The Best Sourdough Books for 2024

What are the best sourdough books? 

I hear that question a lot from you. In this post, I will review some popular sourdough books. You will learn what I do and don’t like about them. Ultimately, it is more about finding the right book for you than assuming that there is one best sourdough book. 

How I Have Selected These Books

Of course, every selection will be somewhat biased. Since my sourdough content is so popular and I think and breathe sourdough, I have been reading a lot of sourdough books. Just know that my sourdough method is very unique. You will not find that in any book but maybe I should write one …

Sometimes, I find a recommendation in a sourdough Facebook group and might check that out. 

I also do not need to own tons of sourdough books. Therefore, I often check them out at my local library. If I end up liking the book a lot, I might buy it. I have checked out most of the 33 sourdough books our local public library system carries! However, I do like and recommend the sourdough books below!

The Criteria I Used

These are some of the criteria I will discuss below:

• readability (how easily you can consume the content)
• quality of photographs
• types and number of sourdough recipes
• is it appropriate for beginners or do you need some experience

What All These Great Books Have In Common

• They all teach you how to make your own starter
• They go into the science of sourdough bread
• They all have delicious recipes
• They feature recipes with whole grains and alternative grains
• They are geared towards the amateur baker
• No matter which of these bread books you buy, it will make you a better baker

1. Artisan Sourdough Made Simple by Emilie Raffa

What I like about this book:

• It is definitely a beginner’s guide
• It has step-by-step instructions on how to make a sourdough starter
• Beautiful full-color photography
• More than 65 unique recipes (as per the publisher)
• Basic recipes with everyday ingredients
• 207 pages
• Affordable price ($18.34 on amazon.com at the time of writing this post) 

What I don’t like:

• Paperback books sometimes don’t stay open
• The font is really small
• Some recipes seem a bit too much and are just variations of other recipes

Verdict: I recommend Artisan Sourdough Made Simple by Emilie Raffa

2. The Sourdough Whisperer by Elaine Boddy

What I like about this book:

• It is appropriate for beginner bakers
• Step-by-step instructions
• Extensive FAQ section
• Beautiful, full-color photography
• 40 versatile recipes (as per the publisher) 
• 192 full-color pages
• Affordable price ($16.69 on amazon.com at the time of writing this post)

What I don’t like:

• Some paragraphs are very long and hard to skim
• Paperbacks often don’t lie flat on the counter

Verdict: I highly recommend The Sourdough Whisperer by Elaine Boddy

3. Homemade Sourdough by Jane Mason

What I like about this book:

• Very beginner-friendly
• Step-by-step tutorials
• Helpful troubleshooting sections
• Beautiful, full-color photography
• 43 recipes, some pretty unique
• 160 pages
• Very affordable ($9.49 on amazon.com at the time of writing this post)

What I don’t like:

• some recipes seem a bit repetitive (or too similar to make it another recipe)

Verdict: I highly recommend Homemade Sourdough by Jane Mason

4. The Sourdough School by Vanessa Kimbell

What I like about this book:

• Great for the beginning home baker
• Has personal stories, history, and background information
• Includes 4 different types of sourdough starter
• Very detailed step-by-step instructions
• Inspiring, full-color photos
• 29+ recipes for every skill level
• 208 pages
• Not too expensive ($22.49 on amazon.com at the time of writing this post)

What I don’t like:

• Some recipes use pretty exotic ingredients (“smoked kibbled rye” or “spent ale grains” for example)

Verdict: I highly recommend The Sourdough School by Vanessa Kimbell

5. Living Bread by Daniel Leader

What I like about this book:

• Lots of interesting information about sourdough history, baking, and ingredients
• Good enough for a professional baker
• Beautiful photographs, some of which are black-and-white
• 57 recipes from bakeries all over the world
• Coffee table edition
• 367 pages
• Not too expensive ($24.99 on amazon.com at the time of writing this post)

What I don’t like:

• Almost a little too big for a cookbook
• Very particular recipes
• Not necessarily for beginners

Verdict: For anyone who wants to get deeper into sourdough baking, I do recommend Living Bread by Daniel Leader

6. The Perfect Loaf by Maurizio Leo

What I like about this book: 

• Very detailed information about ingredients and tools
• Perfect for the serious bread baker by the master of sourdough
• Stunning, full-color photography
• Extremely detailed recipes and instruction
• Too many recipes to count
• Coffee table edition 
• 431 pages

What I don’t like:

• A bit more expensive ($30.99 on amazon.com at the time of writing this post)
• The book is a bit big for the home kitchen
• Some recipes look a bit too detailed and specific (which might be a plus for some home bakers)

Verdict: While more expensive than the other bread cookbooks, I do recommend The Perfect Loaf by Maurizio Leo to anyone who is serious about their sourdough journey.

7. Six Thousand Years of Bread: Its Holy and Unholy History

What I like about this book:

• Deep dive into the history of bread
• Very informative
• Historic illustrations
• Paperback
• 399 pages
• Not expensive ($14.95 on amazon.com at the time of writing this post)

​What I don’t like:

• ​Can be a bit lengthy
• Scholarly writing style
• Not a recipe book 

Verdict: I only recommend Six Thousand Years of Bread by H.E. Jacob for people who like to read a lot and learn the history and relevance of bread

8. Sourdough Culture by Eric Pallant

What I like about this book:

• Great, entertaining writing style
• Easy to read
• Includes historic photographs and illustration
• Contains 10 recipes, some of which are historic
• 305 pages
• ($20.49 on amazon.com at the time of writing this post)

What I don’t like:

• Nothing

Verdict: I highly recommend Sourdough Culture by Eric Pallant to anyone who enjoys good writing, good storytelling, and learning about the history of sourdough

​The following sourdough books are also popular but didn’t make my list of favorite books for some reason or other:

• Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson
• Flour Water Salt Yeast by Ken Forkish
• Artisan Breads Every Day by Peter Reinhart
• Bread: A Baker’s Book of Techniques and Recipes by Jeffrey Hamelman
• Sourdough: Recipes for Rustic Fermented Breads, Sweets, Savories, and More by Sarah Owens
• Mastering Bread: The Art and Practice of Handmade Sourdough, Yeast Bread, and Pastry by Marc Vetri
• Sourdough Every Day: Your Guide to Using Active and Discard Starter for Artisan Bread, Rolls, Pasta, Sweets and More by Hannah Dela Cruz
• The Sourdough Bible: [3 in 1] The Most Complete Step-by-Step Guide to the Prepare Homemade Sourdough, Delicious Yeast Bread, and Perfect Homemade Pastry by Lawrence M. Northern
• New World Sourdough: Artisan Techniques for Creative Homemade Fermented Breads by Bryan Ford

New To Sourdough?

If you are completely new to sourdough or overwhelmed by how complicated sourdough sounds to you, I encourage you to check out my super simple sourdough methods and recipes:

• Learn how to Make Your Own Sourdough Starter without Measuring or Discards
• Maintain Your Sourdough Starter Without Feedings or Discards
• Super Easy No-Knead Sourdough Bread