I recommend the following books to my students as required reading. The authors who wrote them put an incredible amount of hard work and information into them. They also happen to be interesting reads.
Woodworking:
The Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery, Gary Rogowski
The Art of Japanese Joinery, Kiyosi Seike
Chairmaker’s Notebook, Peter Galbert
The Complete Illustrated Guide to Box Making, Doug Stowe
Fine woodworking Magazine
The Furniture of Sam Maloof, Jeremy Adamson
Nature Form and Spirit, The life and legacy of George Nakashima, Mira Nakashima
Finishing:
Taunton’s Complete Illustrated Guide to Finishing, Jeff Jewitt
Spray Finishing made simple, Jeff Jewitt