While on Murch... don't forget about his book 'In the Blink of an Eye,' which digs into his practice & theory on editing. A very brisk, informative & entertaining book!

Although it was written early in the 90's... so his take on NLE's (and why they probably would never go mainstream) is a bit dated!

And left off the list-- After Effects in Production (also from Chris & Trish). It's just as good as the Motion Graphics series.

David.

Maybe I've misunderstood the original question. I'm probably gonna open a can of worms, but here goes...

The books in the above list are more geared toward what I would classify as "how to get the application to do this or that to get such-and-such an effect." They don't really deal with or teach "editing" in the true sense of the word.

Anyone who wants to gain a better, genuine understanding of "editing," or "montage" as Eisenstein referred to it, beyond the use of any software, I would very strongly urge them to read the late Ralph Rosenblum's book "When the Shooting Stops the Cutting Begins." The book is still available in paperback at Amazon for $12.25. And if you're serious about building your library and want it in hard back, you'll find it at Alibris.com.

Don't misunderstand. Reading Rosenblum's book will not teach one how to edit. No book can do that any more than it can teach someone how to compose or paint or sculpt. One may learn the theory, but the artistic application of it comes through innate talent.

<packing my can opener and climbing down off my soap box>

J--

In addition to the Murch books, I'd recommend:

"The Grammar of the Edit," Focal Press
a really-good, format/system-agnostic primer on the fundamentals of editing.
(i.e., when to use a cut vs. a dissolve and why)