8 Best-Selling Smart Contract Development Books Millions Love

Taylor Monahan, Manuel Araoz, and Hudson Jameson recommend these top Smart Contract Development books for developers seeking expert-backed, best-selling guides.

Taylor Monahan
Updated on June 28, 2025
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There's something special about books that both experts and millions of readers trust, especially in a complex field like smart contract development. As blockchain technology reshapes finance and software, mastering smart contracts has become a sought-after skill with real-world impact. These books offer proven frameworks that many developers have adopted to build secure, efficient decentralized applications.

Experts like Taylor Monahan, founder and CEO at MyCrypto, discovered "Mastering Ethereum" early on, appreciating its blend of deep technical insight and accessible explanations. Manuel Araoz, CTO at Zeppelin, praises the same book for its thoroughness, while Hudson Jameson, an Ethereum Foundation organizer, highlights its relevance as Ethereum becomes foundational like TCP/IP. Their endorsements carry weight, reflecting years of hands-on experience in the Ethereum ecosystem.

While these popular books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific smart contract development needs might consider creating a personalized Smart Contract Development book that combines these validated approaches, matching your background, skill level, and goals for quicker mastery.

Best for in-depth Ethereum developers
Taylor Monahan, founder and CEO at MyCrypto, brings a unique perspective to Ethereum education, blending technical depth with accessibility. She praises "Mastering Ethereum" as an ideal resource whether you’re just exploring or ready to dive deep, highlighting the complementary expertise of co-authors Gavin Wood and Andreas Antonopoulos. After discovering this book early in her career, she saw how it clarified complex Ethereum concepts and helped shape her approach to smart contract development. Her endorsement underscores why this guide remains a trusted choice for developers looking to navigate Ethereum’s evolving landscape, supported by insights from other experts like Manuel Araoz who recognize its thoroughness and clarity.
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Recommended by Taylor Monahan

Founder & CEO at MyCrypto

Mastering Ethereum is the perfect book for anyone who wants to learn more about Ethereum, whether you're looking to test the waters or dive straight into the deep end. Between Gavin Wood's technical knowledge of Ethereum's inner workings and Andreas M. Antonopoulos' ability to make complex subjects approachable, you get the best of both worlds with this book. I only wish it had been around when I first started diving into Ethereum. (from Amazon)

Mastering Ethereum: Building Smart Contracts and DApps book cover

by Andreas Antonopoulos, Gavin Wood Ph.D.··You?

What happens when two blockchain pioneers with vastly different strengths join forces? Andreas Antonopoulos, known for breaking down complex blockchain concepts into digestible insights, teams up with Gavin Wood, Ethereum's co-founder and technical architect, to offer you a detailed exploration of Ethereum's smart contract ecosystem. You gain a hands-on understanding of running Ethereum clients, crafting smart contracts, and building decentralized applications, supported by real-world examples of security practices and token creation. If you're aiming to develop practical skills in Ethereum-based smart contract programming, this book offers a deep dive into both foundational cryptography and advanced contract design that will sharpen your expertise.

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Best for blockchain app builders
Mayukh Mukhopadhyay is an experienced blockchain developer with a background in computer science and cryptography. His expertise shapes this detailed guide that explores Ethereum smart contract development from foundational blockchain concepts to building practical decentralized applications. Mukhopadhyay’s blend of theory and hands-on projects equips you to navigate the Ethereum ecosystem effectively and build your own smart contracts and cryptocurrencies.

Mayukh Mukhopadhyay draws on his strong foundation in computer science and cryptography to guide you through the complexities of Ethereum smart contract development. This book unpacks the Ethereum ecosystem, contrasts it with Bitcoin, and dives deep into Solidity programming language, offering practical insights on building decentralized applications. You'll learn how to create your own cryptocurrency, optimize smart contracts for the Ethereum Virtual Machine, and develop decentralized autonomous organizations. While the book assumes some technical background, it serves those aiming to master blockchain-based app development with hands-on examples like building a decentralized microblogging platform.

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Best for personal coding mastery
This AI-created book on Ethereum smart contract development is crafted based on your current skill level and coding background. You share your specific interests and objectives within smart contract programming, and this book is then created to focus on exactly what you need. Personalizing the content this way helps you bypass generic learning and dive straight into the aspects that matter most for your growth in Ethereum development.
2025·50-300 pages·Smart Contract Development, Smart Contracts, Ethereum, Solidity Programming, Contract Security

This tailored book explores advanced smart contract programming on Ethereum, carefully crafted to match your background and goals. It dives deep into Solidity coding, security best practices, and Ethereum's unique architecture, focusing on your interests to accelerate mastery. By combining widely validated knowledge with your specific objectives, it offers a focused learning experience that covers not just writing contracts but understanding their deployment and optimization in real-world scenarios. This personalized guide reveals critical nuances about gas efficiency, debugging, and modern development tools, helping you build robust decentralized applications with confidence and clarity.

