8 Wordpress Development Books That Build Expert Skills

What happens when seasoned WordPress experts collaborate? Brad Williams, CEO of WebDevStudios, Justin Tadlock, a veteran plugin and theme developer, and John James Jacoby, a key contributor to WordPress core and major plugins, offer a deep dive into advanced plugin creation. You’ll learn to harness WordPress hooks, build custom post types, integrate JavaScript with Ajax, and optimize security and performance. Chapters on the REST API, Gutenberg block editor, and localization showcase how to craft plugins that fit modern WordPress demands. If you’re aiming to elevate your development skills beyond basics and want practical insight into real-world plugin architecture, this book is tailored for you.

After years of writing extensively on technology and web development, Matthew MacDonald crafted this book to demystify WordPress for users at all levels. You’ll learn how to set up WordPress on a hosting platform or locally, customize themes to reflect your brand, and integrate plugins that expand your site’s capabilities—from ecommerce to multimedia features. The book breaks down complex tasks like SEO optimization and site backup into manageable chapters, such as configuring widgets and building secure staging environments. If you want to move beyond basic blogging and build a fully functional, personalized website, this book offers a clear path without drowning you in jargon.

This tailored WordPress Mastery Blueprint explores the essential concepts and advanced techniques aligned precisely with your experience and development goals. It examines the WordPress ecosystem deeply, covering theme creation, plugin development, site architecture, and customization that match your background and interests. By focusing on your specific objectives, this personalized guide reveals pathways to enhance your coding skills, streamline development processes, and build robust WordPress applications. The book integrates core elements of the platform with your unique learning needs, offering a focused journey through the vast landscape of WordPress development.

Brad Williams, cofounder of WebDevStudios.com and cohost of the DradCast WordPress podcast, brings his deep developer experience to this third edition alongside David Damstra and Hal Stern, who add strong marketing and IT leadership perspectives. You’ll explore WordPress far beyond basic blogging, diving into advanced design and development techniques that leverage WordPress as a full application framework. The book covers migrating existing sites, exploiting new features in WordPress 4.1, and implementing best practices for professional-grade projects, with detailed code examples and real-world cases throughout. If you're looking to master WordPress from a developer’s standpoint and build complex, scalable sites, this book offers the insights you need, though absolute beginners may find some sections dense.

Unlike most WordPress guides that overwhelm with technical jargon, Lisa Sabin-Wilson’s approachable style demystifies the platform’s core features, making it accessible for anyone ready to build or enhance a website. You’ll learn how to customize themes, create posts, manage multimedia, and leverage plugins to unlock WordPress’s full potential, with practical insights scattered throughout chapters like theme customization and plugin integration. This book suits new bloggers, experienced users transitioning to WordPress, or webmasters eager to deepen their understanding of this widespread content management system. Sabin-Wilson’s expertise as cofounder of a top WordPress agency shines through, offering clarity without sacrificing depth.

Drawing from his extensive experience teaching and developing websites, Stephen Burge offers a clear and approachable guide tailored for WordPress beginners. You’ll follow practical steps through building a full WordPress site, covering everything from installation and content creation to managing plugins and themes without needing any coding skills. Each chapter balances straightforward explanations with helpful visuals, making complex features like Gutenberg and site maintenance accessible. This book suits anyone starting out with WordPress who wants to gain confidence in managing a site that can grow securely and efficiently.

This tailored WordPress guide explores rapid, customized steps to create and launch a professional website, focusing specifically on your unique background and goals. It examines the essentials of site planning, theme selection, plugin integration, and content management, all tailored to match your interests and experience level. By focusing on your specific priorities, the book reveals a personalized pathway through the complexities of WordPress development, helping you understand not only the how but also the why behind each step. Through a clear, step-by-step approach, this book provides a tailored learning experience that bridges foundational concepts with practical application, ensuring you gain confidence and clarity as you build your site efficiently and effectively.

Lisa Sabin-Wilson’s extensive experience running WebDevStudios, where she crafts custom WordPress plugins and themes, directly informs this detailed guide. You’ll learn everything from setting up hosting and selecting themes to mastering the Gutenberg editor and securing your site—practical skills that bring the WordPress platform to life. The book is structured as eight focused sections, making complex topics approachable whether you’re launching your first blog or managing multiple sites. If you want a single resource that covers foundational setup through advanced content management, this will fit your needs well; however, seasoned developers might find some areas more introductory.

What started as Brian Patrick's personal challenge to bridge the gap between complex web programming and everyday users became a straightforward guide to building professional websites quickly. You learn how to choose domains, install WordPress with one click, and master five core fundamentals that ensure your site is both secure and visually appealing. The book breaks down website types from portfolios to e-commerce and includes over 40 instructional videos to reinforce learning. If you want to create a website without coding but with real control over functionality and design, this book lays out exactly how.

The methods Darryl Bartlett developed while working with diverse clients and honing his WordPress skills make this book a straightforward guide to building websites without coding knowledge. You learn how to set up WordPress, navigate the dashboard, manage content and media, and customize themes and plugins effectively. Chapters like "Appearance and Themes" and "Adding Plugins" offer practical steps for non-technical users to create professional-looking sites. This book is especially useful if you want to maintain or update a WordPress site yourself without relying on developers, making it ideal for bloggers, small business owners, or hobbyists eager to gain control of their web presence.