SonVolt
Full Fledged Farker
The only BBQ books that really felt "outside the box" and changed the way I cook on both the smoker and the grill is both Adam Perry Lang's SeriousBBQ and Charred and Scruffed.
People on this site hate Myron because he portrays a character on TV, but his book "Smokin' with Myron Mixon" is a fantastic book for getting started. He discusses a ton of techniques, gives some rubs, sauces, and injections, and has simple to follow recipes for most of the popular BBQ meats.
Here is my list:
1. Peace Love and BBQ, Mike Mills. He pays homage to many great pitmasters across the country. A lot of great stories and recipes and you get the true sense that BBQ is an American treasure, not just a Texas thing or a Carolina thing. I don't remember much in the way of technique in the way Franklin outlined in his book, but I loved reading and still go back to it from time to time for certain things.
2. Aaron Franklin's book. A really good book. I really enjoyed him telling his story lining out where he came from and where he is now. Some good information on his techniques. One word of warning. Some things are more geared towards the cookers he uses. His stickburners work better at 250-275 so that is where he cooks. Don't take that as you should run your pellet cooker at those temperatures for the best product. You should look into his steak book as well.
3. Myron Mixon's smoking. There are some really good recipes in this book. Some good information.
I have a bunch of other books too, but there are the 3 that I absolutely refuse to get rid of.
My least favorite is Paul Kirk's book. The worst grilling book I have ever owned (gift from my sister) was Bobby Flay's "boy meets grill". Truly awful, lame and completely worthless.
Paul Kirk's book has a lot of good recipes in it. That's what I use it for.
Technique, not so much.
The only BBQ books that really felt "outside the box" and changed the way I cook on both the smoker and the grill is both Adam Perry Lang's SeriousBBQ and Charred and Scruffed.
"Peace, Love & BBQ" -- Mike Mills
I prefer techniques over recipes.
I learned a lot from reading Ray Lampe’s (Dr BBQ) Big Time BBQ cookbook. Smoke and Spice is also an old favorite. The brisket hash recipe is killer.
This is gonna sound ridiculous, but what exactly are "Meathead's" credentials? I personally never got much from his site, seems like he signs off on the highest bidder, and in general clowned himself with the SmokeFire release. Normally I don't care that much, it is just BBQ. If you can find a way to make money from it, good for you. He kind of seems like a sleezeball. I could overloook that if he had talent, but I don't think he could finish in the top 50 of 25 team KCBS contest. This is not directed at the OP, just in general asking the group what I am missing.
Meathead is just that, a meathead. Just my opinion.
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I'm not a Meathead fan. APL is ok, but Aaron Franklin is much better.
I think that "Secrets to Smoking on the Weber Smokey Mountain" b Bill Gillespie is the best BBQ book I have found yet.
If you can find a copy of Elies' "Smokestack Lightning" (out of print since the 90's), I highly recommend it.
Another eBay special worth tracking is "I'm glad I ate when I did, because I'm not hungry now", by Caleb Pirtle