8 WordPress Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

Scott Berkun's years of experience at Microsoft and as an author culminate in this revealing look inside Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com. He shares firsthand observations of a radically flexible work culture where 120 employees collaborate globally without traditional office constraints or heavy email use. You learn how this setup fuels creativity, accelerates product launches, and fosters leadership styles suited for distributed teams. Berkun’s account includes vivid examples, like their rapid deployment cycles and remote management tactics, making it clear this book benefits anyone curious about modern work environments and innovative team dynamics.

Unlike most WordPress guides that skim the surface, Matthew MacDonald dives into the nuts and bolts of setting up, customizing, and managing WordPress sites with clarity and depth. Drawing on his extensive background as a science and technology writer and three-time Microsoft MVP, he unpacks complex topics like theme customization, plugin selection, and SEO strategies in accessible language. You'll find detailed chapters on configuring WordPress on different hosts, adding multimedia elements, and safely backing up your work, making this a solid resource whether you're launching a blog or a business site. While it's ideal for those comfortable with tech basics, even beginners can benefit from the clear explanations and practical examples.

This tailored WordPress Mastery Blueprint explores essential topics that match your background and goals, providing a personalized journey through WordPress site-building. It covers foundational concepts like installation and customization, then delves into advanced areas such as plugin management, theme development, and SEO optimization. By focusing on your specific interests, this book reveals practical techniques and insights that make mastering WordPress more efficient and relevant to your needs. Whether you aim to launch a blog, create an online store, or develop custom themes, the content matches your skill level and desired outcomes, fostering a deeper understanding of WordPress's capabilities.

George Plumley’s deep experience with web development and WordPress shines through in this visually rich guide tailored for anyone ready to build a blog or website from scratch. You’ll find clear, step-by-step visual instructions covering everything from installing WordPress and selecting themes to customizing your site with plugins and handling hosting essentials. The book’s updated third edition adds mobile blogging techniques, making it relevant for bloggers on the go. If you’re aiming to launch a personal brand, promote a business, or just express yourself online, this book walks you through practical skills and best practices without overwhelming jargon.

Lisa Sabin-Wilson's extensive experience as cofounder of a leading WordPress design and development agency informs this approachable guide to mastering WordPress. You get straightforward instructions on customizing themes, creating posts, managing multimedia, and extending site functionality with plugins — all aimed at helping you publish your first site or blog quickly. Whether you're new to blogging, migrating to WordPress, or aiming to deepen your platform knowledge, this book breaks down the CMS essentials with practical clarity. For example, it walks you through setting up a publishing routine and leveraging WordPress’s full content management capabilities without overwhelming technical jargon.

Stephen Burge, with a career bridging teaching and web development, developed this guide to demystify WordPress for newcomers. You’ll learn to build a complete WordPress site from scratch, navigating installation, content creation, plugins, themes, and site maintenance without needing programming skills. The book’s clear visuals and step-by-step instructions walk you through practical tasks like managing posts, categories, and menus, making it ideal if you want hands-on experience rather than abstract theory. If you’re just starting out and want to confidently launch and manage a site that scales, this book aligns well with your goals.

This tailored book explores the process of building and launching WordPress websites through a customized 30-day action plan. It covers essential topics such as site setup, theme selection, plugin management, and content creation, all matched to your background and goals. By focusing on your specific interests, it reveals a practical pathway to take you from concept to live site efficiently. The book examines common challenges and offers a clear sequence of steps designed to suit your skill level, making the complex world of WordPress accessible and manageable. This personalized approach helps you stay on track and make steady progress toward launching your site.

Brad Williams, with his extensive experience cofounding WebDevStudios.com and cohosting the DradCast WordPress podcast, teamed up with David Damstra and Hal Stern to create a resource aimed squarely at WordPress developers seeking depth beyond the basics. This book explores advanced design and development techniques, including leveraging WordPress 4.1's latest features and employing it as an application framework rather than just a CMS. You’ll find detailed code examples, practical migration strategies, and insights into real projects that push WordPress’s capabilities. If you’re building complex sites or customizing at a developer level, this book offers a focused, no-fluff guide to mastering WordPress’s full potential.

Dr. Andy Williams' extensive experience in website development and SEO shines through in this visual guide tailored for absolute beginners. You start by understanding the differences between WordPress versions and setting up hosting and domains securely, then move through practical chapters like installing themes and plugins, managing content with both Classic and Gutenberg editors, and optimizing settings for SEO and user engagement. With over 330 screenshots and task-driven chapters, you get hands-on confidence building professional-looking websites adaptable to any device. This book is especially suited for newcomers eager to master WordPress fundamentals without feeling overwhelmed, although experienced developers might find it too introductory.

After publishing fifteen books and founding BookPromotion.com, Lori Culwell channeled her deep experience with authors and publishing into this approachable guide. You'll learn practical steps to build a WordPress website, from keyword research to choosing hosting and plugins, with clear explanations of common pitfalls like theme selection and maintenance. For example, the book details seven essential WordPress plugins and explains how to avoid costly "gotcha" moments in setup. Whether you're an author, student, or small business owner, this book equips you with the know-how to launch your site confidently without technical overwhelm.