What is, in your opinion, a really good and useful billiard book for beginners?
I just returned to my local library 2 of them: one by Doctor Dave and the other by Robert Byrne. They look like very serious books, plenty of pictures and diagrams...but a bit heavy to digest. I would like to purchase a really good and easy book for starters.

Any help appreciated! Thanks.

The 99 CRITICAL SHOTS in POOL....Ray "Cool Cat" Martin and Rosser reeves.

Thanks, Aprazur...it looks interesting...I will go for it!

Anything by Robert Bryne is a good start too

In the really "rookie stage" Byrnes would suffice especially good for three cushion though many of us disagree with a lot of his theories.in regards to pocket billards
Dependant on what you want to learn........the stroke? the grip? the stance? aiming? ,or are you looking for nuances of a particular game........
No book will take the place of a good teacher and practice but saying that, a great player who developed cancer of the throat and right now has it in remission has given away knowledge on a set of dvd's for a donation that is just unbelievable.
His name happens to be Jimmy Reid. Scan the internet for anything he has (No times for negative....)including this last set he made and you will be way ahead
Jimmy will show you things that Byrnes and the rest totally either are unaware of or because of Byrnes devotion to three cushion he just never reached any where close to Rieds level of success as a player or teacher of pocket billards.
Jimmy was a true champion. Yes he liked the girls and the chemicals but that was almost status quo in his era. His potting ability was second to none.....9 or 8 ball were his specialities.
If you want I'll get the address for the donation for cancer to secure his dvd set.
Mrcrawdad

PS the Dr Dave book is not what you need to really get started....I would rate it a c+ at best