Here's one that all British Freemason's should read:Freemasons’ Guide and Compendium, by Bernard E Jones, ISBN 0 245 56125 0, published 1950, 605 pages.
The author was a mason for over 50 years and a well-respected member of Quator Coronati Lodge of Research No. 2076. He wrote this book in order enable younger and/or lesser knowledgeable brethren, access to one convenient and manageable source of historical background as well as contemporary information about the Craft.
The book crams in the advances made in masonic historical research over the preceding 60 years. It details the links between the medieval guilds and freemasonry, it touches on the various fanciful versions of the Craft’s development, it explains in great detail the events leading to the formation of the UGLE. (For example did you know that there were five bodies prior to UGLE claiming to be the premier Grand Lodge in England, four of which existed at the same time.) It also goes into minute detail about traditions and practises amongst Freemasons as well as the rise of the appendant bodies. It also explains the way that Freemasonry spread from the Grand Lodges of England, Scotland and Ireland across the World through Military Lodges. In his foreword to the book John Heron Lepper, P.G.D, Librarian and Curator to the United Grand Lodge Of England 1943-52 described the book as “a handbook of masonic lore”.
What I love about this book is the fact that while he was obviously aware of and indeed outlines the legendary origins/histories (Knights Templar, Egypt etc) he doesn’t try to lead you to believe any of them, which is rare in books about Freemasonry. I personally have both the disk and book versions of this work, which I keep going back to all of the time. It is brilliant and a must for any “serious” student of Freemasonry and its history and will definitely enable you to make a daily advancement in masonic knowledge regardless of which Grand Lodge you belong to.