Michael Langford's 35mm Handbook

Rating:
Summary: Bursting with useful tidbits
Review: A small book with an enormous amount of information. It won't tell you WHAT a good picture is (take a visual arts course for that), but it will tell you how to make what you consider good the best it can be via the medium of 35mm film. Almost everyone who isn't a professional camera jockey will read this book and repeatedly say "Aha! So that's how it's done!"

Buy it. 'Nuff said.

Rating:
Summary: Basic Imformation is covered nicely!
Review: It makes for a great book to carry with you, and refer to when needed for advice. I use it a lot!

Rating:
Summary: Good Starting Point and Quick Reference
Review: This book is great for a beginner to get a first idea of what goes on behind the scenes to create different effects/qualities in photos, and as such, provides a good quick beginner's reference to put in your camera bag. However, I feel that this should be a companion to a more in-depth book, which goes into greater detail on subjects like exposure.