Book Recommendations

[ColfaxWife]

I've been looking on Amazon for a couple good orchid books geared towards the a beginner learning about the different varieties and an introduction to hyrbrids and their classifications. Can anyone make a recommendation?
Thank you,
Kat

[Paul Mc]

I actually liked Orchids for Dummies, lol... Cheesy I know, but I did like it!

[verian]

I am also a beginner and have just purchased Orchids for dummies and I think it is really good,
Ian

[naoki]

Originally Posted by ColfaxWife

I've been looking on Amazon for a couple good orchid books geared towards the a beginner learning about the different varieties and an introduction to hyrbrids and their classifications. Can anyone make a recommendation?
Thank you,
Kat

Kat, I think you are not looking for books about orchid culture, but you are interested in learning about different types of orchids. If you are interested in the orchid species in general, here are two books with lots of photos:

The New Encyclopedia of Orchids: 1500 Species in Cultivation: Isobyl la Croix: 9780881928761: Amazon.com: Books

Amazon.com: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids (9780881928013): Alec Pridgeon: Books

There are lots of exotic orchids in these books which you don't see commonly. It is great to understand the diversity within the Orchid family. But if you are interested in only showy, artificial hybrids, they may not be for you.

I'm not interested in artificial hybrids at all, but for Phalaenopsis hybrids:

Amazon.com: Moth Orchids: The Complete Guide to Phalaenopsis (9780881928709): Steven A. Frowine: Books

This contains lots of info about history of Phal hybrids.
(to be honest, I was pretty disappointed by this book because I don't care about hybrids and it doesn't contain much info about the biology of Phal species).

If you are interested in Paphiopedilum (and some Phragmipedium) hybrids: Tropical Slipper Orchids: <i>Paphiopedilum</i> & <i>Phragmipedium</i> Species & Hybrids: Harold Koopowitz: 9780881928648: Amazon.com: Books
This book does contain some information about different Paph species, but from the view point of horticulture (not from biology side). Even though I don't care about artificial hybrids, the detailed history of how artificial selection progressed in Paph hybrids were moderately interesting. And I can see that this is a great book if you are interested in breeding paph hybrids.

[tucker85]

My favorite general orchid book is 'Understanding Orchids' by William Cullina. Lots of good information.

[Paul Mc]

I have all of the ones listed thus far and agree!

[ColfaxWife]

Wonderful recommendations! Thank you everyone

[Picotee]

If I may suggest a title, it would be Ortho's Complete Guide to Orchids, which has an endorsement from the American Orchid Society. Lots of good info and photos.

[WhiteRabbit]

I also like Orchids for Dummies, and Ortho's Complete Guide to Orchids (there's another Ortho's book, All About Orchids, I believe is the name- I do not recommend that one)

[Connie Star]

Like Tucker85 I find Cullinas Understanding Orchids has just about all of the info I need, laid out in a useful way. I especially like the alphabetical listing of the different genera. It's sort of my orchid bible.