THE VERY BEST BOOKS ON JAVASCRIPT
(the world's coolest, most ubiquitous, & most important programming language)

Professional JavaScript for Web Developers 2nd Ed. by Zakas (Wrox, 2009)  (ADVANCED)
Object-Oriented JavaScript by Stoyan Stefanov (PACKT, 2008)  (NOW out in new 2013 2nd ed.) (ADVANCED)
JavaScript: The Good Parts by Douglas Crockford (O’Reilly, 2008)  (ADVANCED)
Pro JavaScript Design Patterns by Harmes & Dias (Apress,2008)  (ADVANCED)
jQuery in Action by Bibeault & Katz (Manning, 2008; NOW out in 2nd ed., 2010)  (Important to begin with BUT do 3rd or 4th)
The Art and Science of JavaScript by Adams et al (Sitepoint, 2008)  (Great Enrichment,  Intermediate)
JavaScript Phrasebook by Wenz (Sams, 2007)  (Good Review, after basics -- i.e. those in green)
Pro JavaScript Techniques by Resig (Apress, 2006)  (Great Enrichment,  Intermediate)
Simply JavaScript by Yank and Adams (Sitepoint, 2007)  (Great Enrichment)
CSS, DHTML, & Ajax (4th ed.) by Teague (Peachpit, 2007)  (Important to begin with)
JavaScript, the Definitive Guide by Flanagan (O’Reilly)  (Important to begin with) (New 2011, 6th edition is NOW OUT! ; all user levels **)
The JavaScript Anthology 101 Essential Tips, by Edwards and Adams (Sitepoint, 2006)  (Great Enrichment)

 [ Frankly, this list seems to lack a good beginning book or 2, so a beginning programmer might learn comfortably and optimally.
   I have been advising peope new to JavaScript to read JavaScript & jQuery, the Missing Manual by D.S. McFarland (O'Reilly, 2012)
   FOLLOWED by Marach's JavaScript and DOM Scripting by Ray Harris (all before reading any of the others above). ]

IMPORTANT NEWS:

Most of the Javascript books on the page are now available for free download (.pdf's) via:
http://jsbooks.revolunet.com/  OR http://it-ebooks.info/tag/javascript/page/2/

Read my essay providing good data that JavaScript IS INDEED the world's MOST IMPORTANT programming language.

BEST AJAX BOOK:

Professional Ajax (2nd ed.) by Zakas, McPeak, & Fawcett (Wrox, 2007)  (Great Enrichment,  Intermediate)


USEFUL RECENT ADDITIONS:

Effective JavaScript by David Herman (Addison-Wesley, 2013) (ADVANCED)
Secrets of the JavaScript Ninja by Resig and Bibeault (Manning, 2013) (ADVANCED)
Murach's JavaScript and DOM Scripting by Ray Harris (Mike Murach & Assoc., 2009) (** all ** user levels)
jQuery Cookbook by jQuery Community Experts (ed. by Cody Lindley) (O'Reilly, 2010) (ADVANCED)
jQuery Novice to Ninja by Castledine & Sharkie (Sitepoint, 2010) (Intermediate TO ADVANCED)

 

** FOOTNOTE: Regarding the great JavaScript: The Definitive Guide (6th ed):  It is important for beginning programmers to
try to recognize the more advanced sections in Part I they might skip (and return to later) to avoid being over-challenged and
becoming discouraged.  Rough idea on what a beginner could skip until later:

pp. 120 - end of Chap. 6

pp. 152 - end of Chap. 7 (but read section on page 157)

pp. 188 - end of Chap. 8

pp. 208 - 228

pp. 230 - end of Chap. 9

pp. 251 - END OF PART 1 OF THE BOOK