As much as I believe you can’t really impart what it takes to be a good DJ from a book, there are some people who insist that books like DJ Skils: Mixing and Scratching are helpful and useful to beginners. So while I can recommend a book like this to newcomers, I do so with the caveat that you really need to get some time behind the decks to learn the basics in practice, not just theory.

With that in mind, this book IS getting rave reviews. You have to recognize the ambition of a book that starts off discussing the earliest record player including the 1857 French invention of the phonoautograph and Edison’s 1877 invention of the wax cylinder phonograph.

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From there the book branches out into technique, how-to and much more. You could do a hell of a lot worse than this guide when it’s all said and done. I’d recommend this book to anyone who’s about to get their first turntable or DJ-in-a-box kit. Whether you’re a young aspiring DJ or you want to gift someone who is, have a good look at DJ Skills: Mixing and Scratching, and don’t miss the fun section on old-timey record players like the Decca and the Victrola.