Tailored Guide
Gas Optimization
3,000+ Books Generated
Best for Solidity beginners
Ritesh Modi is an ex Microsoft senior technology evangelist and regional lead with extensive experience advising companies on Ethereum and Solidity. As an architect and speaker, he has contributed widely to blockchain, AI, and automation technologies. His deep expertise drives this beginner-friendly guide to Solidity, designed to help you master smart contract development on Ethereum by starting from core concepts and progressing to deployment and debugging.

When Ritesh Modi, a former Microsoft senior technology evangelist, wrote this book, he aimed to demystify Solidity for newcomers eager to build smart contracts on Ethereum. You’ll learn to navigate the Solidity language from its JavaScript-like syntax to deploying and testing contracts on a private blockchain, with chapters dedicated to data types, control structures, and error handling. The book suits anyone starting with Ethereum smart contract development, even without prior EVM experience, offering a practical foundation rather than abstract theory. If you want to understand how to write, debug, and deploy Solidity contracts with clarity, this book provides the essential building blocks without unnecessary complexity.

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Best for practical Solidity learners
Rangel Stoilov is a blockchain developer and educator with extensive experience in smart contract development and the Ethereum ecosystem. He has dedicated his career to teaching others about blockchain technology and its applications, focusing on practical skills and real-world use cases.
2019·95 pages·Smart Contract Development, Ethereum, Solidity, Smart Contracts, Blockchain Programming

What started as a drive to address the shortage of blockchain programmers led Rangel Stoilov to craft a guide that takes you from zero knowledge to creating functional smart contracts on Ethereum. You’ll learn the nuts and bolts of Solidity alongside practical tools like the Remix IDE and Metamask wallet, with clear explanations of both basic and advanced programming concepts. Each chapter builds your confidence with hands-on assignments designed to deepen your understanding and security practices to protect your assets. If you want to develop real skills in Ethereum smart contract creation, this book offers a straightforward path without assuming prior coding experience.

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Best for newcomers to smart contracts
Ismail Raja, with an M.Sc. in Computer Science and twenty years in IT and financial sectors, brings deep expertise to this beginner guide. His experience on large-scale IT projects and passion for blockchain technology underpins the book’s clear approach to teaching smart contracts. Raja’s background ensures you get a practical, well-informed introduction to creating smart contracts, making complex blockchain concepts approachable and relevant for newcomers.
Smart Contract 101 Series: Beginner Guide (Smart Contract 101 Series I) book cover

by Ismail Raja, Fazith Mohamed··You?

2018·40 pages·Smart Contract Development, Smart Contracts, Smart Contract Deployment, Blockchain Basics, Contract Programming

What happens when a seasoned software developer with two decades in IT and finance turns his attention to blockchain? Ismail Raja, leveraging his background in solution architecture and a master’s in computer science, distills the complexities of smart contracts into an accessible primer. You’ll learn how to build your first smart contract step-by-step, understanding key concepts such as contract deployment and execution on blockchain networks. This concise guide is tailored for newcomers eager to grasp the foundational skills without getting lost in jargon. If you're venturing into blockchain or cryptocurrency and want a clear, focused introduction, this book fits that need perfectly.

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Best for personal 30-day plans
This AI-created book on Solidity development is crafted based on your current skills and goals. You tell us which Solidity topics you want to focus on and your desired pace, then the book delivers a step-by-step 30-day plan tailored specifically to your needs. This personalized approach helps you learn efficiently by concentrating on what matters most to you in smart contract building.
2025·50-300 pages·Smart Contract Development, Smart Contracts, Solidity Basics, Ethereum Platform, Contract Deployment

This tailored book explores a focused 30-day plan designed to rapidly develop your Solidity programming skills, perfectly matched to your existing background and objectives. It delves into core concepts of smart contract development, gradually building your expertise with daily, manageable milestones that ensure steady progress. By combining widely validated knowledge with your unique interests, this book offers a clear pathway through Solidity syntax, contract design, security practices, and deployment techniques. The personalized approach sharpens your learning by concentrating on your specific goals, whether you aim to build decentralized applications or deepen your blockchain understanding. This tailored guide reveals how to accelerate your smart contract development journey with practical, targeted learning that resonates with your pace and focus.

Tailored Guide
Rapid Skill Building
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for Solidity game developers
Kedar Iyer, founder of Emergent Phenomena and co-author with extensive experience in blockchain engineering, brings a practical perspective to Ethereum smart contract development. With a Mechanical Engineering degree from UCLA and hands-on projects like PeerBet—a peer-to-peer sports betting platform on Ethereum—he combines technical know-how with real-world applications. This background equips him to teach you how to build engaging, fair blockchain games that go beyond basic Solidity tutorials, making complex concepts accessible to developers ready to level up.
2018·287 pages·Smart Contract Development, Smart Contracts, Ethereum, Game Development, Solidity Programming

Unlike most smart contract books that focus solely on theory, Kedar Iyer and Chris Dannen guide you through interactive projects that deepen your Solidity skills by building casino-style games. You’ll explore Ethereum basics and gaming theory before deploying provably fair, auditable smart contracts that engage players in real ether betting. The book’s hands-on approach sharpens your development abilities with well-documented intermediate examples, particularly useful if you’ve already dabbled in Ethereum and want to expand into gaming or blockchain-based applications. If you’re a software engineer, game developer, or crypto enthusiast aiming to create engaging, trustless games, this book fits perfectly into your learning path.

