The Best Blues Music Books

Looking for the best books on blues music? Check out our list of the top titles, from biographies to histories to instructional guides.

Best Overall: ‘The History of the Blues’ by Francis Davis

‘The History of the Blues’ by Francis Davis is the best overall book on the history of the blues. It covers the genre from its origins in Africa to its development in the United States, and includes a discography of essential recordings.

Best for Learning About the Origins: ‘Deep Blues’ by Robert Palmer

If you want to learn about the origins of the blues, Robert Palmer’s “Deep Blues” is the book for you. Palmer dives deep into the history of the music, tracing its roots back to the Mississippi Delta and following its evolution through the years. He interviews a wide range of musicians, from legendary figures like Muddy Waters and B.B. King to more obscure artists like Son House and Robert Johnson. And he explores the many subgenres of the blues, from country blues to electric blues to Delta blues. If you want to understand where the blues came from, “Deep Blues” is essential reading.

Best for the Electric Era: ‘Bringing It All Back Home’ by Peter Guralnick

From the early days of the recording industry through the birth of rock ‘n’ roll and into the present, Guralnick has established himself as one of our finest music historians. His two-volume biography of Elvis Presley is definitive, and his work on Sam Cooke, Jerry Lee Lewis, Robert Johnson and other major figures is required reading. But it’s his books on the history of the blues that really set him apart. “Sweet Soul Music” (1986) is an elegiac history of Southern soul music in the 1960s, while “Feel Like Going Home” (1971) is a more personal account of Guralnick’s travels through the deep South in search of the roots of that music. But “Bringing It All Back Home” (1999) might be his best book on the blues, a wide-ranging survey of the music from its beginnings in the Mississippi Delta to its 12-bar incarnation in Chicago and beyond. It captures both the raw power andthe transcendent beauty of the blues with equal measure.

Best for the Modern Era: ‘Blues All Around Me’ by B.B. King and David Ritz

If you want to learn about the modern era of the blues, then ‘Blues All Around Me’ by B.B. King and David Ritz is the book for you. This bestseller chronicles King’s incredible life, from his humble beginnings in Mississippi to his years as a world-renowned musician. Along the way, you’ll get an inside look at the music industry and how the blues have evolved over time.

Best Anthology: ‘The Blues: A Very Short Introduction’ by Elijah Wald

There are dozens of good books about the blues, but this slim volume by Elijah Wald is the best place to start if you want a short, clear introduction to the history and music of the blues. Wald does an excellent job of tracing the evolution of the blues from its African roots through its development in the American South to its influence on jazz, rock, and popular music. He also includes a handy guide to recommended recordings.