Best Books About sourdough

Sourdough baking is both an ancient craft and a modern obsession, offering home bakers the satisfaction of creating naturally leavened bread with complex flavors and beautiful open crumbs. The journey from your first starter to a perfectly scored loaf requires understanding fermentation science, mastering shaping techniques, and developing an intuition for dough. These essential books guide you through every step, from nurturing a healthy starter to achieving that coveted ear and crispy crust that rivals artisan bakeries.

---

Books & Affiliate Links

---

Book Details

1. Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson

Chad Robertson's masterwork from San Francisco's legendary Tartine Bakery has become the definitive text for serious home bakers pursuing artisan-quality loaves. The book reveals Robertson's meticulous process for creating bread with extraordinary flavor, open crumb, and crackling crust through natural fermentation. Essential for bakers ready to invest time and attention in mastering professional-level techniques.

• Best For: Artisan techniques
• Price: $40
• ISBN/ASIN: 0811870413
• Amazon: Tartine Bread

2. Flour Water Salt Yeast by Ken Forkish

Ken Forkish demystifies bread baking with clear explanations of fermentation science and straightforward recipes that build skills progressively from simple yeasted breads to complex sourdoughs. His detailed guidance on starter creation and maintenance gives beginners the confidence to succeed. The gold standard for anyone taking their first steps into the world of naturally leavened bread.

• Best For: Complete beginners
• Price: $35
• ISBN/ASIN: 160774273X
• Amazon: Flour Water Salt Yeast

3. The Perfect Loaf by Maurizio Leo

Maurizio Leo, an engineer-turned-baker, brings precision and clarity to sourdough with exhaustively detailed recipes that leave nothing to guesswork. Beautiful photography accompanies every step, from mixing to final shaping, making complex techniques accessible to visual learners. Perfect for methodical bakers who appreciate thorough instructions and want to understand exactly what's happening at each stage.

• Best For: Step-by-step guides
• Price: $35
• ISBN/ASIN: 1984860836
• Amazon: The Perfect Loaf

4. Sourdough by Sarah Owens

James Beard Award winner Sarah Owens explores the full potential of wild yeast fermentation, extending beyond bread to include pastries, pancakes, and even pasta. Her holistic approach connects sourdough to seasonal ingredients and traditional foodways, creating a deeper appreciation for the craft. Ideal for bakers interested in the broader philosophy and health benefits of natural leavening.

• Best For: Natural leavening
• Price: $30
• ISBN/ASIN: 1611802385
• Amazon: Sourdough

5. Bread by Jeffrey Hamelman

Jeffrey Hamelman's comprehensive text serves as both a professional reference and an advanced home baking guide, covering the complete spectrum of bread making with scientific rigor. The book includes detailed formula percentages, mixing methods, and fermentation schedules used in commercial bakeries. Best suited for dedicated bakers ready to approach sourdough with professional-level precision and depth.

• Best For: Professional methods
• Price: $45
• ISBN/ASIN: 1118132718
• Amazon: Bread

6. Artisan Sourdough Made Simple by Emilie Raffa

Emilie Raffa strips sourdough down to its essentials, proving that beautiful, flavorful bread is achievable even with a busy schedule and minimal hands-on time. Her flexible approach allows you to work the dough around your life rather than the other way around. A game-changer for anyone who assumed artisan bread requires full-time dedication to the kitchen.

• Best For: Busy bakers
• Price: $20
• ISBN/ASIN: 1624144292
• Amazon: Artisan Sourdough Made Simple

7. The Sourdough School by Vanessa Kimbell

Vanessa Kimbell dives deep into the microbiology and nutritional science behind sourdough, explaining how fermentation transforms flour into more digestible, nutrient-rich bread. Her evidence-based approach connects ancient baking traditions with modern gut health research. Essential reading for science-minded bakers who want to understand why sourdough is fundamentally different from commercial bread.

• Best For: Science of sourdough
• Price: $30
• ISBN/ASIN: 0857835084
• Amazon: The Sourdough School

8. New World Sourdough by Bryan Ford

Bryan Ford brings a fresh, contemporary perspective to sourdough, incorporating influences from his Honduran heritage and modern flavor combinations that break from European tradition. His recipes include creative variations like chocolate babka, pan de coco, and other innovative twists on classic techniques. Perfect for bakers who have mastered the basics and want to push sourdough in exciting new directions.

• Best For: Modern recipes
• Price: $25
• ISBN/ASIN: 0760371091
• Amazon: New World Sourdough

9. Sourdough Baking with Kids by Natalya Syanova

Natalya Syanova makes sourdough accessible to families, with recipes and projects designed to engage children in the magic of natural fermentation from an early age. The book includes age-appropriate tasks, simplified techniques, and fun variations that keep young bakers interested. Wonderful for parents who want to share the joy of bread making while teaching valuable kitchen skills.

• Best For: Family baking
• Price: $18
• ISBN/ASIN: 1645673065
• Amazon: Sourdough Baking with Kids

10. Do Sourdough by Andrew Whitley

Andrew Whitley, co-founder of the Real Bread Campaign, offers a compact, focused introduction that gets you baking real sourdough with minimal fuss and maximum understanding. His straightforward approach cuts through complexity while still respecting the craft and its traditions. The ideal starting point for curious beginners who want to bake their first loaf without investing in an encyclopedia.

• Best For: Getting started
• Price: $15
• ISBN/ASIN: 1907974113
• Amazon: Do Sourdough