Good Book To Start With
"Winning Casino Blackjack For The Non-Counter" was probably the first BJ book I actually read cover to cover several years ago, and was a really good starting point for learning basic strategy and forming reasonable money management skills. If memory serves me correctly, the author recommended some type of betting progression, which, without the benefit of counting cards, is probably your best bet for occational wins, and 'entertainment play.'
My net results from this read was simply this: I lost less at the Casino than I did before I read it. I was able to play longer, and actually did have some winning trips as a result, but overall, the benefit I received from reading this book was that it took me longer to lose, and the losses were less, in the long run. That was an improvement.
Fortunately for me, this was not the last book I have read on Blackjack. My win/loss ratio tipped to the slightly positive side after reading and applying in play "Winning Blackjack For The Serious Player" by Edwin Silberstang. This book may not be the best text to study, underline, highlight or practice with, but it did finally get me on the winning side of the game.
Bar none, the best book I have read was the most recent, Kevin Blackwood's "Play Blackjack Like the Pros." I must say however, had I not already read several others including "Winning Casino Blackjack . ." and played for quite a while (years), it would have meant a whole lot less.
I equate blackjack to some college courses. You have the classroom time studying principles and concepts, then you go out into the lab to apply the principles in the field (Casino). Just like Biology, after some (a lot) of practise, the field work results come closer and closer to acedemic results in the classroom.
My rational is that if you can muster one or two good wins, in any way, you are more than justified carving a small chunk out to order recommended books by reputable players/authors. This site has some of the best blackjack "Bibles" on the market. I don' know Silberstang or Blackwood from a hole in the wall, but when I search out blackjack sites, books, notable names, these two, along with Cardoza's always seem to come up, and are referenced often, here, and else where, with positive reviews.