YouTuber who just wants to sell you their course. Most publishers will never publish a book from somebody who has no professional experience with the topic they are writing about, and that might be my favorite reason why I trust writers more than most content creators.
- Quality control and editing: Most publishers and media organizations will never publish a book from somebody who has no professional experience with the topic they are writing about, and that might be my favorite reason why I trust writers more than most content creators. With all of that rigorous fact-checking and constant editing, writers are held to the highest accountability possible. If that was not enough for you, also remember that these writers are putting their name and legacy on the line.
Which WordPress Book Should You Choose Based on Your Learning Style?
Visual Learners
Visual learners benefit from books with abundant screenshots, step-by-step illustrations, and color-coded examples showing before-and-after results. Books that use visual hierarchy and design principles help these learners absorb WordPress concepts more effectively through graphical representation.
BUY WordPress in Easy Steps – BEST FOR VISUAL LEARNERS
Practical Learners
Practical learners should choose books packed with hands-on exercises, real website projects, and downloadable code examples. These learners need active engagement through building actual WordPress sites rather than just reading theory. Books with chapter projects that build upon each other provide the practical application these learners crave.
BUY WordPress All-in-One For Dummies – BEST FOR PRACTICAL LEARNERS
Reference-Oriented Learners
Reference-oriented learners prefer comprehensive guides that serve as both learning materials and ongoing references. These learners value thorough coverage, detailed indexes, and organized information that supports both initial learning and future problem-solving. They need books that remain useful long after the initial read-through.
BUY Professional WordPress – BEST FOR REFERENCE-ORIENTED LEARNERS
Step-by-Step Learners
Step-by-step learners require books that build complexity gradually with clear dependencies between chapters. These learners need books that assume previous chapter knowledge, provide regular reviews, and never skip fundamental steps. They benefit from authors who explain the “why” behind each action.
BUY WordPress for Dummies – BEST FOR STEP-BY-STEP LEARNERS
Advanced Code-Focused Learners
Advanced learners who want to dive deep into custom theme development, plugin creation, and WordPress architecture need books that don’t shy away from complex code examples. These learners prefer detailed technical explanations and advanced problem-solving approaches.
BUY Wicked WordPress Themes – BEST FOR ADVANCED CODE-FOCUSED LEARNERS
What Are the Common Mistakes When Choosing WordPress Books?
1. Choosing books above your skill level
If you are a beginner, my best advice for you is to learn at your skill level and don’t overrate your knowledge because it never ends well. I guarantee that out of all people who want to learn web development, I don’t care if it is WordPress, HTML, CSS, or a website builder like Shopify, over 90% quit because they want to learn advanced, impressive skills without learning the fundamentals.
2. Ignoring author backgrounds and credibility
Ignoring author backgrounds and credibility is another one that you should be very careful about. I would never recommend you buy a book from an author who doesn’t have good reviews and doesn’t have extensive personal experience in the topic. Writing books is only getting easier and easier, and that means that there is more and more slop that is not good information for you, and the only thing you will do by buying them is spend your hard-earned money. If you are a beginner, I truly know how it is like because when I started, there was so much to learn, and I felt like there was a product everywhere, and everyone just wanted me to buy their course, training, or a book. That is why I am very passionate when we talk about recommending good resources for learning and teaching yourself how to build websites. I can with full confidence tell you all 5 of these are more than amazing, so just pick one and start today.
3. Not considering your specific WordPress goals
Not considering your specific WordPress goals is not a huge mistake,e, especially as a beginner, because the only you have to focus on is the fundamentals, but if you have specific goals, you should at least spend some time researching which book is the closest to your own personal goals.
4. Overlooking book format and learning style
Overlooking book format and learning style. At first glance, you might think that this one isn’t all that important, but believe me, it is. You should always adapt to how you learn the best and the fastest, and if you don’t, you can experience a world of frustration., Why do you need that when you can skip all of that by just reading the section in this blog called Which WordPress Book Should You Choose Based on Your Learning Style?
Conclusion
Starting learning WordPress doesn’t have to be overwhelming, with the right book as your guide, you’ll see that everything can be straightforward and with an upward learning curve! I’ve spent a good amount of time researching the best WordPress books, and these 5, in the opinion of a person who has been working with WordPress and with people trying to learning WordPress, are the best. All based on expert reviews and reader feedback.
Here’s the bottom line: “WordPress All-in-One For Dummies is a very popular WordPress book this year, and for good reason” – it consistently ranks as the top choice for beginners.
For people who have WordPress experience, “Professional WordPress Design and Development” remains the best if you already have some knowledge.
Remember, the best WordPress book for you depends on your current skill level and specific goals. Don’t try to jump ahead too quickly – build that solid foundation first! Start with one book that matches your current level, work through it completely, then progress to more advanced books like “Professional WordPress Design and Development”. Learn things in your time and don’t be too overwhelmed or sad if you are not getting things done in the time you expected to do. Trust me, I relate to all of that, and I can tell you the worst thing you can do is think about how your progress is not fast enough. I would highly recommend you to read my article about the 9 Best CSS Books for Beginners in 2025 if you are interested in advancing your knowledge about Web development and you want to learn about Web design. If you are sceptical about learning CSS in 2025, especially if you will be using WordPress, then you should definitely read my article, which is about the best reason why you should learn CSS in 2025, even if you are primarily using WordPress
What is the final conclusion? Pick one book from our top 5 recommendations and commit to working through it. Your future self (and your websites) will thank you for the investment in a high-quality book.
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