Best books for music producers in 2025, from synth exploration to creative techniquesThirsty for new creative ideas in your music-making? A little extra knowledge, a fresh perspective, or simply a spark of inspiration can make all the difference.
Sure, the web is packed with freely available resources from YouTube videos to deep-dive production forums. But, sometimes, the best way is the old way — and nothing beats sitting down with a great book.

READ MORE: Brian Eno taught me these 10 lessons in his music-making workshop

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up the best music production books available in 2025, giving you a chance to step away from the screen and onto the page. Within these tomes you’ll find practical techniques, expert insights, and plenty of creative philosophy to fuel your sonic explorations. So grab yourself a cuppa and some reading specs, and let’s get started!
Best books for music producers in 2025 at a glance:

Push Turn Move – Kim Bjørn
Patch & Tweak – Kim Bjørn
The Creative Act: A Way of Being – Rick Rubin
Making Music: 74 Creative Strategies for Electronic Music Producers – Dennis DeSantis
Dilla Time – Dan Charnas
How Music Works – David Byrne
How Music Works – John Powell
Welsh’s Synthesizer Cookbook – Fred Welsh
The Secrets of Dance Music Production – Attack Magazine
The Music Producer’s Handbook – Bobby Owsinki
Synthesizer Evolution – Oli Freke
Performing Electronic Music Live – Kirsten Hermes
Live Audio: The Art of Mixing a Show – Dave Swallow

