Here's an excerpt from an article I wrote a few years ago. It might be of some help to you.
Cracking the Freemasons Code by Robert L.D. Cooper
This has become one of my “go to” books to recommend when people ask for a recommendation. Brother Cooper is the curator of the museum and library of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. In this book, he writes about early Masonry, the transition from operative to speculative, the differences between American, English, Scottish, and Irish Masonry, Masonic symbolism, and a host of other interesting topics.
The Rosslyn Hoax by Robert L.D. Cooper
The astute reader will note that I do not include John Robinson’s Born in Blood in this list, which is one of the first books a lot of Masons read. While entertaining, I think that book has led a lot of Masons (including myself at one time) to believe that there is an established direct link from the crusading Knights Templars to modern Freemasonry. In “Hoax,” Brother Cooper debunks a lot of the myths that have grown up around the famous Rosslyn Chapel (still worth a visit; I’ve been there), the Templars, and Freemasonry. If you’ve read Born in Blood, you really need to read this one for balance.
Freemasons’ Guide and Compendium (rev.ed.) by Bernard Jones
While I’ll caution you that much of the content of this book is relevant mainly to British Freemasonry, I think that you’ll find plenty of interest to an American Mason. Besides, I’m always of the belief that you can’t really understand how you got to where you are without first understanding where you came from. It’s a big book, but well indexed, so you can read it cover to cover over an extended period, or use it for reference.
Esoterika by Albert Pike
Have you tried to wade through Morals and Dogma and swore you’d never be able to understand Pike? Give Esoterika a try. Here Pike takes on his interpretation of the teachings and symbolism of the three craft degrees. Interestingly, Pike did not want this book published, thinking that the material was beyond the ability of the average Mason to understand. However, I think that you’ll find this ever so much more accessible than Morals and Dogma, and the editing of Art DeHoyos clarifies much of the book with footnotes and appendices. You should know that Pike did, in fact, write rituals for the Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason degrees. (These are available, if you’re interested, in his The Porch and the Middle Chamber, which also requires you to obtain Esoteric Work of the 1st through 3rd Degree, According to the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. The main book leaves out the “secret” parts, inserting a numbered code that you have to look up in the second.) These rituals make the Scottish Rite a complete 33 degree system, and Esoterika reflects his thinking in that regard, but you’ll still find it completely relevant to helping your understanding of the blue lodge degrees as we practice them. If you choose to purchase Esoterika, do it directly through the A&ASR Southern Jurisdiction web site, as it’s much cheaper there. In fact, I’d encourage you to enroll in their “Master Craftsman: Symbolic Lodge” course. The book is included in the program.
The Freemason at Work by Henry Carr
Brother Carr was the secretary of the world’s premier lodge of research, Lodge Quatuor Coronati in London. In that capacity, he would receive questions about different aspects of Masonry from all over the world, and he took some of the most interesting questions (some 200 of them) and his answers to them, and put them in this book. Once again, this is a book written from the perspective of the United Grand Lodge of England, but Brother Carr is quite good at noting where there are differences between the practices of UGLE Masonry and Masonry as practiced in other countries, particularly the United States. A must for the library of any Masonic student.
Is It True What They Say About Freemasonry by S. Brent Morris and Arturo DeHoyos
Anti-Masonry continues to be a problem. I have not encountered very much of it here in Minnesota, but I hear of it in other parts of the country on a regular basis, and it is, unfortunately, a constant problem for our brethren in Great Britain. In this book, brothers Morris and DeHoyos attempt to debunk many of the negative myths surrounding the craft. It would be difficult to find two more qualified Masons to take on this task than Morris and DeHoyos. In many cases, they are attempting the difficult, if not impossible, task of proving a negative. In other words, how do you prove to a skeptic that we don’t do something that they say we do? However, they do a yeoman’s job of tracing the origins of the myths and providing as much evidence as possible to refute them. A helpful addition to your library for talking with friends or family who have “heard” things about our gentle craft.
The Origins of Freemasonry: Scotland’s Century by David Stevenson
We all know that Grand Lodge Masonry began with the formation of the Grand Lodge of London and Westminster (soon to become the Grand Lodge of England) in 1717. However, prior to that, very little evidence exists of speculative Masonic activity in England. Where did it come from? Stevenson was a professor of History at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and writes about the roots of Freemasonry from the perspective of a non-Mason academic historian. Using primary-source documents, he makes a compelling argument that the real roots of Freemasonry lie in pre-18th Century Scotland. Along the way, you’ll get a primer in the historical road that led to Freemasonry.
The Masons’ Words by Robert Davis
Brother Davis, 33° Grand Cross and secretary of the Scottish Rite Valley of Guthrie, Oklahoma, has a life-long love of Freemasonry, inspired when he was a child witnessing the special relationship between his father and the men of his town who where his lodge brothers. In this book, he traces the development of Masonic ritual; why we say the words we do in Lodge. This is no easy task, given that so little of ritual was written down. His research is academic-quality, but written in the easy-going style that characterizes Brother Davis, rather than in the often-dry style of the academic.
Observing the Craft by Andrew Hammer
Brother Hammer is a rather harsh critic of Freemasonry as it is practiced in many, if not most, Lodges today. Chances are that some of his critiques and suggestions for improvement will irritate many of you. He is a main contributor to the Masonic Restoration movement, from which has sprung the concept of Traditional Observance (TO) lodges, with their emphasis on formalism, reverence, thoughtful education, and so forth. He does not mince words in his criticism of more casual Masonry. I don’t agree with everything he proposes; I doubt that many of you will agree with it all either. However, he has a lot to say that you should at least consider, to help you focus on just what it is that you seek from Masonry, and in those areas with which you disagree, the process of thinking through why you disagree is an important step.
A Pilgrim’s Path by John Robinson
In last month’s column, I made a passing reference to Robinson’s Born in Blood, a book that I find entertaining, but for reasons discussed then, not among my top ten due to the questionable nature of his findings. However, A Pilgrim’s Path makes my list because it tells the story of a man (Robinson himself) who finds his way to Masonry in a rather unorthodox way. The research for Born in Blood did not begin with any idea that Masonry would become the main point of the book. He was researching the English Peasants Revolt of 1381 and found events and people that led him to a conclusion that it was inspired by an early form of Masonry. After the publication of Born in Blood, he did the common author’s tour of radio and television talk shows to publicize the book. Often, rather than wanting to talk about the book, callers were attacking Freemasonry. He then did research on these allegations to be better equipped to respond to the callers, and what he learned in this research led him to becoming a Mason himself.
This is my list of ten favorites. I don’t call it a “top ten,” because on another day I might list other books, and as I continue to read I’m certain to run across something that would make the list. I hope you’ve found my list informative. Happy reading!