For Build a Boat , the best books to pull are the ones that help with small-boat design, plywood methods, and epoxy work. A strong starter set from the available results is:

BookWhy pull it
Building Small Boats — Greg RösselGreat general small- boat reference and a common beginner pick.
The Boat Builder’s Apprentice — Greg RösselUseful for learning the mindset and workflow of boatbuilding.
How to Build a Wooden Boat — David “Bud” McIntoshClassic practical guide for wooden boat construction.
Planking & Fastening — edited by Peter H. SpectreHelpful if you want the structure and joinery side.
Epoxy Basics — Russell BrownGood for modern epoxy-and-plywood methods.
If you want the most useful “build a boat” stack, I’d prioritize:
  1. Building Small Boats
  2. How to Build a Wooden Boat
  3. Epoxy Basics
  4. Planking & Fastening

For a more advanced or design-focused shelf, people also mention:

  • Building Strip-Planked Boats — Nick Schade.
  • The New Cold-Molded Boatbuilding — Reuel B. Parker.
  • How to Build Glued-Lapstrake Wooden Boats — John Brooks and Ruth Ann Hill.

One note: if you mean “what books should I pull from a library or bookstore for a specific boat build,” the best choice depends on whether you’re doing plywood, strip-plank, lapstrake, or traditional wooden construction.