Our Top 10 Masonic Books

(Updated June 11, 2022)

1. “The Mason’s Words: The History and Evolution of the American Masonic Ritual" by Robert G Davis. It is my favorite book of all time. It’s a fascinating book that tells us exactly how the ritual came to be what it is today. Bob also has a website with more books on Scottish Rite, York Rite, etc. 

2. “Contemplative Masonry” by Chuck Dunning was able to help me connect Masonry to meditation and help me disconnect from the crazy world. Chuck also has a website with tons of great stuff.

3. "A Path to Providence: The Creation of the Middle Chamber Program" by Shaun Bradshaw and Ben Wallace. This is the book on Masonic Education that you wish was given to you when you were initiated, passed, and raised.  

4. "The Better Angels of Our Nature: Freemasonry in the American Civil War” by Michael Halleran was unexpectedly better than I thought. I’m not one of those Civil War history buff nerds, but damn this was just so cool to read the stories on how Masons took care of each other when they were supposed to fight each other. Highly recommend.

5. “Short Talks on Masonry” by Joseph Fort Newton Should be in every lodge. It’s broken up into 5-10 minute talks on a variety of Masonic topics. If speaking at a lodge that “just wants quick Masonic education”, I use this. Plenty of meat & milk.

6. “A Mosaic Palace Freemasonry and the Art of Memory ” by Martin Faulks   Was Masonry developed as a form of moral training for good Christian builders, or could its rituals have evolved from a more ambitious or mystical purpose? 

7. “Carl Claudy’s Introduction to EA” is given to Massachusetts Masons and is perfect.

8. “The Meaning of Masonry” by W.L. Wimshurst will hug your very soul with the square and compass and remind you of what you sought when you became a Mason.

9. “The Journey of the Elu to Enlightenment: A Contemporary Interpretation of the Teachings of the Scottish Rite” By Robert G Davis is very well liked, but I’m not a SR guy so I couldn’t vouch for it. But it’s by Bob Davis, so it has to be amazing lol.

10.  “King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine” was not an easy read, but taught me a lot about people and archetypes.

11. “Haunted Chambers: The Lives of Early Women Freemasons” By Karen Kidd talks about Woman Freemasons. Guaranteed to make the old guard have heart burn lol