Push Turn Move – Kim Bjørn
For synth lovers and gearheads, Push Turn Move is a delight. Packed with stunning photography and detailed explorations of interface designs, it explores the evolution of electronic instruments through interviews and content from pioneers like Jean-Michel Jarre, Dorit Chrysler, and Jesper Kouthoofd of Teenage Engineering fame.
More than just a coffee table book, inside you’ll find valuable insight into how musicians interact with their tools and how that shapes the decisions they make. If you’re fascinated by the intersection of music, design, and technology, this one’s a must-have.
Find out more about Push Turn Move by Kim Bjørn on Amazon here. 
Image: Press
Patch & Tweak – Kim Bjørn
The ultimate guide to modular synthesis, Patch & Tweak demystifies the world of Eurorack and beyond. Whether you’re a beginner getting to grips with the basics or a diehard modular fanatic searching for inspiration, this title covers everything from signal flow to creative patching techniques.
This is the second title from Kim Bjørn on our list — and if you love this one, the rest of the BJOOKS catalogue offers many more lovingly crafted explorations of music technology.
Find out more about Patch & Tweak by Kim Bjørn on Amazon here. 
Image: Bjooks
The Creative Act: A Way of Being – Rick Rubin
Penned by one of modern music’s most influential producers, Rick Rubin’s debut book The Creative Act arrived in 2023. One part reflection on his decades-spanning, genre-defying career, and one part crash course in creative philosophy, this best seller is packed with wisdom.
Exploring concepts like mindfulness, curiosity, and intuition, Rubin offers thought-provoking insights that transcend music, shaping how we approach creativity itself. Whether you’re a musician, writer, or artist, this book is sure to inspire fresh ways of creating.
Find out more about The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin on Amazon here.
Rick Rubin, 2011. Image: Chelsea Lauren/WireImage via Getty Images
Making Music: 74 Creative Strategies for Electronic Music Producers – Dennis DeSantis
Making Music is a goldmine of practical advice for overcoming creative roadblocks, courtesy of Ableton’s head of documentation, Dennis DeSantis. Rather than focusing on technical know-how, this book explores the artistic side of music production, offering 74 strategies to spark ideas and push past writer’s block — a bit like if Brian Eno’s Oblique Strategies were expanded into a full-length title.
Each section is neatly divided into the three main stages of music production: starting, progressing, and finishing a track. Whether you’re struggling with arrangement, melody, or simply completing one of those many projects lost to the depths of your hard drive, this book provides the tools to keep you moving forward no matter the software you use.
Find out more about Making Music: 74 Creative Strategies for Electronic Music Producers by Dennis DeSantis on Amazon here. 
Image: Press
Dilla Time – Dan Charnas
A mixture of biography and musicology, Dilla Time unpacks the genius of J Dilla and his revolutionary approach to rhythm. Throughout the book, Charnas breaks down how Dilla’s signature swing reshaped hip-hop, R&B, and beyond, exploring both his life and the intricacies of his beats.
Combining history, music theory, and cultural analysis to show just how deep his influence runs, this book is an essential read on one of modern music’s most groundbreaking figures.
Find out more about Dilla Time by Dan Charnas on Amazon here. 
J Dilla, 2000. Image: Gregory Bojorquez/Getty Images
How Music Works – David Byrne
In How Music Works, Talking Heads frontman David Byrne takes a broad and philosophical look at music — how it’s shaped by culture, technology, and even the spaces we hear it in.
Blending memoir with deep musical insight, he explores everything from recording techniques to the economics of the modern industry, offering a fascinating perspective on why music sounds the way it does through a mixture of personal stories and big-picture thinking.
Find out more about How Music Works by David Byrne on Amazon here. 
David Byrne performing with an electric guitar in 2018. Image: Jim Bennett/FilmMagic via Getty Images
How Music Works – John Powell
Ever wondered why certain chords sound good together, how our brains interpret rhythm, or what makes a melody memorable? Not to be confused with David Byrne’s book of the same name, John Powell’s How Music Works instead delves into the science of sound.
Both a physicist and composer, Powell takes a lighthearted approach to unpacking the mechanics of music, explaining complex concepts without feeling dry or overly technical. If you want to understand music on a more physical level, this is an easy and enjoyable read.
Find out more about How Music Works by John Powell on Amazon here. 
Welsh’s Synthesizer Cookbook – Fred Welsh
If you’ve ever frequented an online synth forum, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Welsh’s Synthesizer Cookbook. A go-to resource for understanding sound design from the ground up, it’s easy to see why it’s developed somewhat of a cult status among gearheads.
Breaking synthesis down into simple, replicable steps, the book includes a detailed guide to programming classic sounds, complete with charts and diagrams, as well as how to reverse engineer what you’re hearing so you can recreate patches from your favourite tracks.
Find out more about Welsh’s Synthesizer Cookbook by Fred Welsh on Amazon here.
The Secrets of Dance Music Production – Attack Magazine
Compiled by the editors of Attack Magazine, The Secrets of Dance Music Production is a masterclass in exactly what it says on the tin. Dubbed as the “definitive guide to making electronic dance music”, it’s filled with practical, no-nonsense advice, detailed walkthroughs, and industry insights for modern producers.
Filled with handy visuals and step-by-step breakdowns, it’s as easy to digest as it is useful. If you’re looking for a manual for creating house, techno, or bass music, this might just be the closest thing there is.
Find out more about The Secrets of Dance Music Production by Attack Magazine on Amazon here.  
Image: Press
The Music Producer’s Handbook – Bobby Owsinski
Known for his exhaustive guides to various facets of the audio world, Bobby Owsinski shines a light on everything from recording techniques to artist management in The Music Producer’s Handbook.
Packed with practical advice and real-world examples, the book provides insights into the brick-by-brick process of producing a record — whether that’s arrangement, workflow, coaxing the best performance from your singer, or even the politics of dealing with clients.
Find out more about The Music Producer’s Handbook by Bobby Owsinski on Amazon here.
Synthesizer Evolution – Oli Freke
A love letter to the history of synths, Oli Freke’s Synthesizer Evolution is an illustrated guide to decades of electronic instruments.
Covering everything from early analogue behemoths to modern digital powerhouses, it’s packed with facts, specs, and charming hand-drawn diagrams that serve as both a reference and a celebration of synth culture throughout the ages.
Find out more about Synthesizer Evolution by Oli Freke on Amazon here. 
Image: Press
Performing Electronic Music Live – Kirsten Hermes
Fancy the challenge of taking your productions from the studio to the stage? Kirsten Hermes’ detailed how-to manual, Performing Electronic Music Live, will set you up for success. From creating your live rig and designing custom hardware, to on-the-fly synthesis and sound manipulation, this book explores the nuts and bolts of building an engaging live show.
In addition, Hermes — who holds a PhD in sound perception — also explores other hurdles artists face within live music, whether that’s the complicated psychology of performance or the logistics of planning and promoting your own show.
Find out more about Performing Electronic Music Live by Kirsten Hermes on Amazon here. 
Live Audio: The Art of Mixing a Show – Dave Swallow
A hands-on guide to sound engineering, Live Audio walks readers through the process of mixing gigs from setup to execution. Throughout, Swallow breaks down everything from EQ and dynamics to venue acoustics and troubleshooting issues on the fly — everything you need to know about mixing music in often unpredictable environments.
Offering a mix of technical expertise and real-world examples, this book is a must-have for anyone working in live sound, be that at clubs, festivals, or on tour. It’s just as valuable a read for performers too, where understanding what goes on behind the scenes can boost your confidence before a crowd.
Find out more about Live Audio: The Art of Mixing a Show by Dave Swallow on Amazon here.
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