@Huahuazo: There are countless LLM-related book lists out there, but how many are truly worth your time? A seasoned developer has already cut through the noise for you. He maintains a curated list called Awesome LLM Books, which uses six strict criteria to ruthlessly filter candidates—theme relevance, content quality, reader reviews, and more—discarding any that fall short.

There are countless LLM book lists out there, but how many are truly worth your time? A seasoned developer has already waded through this murky water for you. He maintains a curated list called Awesome LLM Books, which puts candidate books through a ruthless filter using six hard criteria—topic relevance, content quality, reader reputation are all assessed, and any shortcoming means immediate elimination. This list currently features 22 high-quality titles, clearly covering several core learning paths from beginner to advanced: foundational theory, model building, application development, prompt engineering, and generation and deployment. Each book includes detailed author, publisher, ratings from various platforms, and direct links, so you can tell at a glance whether it’s worth sinking your time into. https://github.com/Jason2Brownlee/awesome-llm-books… — # Jason2Brownlee/awesome-llm-books Source: https://github.com/Jason2Brownlee/awesome-llm-books # Awesome LLM Books Some of us learn best by reading high quality books on technical topics. This is a curated list of books for engineers on development with Large Language Models (LLMs). ## Books: Alphabetical list of books on LLMs. Each cover/title links to more information about the book. | Cover | Details | |—––|———| | AI Agents in Action | AI Agents in ActionAuthors: Micheal LanhamPublisher: Manning, 2025Star Rating: 4.1 on Amazon, 3.3 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/42ZqojT), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221160748-ai-agents-in-action), Publisher (https://www.manning.com/books/ai-agents-in-action), GitHub Project (https://github.com/cxbxmxcx/GPT-Agents) | | AI Engineering | AI EngineeringSubtitle: Building Applications with Foundation ModelsAuthors: Chip HuyenPublisher: O’Reilly, 2025Star Rating: 4.7 on Amazon, 4.46 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/3WpZ0Ia), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216848047-ai-engineering), Publisher (https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/ai-engineering/9781098166298/), GitHub Project (https://github.com/chiphuyen/aie-book) | | Build a Large Language Model | Build a Large Language ModelSubtitle: (From Scratch)Authors: Sebastian RaschkaPublisher: Manning, 2024Star Rating: 4.6 on Amazon, 4.62 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/3JviKqV), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219388329-build-a-large-language-model), Publisher (https://www.manning.com/books/build-a-large-language-model-from-scratch), GitHub Project (https://github.com/rasbt/LLMs-from-scratch) | | Building LLM Powered Applications | Building LLM Powered ApplicationsSubtitle: Create intelligent apps and agents with large language modelsAuthors: Valentina AltoPublisher: Packt, 2024Star Rating: 4.2 on Amazon, 3.54 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/4oz7YyC), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201054993-building-llm-powered-applications), Publisher (https://www.packtpub.com/en-au/product/building-llm-powered-applications-9781835462317), GitHub Project (https://github.com/PacktPublishing/Building-LLM-Powered-Applications) | | Building LLMs for Production | Building LLMs for ProductionSubtitle: Enhancing LLM Abilities and Reliability with Prompting, Fine-Tuning, and RAGAuthors: Louis-François Bouchard and Louie PetersPublisher: Independently published, 2024Star Rating: 4.4 on Amazon, 4.10 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/4oHqYvf), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213731760-building-llms-for-production), Publisher (https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/building-llms-for/9798324731472/) | | Creating Production-Ready LLMs | Creating Production-Ready LLMsSubtitle: A Comprehensive Guide to Building, Optimizing, and Deploying Large Language Models for Production UseAuthors: TransformaTech Institute Publisher: Independently published, 2024Star Rating: 4.3 on Amazon, 0.00 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/48Mr6ou), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219981025-creating-production-ready-llms), Publisher (https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/author/B0DJRMJX76/about) | | Developing Apps with GPT-4 and ChatGPT | Developing Apps with GPT-4 and ChatGPTSubtitle: Build Intelligent Chatbots, Content Generators, and MoreAuthors: Olivier Caelen and Marie-Alice BletePublisher: O’Reilly, 2023Star Rating: 4.1 on Amazon, 3.67 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/4qr3gVr), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/181704874-developing-apps-with-gpt-4-and-chatgpt), Publisher (https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/developing-apps-with/9781098152475/), GitHub Project (https://github.com/malywut/gpt_examples) | | Generative AI on AWS | Generative AI on AWSSubtitle: Building Context-Aware Multimodal Reasoning ApplicationsAuthors: Chris Fregly, Antje Barth and Shelbee Eigenbrode Publisher: O’Reilly, 2023Star Rating: 4.4 on Amazon, 4.33 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/47Evip3), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/197525483-generative-ai-on-aws), Publisher (https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/generative-ai-on/9781098159214/), GitHub Project (https://github.com/generative-ai-on-aws/generative-ai-on-aws) | | Generative AI with LangChain | Generative AI with LangChainSubtitle: Build large language model (LLM) apps with Python, ChatGPT, and other LLMsAuthors: Ben AuffarthPublisher: Packt, 2023Star Rating: 4.3 on Amazon, 3.58 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/3L9H8ig), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/185125672-generative-ai-with-langchain), Publisher (https://www.packtpub.com/en-us/product/generative-ai-with-langchain-9781835083468), GitHub Project (https://github.com/benman1/generative_ai_with_langchain) | | Hands-On Large Language Models | Hands-On Large Language ModelsSubtitle: Language Understanding and GenerationAuthors: Jay Alammar and Maarten GrootendorstPublisher: O’Reilly, 2024Star Rating: 4.7 on Amazon, 4.33 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/43stjBO), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210408850-hands-on-large-language-models), Publisher (https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/hands-on-large-language/9781098150952/), GitHub Project (https://github.com/HandsOnLLM/Hands-On-Large-Language-Models) | | LangChain Crash Course | LangChain Crash CourseSubtitle: Build OpenAI LLM powered Apps: Fast track to building OpenAI LLM powered Apps using PythonAuthors: Greg LimPublisher: Independently Published, 2024Star Rating: 4.1 on Amazon, 4.00 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/3WpZfD4), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198671257-langchain-crash-course), Publisher (https://greglim.gumroad.com/l/langchain) | | Large Language Models | Large Language ModelsSubtitle: A Deep Dive: Bridging Theory and PracticeAuthors: Uday Kamath, Kevin Keenan, Garrett Somers, and Sarah SorensonPublisher: Springer, 2024Star Rating: 4.4 on Amazon, 4.33 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/4ni6d8h), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214355031-large-language-models), Publisher (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-65647-7), GitHub Project (https://github.com/springer-llms-deep-dive/llms-deep-dive-tutorials) | | LLM Engineer’s Handbook | LLM Engineer’s HandbookSubtitle: Master the art of engineering large language models from concept to productionAuthors: Paul Iusztin and Maxime LabonnePublisher: Packt, 2024Star Rating: 4.6 on Amazon, 3.85 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/4htSycL), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216193554-llm-engineer-s-handbook), Publisher (https://www.packtpub.com/en-au/product/llm-engineers-handbook-9781836200062), GitHub Project (https://github.com/PacktPublishing/LLM-Engineers-Handbook) | | LLMs in Production | LLMs in ProductionSubtitle: From language models to successful productsAuthors: Christopher Brousseau and Matthew SharpPublisher: Manning, 2025Star Rating: 4.6 on Amazon, 4.05 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/47ng1YB), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215144443-llms-in-production), Publisher (https://www.manning.com/books/llms-in-production), GitHub Project (https://github.com/IMJONEZZ/LLMs-in-Production) | | Natural Language Processing with Transformers | Natural Language Processing with TransformersSubtitle: Building Language Applications with Hugging FaceAuthors: Lewis Tunstall, Leandro von Werra and Thomas WolfPublisher: O’Reilly, 2022Star Rating: 4.6 on Amazon, 4.39 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/3JrAhjO), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60114857-natural-language-processing-with-transformers), Publisher (https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/natural-language-processing/9781098136789/), GitHub Project (https://github.com/nlp-with-transformers/notebooks) | | Prompt Engineering for Generative AI | Prompt Engineering for Generative AISubtitle: Future-Proof Inputs for Reliable AI OutputsAuthors: James Phoenix and Mike TaylorPublisher: O’Reilly, 2024Star Rating: 4.5 on Amazon, 3.62 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/4oEZc2o), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204133880-prompt-engineering-for-generative-ai), Publisher (https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/prompt-engineering-for/9781098153427/), GitHub