Best Machine Learning Books to Read in 2025
If you are a student, beginner, or self-learner looking to understand Machine Learning (ML) in a simple and practical way, choosing the right book is important. This page lists easy-to-read and beginner-friendly machine learning books that are highly relevant in 2025.
📘 1. Hands-On Machine Learning with Scikit-Learn, Keras & TensorFlow
Author: Aurélien Géron
This is one of the most popular machine learning books for beginners. It focuses on learning by doing using Python. Concepts are explained clearly with practical examples.
- Best for beginners with basic Python knowledge
- Minimal math, more intuition
- Covers supervised, unsupervised learning, and neural networks
📘 2. Introduction to Machine Learning with Python
Authors: Andreas C. Müller, Sarah Guido
This book is ideal for students who want a gentle introduction to machine learning. It explains algorithms using scikit-learn in a very structured manner.
- Excellent for academic learning
- Clear explanations of core ML algorithms
- Widely used in universities
📘 3. Machine Learning for Absolute Beginners
Author: Oliver Theobald
As the name suggests, this book is written for readers with no prior background in machine learning. It avoids heavy mathematics and focuses on basic intuition.
- No advanced math required
- Very easy language
- Good starting point for non-technical learners
📘 4. The Hundred-Page Machine Learning Book
Author: Andriy Burkov
This book gives a quick overview of almost all important ML concepts. It is short, precise, and useful for revision or interview preparation.
- Compact and fast to read
- Good for beginners and professionals
- Great as a reference book
📘 5. Fundamentals of Machine Learning for Predictive Data Analytics, second edition: Algorithms, Worked Examples, and Case Studies
Author: John D. Kelleher, Brian Mac Namee, and Aoife D’Arcy
This textbook is a comprehensive introduction to machine learning techniques specifically used for predictive data analytics — that is, building models that predict outcomes from data.
- Covers both theory and practice of machine learning algorithms
- Includes worked examples and case studies showing how models are used in real analytics projects such as customer behavior prediction, risk assessment, and document classification
- Explains core ML approaches with intuition first, followed by mathematical details and algorithms.
- Suitable for undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals seeking a solid foundation in predictive machine learning.
🎯 Which Book Should You Choose?
| Your Level | Recommended Book |
|---|---|
| Absolute Beginner | Machine Learning for Absolute Beginners |
| Beginner with Python | Hands-On Machine Learning |
| Academic / University Student | Introduction to ML with Python |
| Quick Overview / Revision | The Hundred-Page ML Book |
📌 Final Thoughts
In 2025, many classic machine learning books are still highly relevant. The key is to choose a book that matches your current level. Once you understand the basics, you can move toward advanced topics like deep learning and reinforcement learning.
📖 Tip: Always practice alongside reading using Python and real datasets.