The most important thing you can seek is knowledge of creating good images and a software specific book like a lightwave book will not nessarly give you knowledge of how to make a good looking image. The books I find that I learn the most from are non software specific. Ill try and give ya a list of my favorites here that cover different areas such as animation, lighting ect. Non software specific books teach you more that how to use the software. They delve into the theroy and techniques of makeing good images/animations.
I always buy amazon because of the deep discounts off list prices. Free shipping on most items is really nice, and there main shipping center is 20 miles away so I get my books in two days or so.
The Digital series of books is a series I hold close to my heart. They are seriously that good.
Digital Cinematography & Directing
Digital Lighting & Rendering
Digital Texturing & Painting
Digital Character Animation 2, Volume I : Essential Techniques
Digital Character Animation 2, Volume II: Advanced Techniques
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...51031?v=glance
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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...51031?v=glance
Bill flemming wrote these modeling/surfaceing books a while ago but its principles for modeling and textureing realism are timeless. His renders really are not that realistic but his principles are great.
3D Photorealism Toolkit
Advanced 3D Photorealism Techniques
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...51031?v=glance
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
I also like books that cover Cinematography and direction because it improves my storytelling ability, my directing ability, and camera handleing ability.
The Five C's of Cinematography: Motion Picture Filming Techniques
Film Directing, Cinematic Motion: A Workshop for Staging Scenes
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...51031?v=glance
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
Timothy Albee wrote a great book on the film makeing process, while makeing a short film by himself. Its packed with inspration and and insight.
CGI Filmmaking: The Creation of Ghost Warrior
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
Another great book.
The Art of 3-D Computer Animation and Effects, Third Edition
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...859447-6351031