Project (https://github.com/BrightPool/prompt-engineering-for-generative-ai-examples) | | Prompt Engineering for LLMs | Prompt Engineering for LLMsSubtitle: The Art and Science of Building Large Language Model–Based ApplicationsAuthors: John Berryman and Albert ZieglerPublisher: O’Reilly, 2024Star Rating: 4.1 on Amazon, 4.29 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/4o1PQhb), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213739653-prompt-engineering-for-llms), Publisher (https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/prompt-engineering-for/9781098156145/) | | Quick Start Guide to Large Language Models | Quick Start Guide to Large Language ModelsSubtitle: Strategies and Best Practices for ChatGPT, Embeddings, Fine-Tuning, and Multimodal AIAuthors: Sinan Ozdemir Publisher: Addison-Wesley, 2024Star Rating: 4.4 on Amazon, 3.64 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/4oF2hj1), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126850297-quick-start-guide-to-large-language-models), Publisher (https://www.pearson.com/en-us/subject-catalog/p/quick-start-guide-to-large-language-models-2nd-edition/P200000012793), GitHub Project (https://github.com/sinanuozdemir/quick-start-guide-to-llms) | | RAG-Driven Generative AI | RAG-Driven Generative AISubtitle: Build custom retrieval augmented generation pipelines with LlamaIndex, Deep Lake, and PineconeAuthors: Denis RothmanPublisher: Packt, 2024Star Rating: 4.1 on Amazon, 3.72 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/42Zn5Jv), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214330235-rag-driven-generative-ai), Publisher (https://www.packtpub.com/en-us/product/rag-driven-generative-ai-9781836200918), GitHub Project (https://github.com/Denis2054/RAG-Driven-Generative-AI) | | Super Study Guide | Super Study GuideSubtitle: Transformers & Large Language ModelsAuthors: Afshine Amidi and Shervine Amidi Publisher: Independently published, 2024Star Rating: 4.6 on Amazon, 4.62 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/4qJrXwP), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217141763-super-study-guide), Publisher (https://superstudy.guide/transformers-large-language-models/) | | The Agentic AI Bible | The Agentic AI BibleSubtitle: The Complete and Up-to-Date Guide to Design, Build, and Scale Goal-Driven, LLM-Powered Agents that Think, Execute and EvolveAuthors: Thomas R. CaldwellPublisher: Independently published, 2025Star Rating: 4.7 on Amazon, 3.67 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/3L6prAo), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239144737-the-agentic-ai-bible) | | The Developer’s Playbook for Large Language Model Security | The Developer’s Playbook for Large Language Model SecuritySubtitle: Building Secure AI ApplicationsAuthors: Steve WilsonPublisher: O’Reilly, 2024Star Rating: 4.7 on Amazon, 3.86 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/47GvtjK), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210408897-the-developer-s-playbook-for-large-language-model-security), Publisher (https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/the-developers-playbook/9781098162191/) | | The Hundred-Page Language Models Book | The Hundred-Page Language Models BookSubtitle: Hands-on with PyTorchAuthors: Andriy BurkovPublisher: True Positive Inc., 2025Star Rating: 4.8 on Amazon, 4.5 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/4qqmtqt), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223643924-the-hundred-page-language-models-book), Publisher (https://www.thelmbook.com), GitHub Project (https://github.com/aburkov/theLMbook) | | What Is ChatGPT Doing… | What Is ChatGPT Doing…Subtitle: …and Why Does It Work?Authors: Stephen WolframPublisher: Wolfram Media Inc., 2023Star Rating: 4.2 on Amazon, 3.86 on Goodreads Links: Amazon (https://amzn.to/4o0DjdO), Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123451665-what-is-chatgpt-doing-and-why-does-it-work), Publisher (https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2023/02/what-is-chatgpt-doing-and-why-does-it-work/) | ### On Curation The above list is not “all books on LLM development”, instead it is filtered using the following procedure: 1. Create a master list of all known books on LLM development (amazon, goodreads, google books, etc.) 2. Read book blurb and table of contents to confirm relevance (for “engineers doing LLM development”). 3. Read reviews and check star ratings for quality (quality check). 4. Read comments and discussion about the book on social (twitter/reddit/etc). 5. Acquire the ebook version of the book, if possible (final read/skim to confirm relevance and quality). 6. Final judgement call (publisher, gut check). Note that I update the list based on newly published books and emails I received about new books. Additionally, listed star ratings are updated periodically. ### Make The List Better Do you have ideas on how we make this list more awesome? Email any time: Jason