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Best for clear smart contract overviews
Jeff Reed is a financial technology enthusiast and programmer dedicated to making FinTech accessible to everyone. His expertise in blockchain and passion for educating others shines through in this guide, which breaks down complex smart contract concepts into manageable insights for newcomers and tech-savvy readers alike.
2016·54 pages·Smart Contracts, Smart Contract Deployment, Smart Contract Development, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency

Jeff Reed, a financial technology enthusiast and programmer, wrote this concise guide to demystify smart contracts within the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. You’ll gain a solid grasp of how smart contracts function, their advantages and limitations, and practical steps to create your own on the Ethereum platform. The book also tackles common misconceptions, helping you separate hype from reality. If you're seeking a straightforward introduction to deploying decentralized applications and understanding smart contract mechanics, this book offers clear explanations without overwhelming technical jargon.

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Best for blockchain investment insights
Scott S. Bergman is a financial consultant and investor with over 19 years of experience analyzing markets and advising clients. His expertise in economics and finance informs this book, which aims to clarify blockchain technology and smart contracts for investors and enthusiasts. Bergman’s background equips him to translate complex concepts like Ethereum’s decentralized applications and ICO investing into accessible insights that help you better understand cryptocurrency opportunities.
2018·58 pages·Blockchain, Smart Contracts, Smart Contract Development, Ethereum, Decentralized Applications

Scott S. Bergman leverages nearly two decades in finance and investment to unpack the complex world of blockchain and smart contracts with clarity. You’ll learn how Ethereum’s smart contracts operate, the mechanics behind decentralized applications, and the evolving role of ICOs in the cryptocurrency market. The book breaks down technical concepts like mining replacement and blockchain vulnerabilities into accessible explanations, particularly in chapters detailing Ethereum’s platform and ICO investing. If you’re exploring blockchain’s practical uses or seeking insight into cryptocurrency dynamics without heavy technical jargon, this concise guide offers a solid foundation.

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Proven Methods, Personalized for You

Get expert-backed Smart Contract Development strategies customized to your goals and skill level.

Targeted learning paths
Efficient skill building
Expert-validated content

Trusted by thousands of Smart Contract Development enthusiasts worldwide

Smart Contract Mastery Code
30-Day Solidity Sprint
Blockchain Dev Blueprint
Smart Contract Success Formula

Conclusion

These eight books collectively emphasize practical skills, from Solidity programming basics to advanced Ethereum contract design, reflecting frameworks validated by both experts and widespread reader adoption. If you prefer proven methods, starting with "Mastering Ethereum" offers deep technical foundations. For those focused on Solidity and application development, "Solidity Programming Essentials" and "Ethereum Smart Contract Development" provide hands-on guidance.

Combining theoretical overviews like "Smart Contracts" with project-driven books such as "Building Games with Ethereum Smart Contracts" broadens your practical perspective. Alternatively, you can create a personalized Smart Contract Development book to merge proven methods with your unique learning objectives and pace.

These widely-adopted approaches have helped many readers succeed in navigating the fast-evolving world of smart contracts, offering you a solid path to becoming a confident developer in this revolutionary space.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with "Mastering Ethereum" for a solid, expert-approved foundation. It covers fundamental and advanced topics, making it suitable whether you're new or experienced. From there, you can explore specialized books like "Solidity Programming Essentials" for hands-on coding skills.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Smart Contract Development?

Not at all. Books like "Smart Contract 101 Series" and "Solidity Programming Essentials" are designed for beginners, explaining concepts clearly without assuming prior experience, while others build on that foundation for deeper learning.

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can pick based on your goals. For broad understanding, "Mastering Ethereum" alone is powerful. But combining it with practical guides like "Ethereum Smart Contract Development" can accelerate your skills and confidence.

Which books focus more on theory vs. practical application?

"Smart Contracts" and "Blockchain Technology" emphasize conceptual understanding, ideal for grasping blockchain's broader context. In contrast, "Building Games with Ethereum Smart Contracts" and "Solidity Programming Essentials" focus on hands-on coding and project work.

Are any of these books outdated given how fast Smart Contract Development changes?

While blockchain evolves quickly, these books provide foundational knowledge and widely accepted best practices that remain relevant. Pairing them with current online resources ensures you stay updated on the latest developments.

How can I get content tailored to my specific Smart Contract Development needs?

Great question! While these expert books cover proven methods, you can also create a personalized Smart Contract Development book tailored to your background, skill level, and goals, blending popular approaches with your unique learning path.

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