WOW! There’s a lot of books out there.

Once known as the “Biggest Flash Book Review Center on Earth,” this site has helped hundreds of people choose the right book for them.

While I am no longer reviewing books, the fact is I’ve still read more Flash books than you have, and I definitely have my favorites!

Reviews of older books can be read here. Be amazed at the in-depth, detailed, cross-referencing comparisons! Because I care.

With that, here’s an official list of Flash CS4 books that I personally recommend.

General Flash

Sams Teach Yourself Adobe Flash CS4 Professional in 24 Hours
by Phillip Kerman

Previously rated 4 out of 5 stars
This series of one-hour lessons will have you up and running in no time!
$26.39

Flash CS4 Professional for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide
by Katherine Ulrich
$23.09
I’ve always found the Visual Quickstart Guides to be very detailed, easy to read and easy to understand!

Flash CS4 Professional Advanced for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickPro Guide
by Russell Chun
$26.39
Where’s the best place to start once you’ve read the Quickstart guide? Right here!

Adobe Flash CS4 Professional Classroom in a Book
by Adobe Creative Team
$37.52
Official training from the source.

Adobe Flash CS4 Professional How-Tos: 100 Essential Techniques
by Mark Schaeffer
$16.49
Also from Adobe, this book will tell you exactly what you need to do — skipping a lot of possibly-confusing and irrelevant information.

Flash CS4 Professional Bible
by Robert Reinhardt
$31.49
The popular “Bible” series is the preferred choice of Flash designers the world over!

Actionscript

Essential ActionScript 3.0 (Essential)
by Colin Moock
$34.64
In short: Colin Moock is God! If I were to buy any book on AS3, this would be it.

Essential ActionScript 2.0
by Colin Moock
26.37
Want to master AS2? Moock’s expertise and writing style will certainly help you.

ActionScript for Flash MX: The Definitive Guide, Second Edition
by Colin Moock
$34.62
(AS1): I’ve referred to my copy of this book many times to get me out of a jam.

Colin Moock’s Lost ActionScript 3.0 Weekend Course 1 DVD
by Colin Moock
$94.89

Colin Moock’s Lost ActionScript 3.0 Weekend Course 2 DVD
by Colin Moock
$94.89

ActionScript 3.0: Visual QuickStart Guide
by Derrick Ypenburg
$23.09
This book is the most economical and most likely the easiest to follow.

Learning ActionScript 3.0: A Beginner’s Guide
by Rich Shupe
$26.39
A beginner’s guide, officially from the source.

ActionScript 3.0 for Adobe Flash CS4 Professional Classroom in a Book
by Adobe Creative Team
$34.64
Official AS3 training from the source.