Bridge in 3 Weeks: The Beginner's 21-Day Guide to the World's Most Popular Card Game

as is BRIDGE FOR DUMMIES. Also IMHO while there are many introductory texts to bridge, the more recent ones tend to be the most useful. This includes BRIDGE IN THREE WEEKS as well.

Every other beginners bridge book focuses teaching bridge via memorization. This book, by contrast teaches you to THINK. It shows you the logic that underlies the "rules" the other books focus on. More importantly, because it focuses on the logic, it does not have to "simplify" things to avoid taxing your memory. When you finish reading this book, you'll use modern bidding methods that any bridge player will understand. If you want to learn to play bridge, this is by far and away the best book to do it with. More importantly, this book focuses on building a solid core of bridge skills. When you are finished with this book, you will be able to play casually with your friends and will be ready to start improving your skills if you are interested in tournament play. My one gripe with this book is that the suggested bridge library in the back is a bit sparse, and somewhat poorly chosen. The books on declarer play and defense are a bit too advanced, and the bidding book he suggests is well out of date and below the level you'll be at when you finish this book. Here is my advice instead: When you buy this book you should buy these two classics as well: Introduction to Declarers Play Introduction to Defender's Play Truscott shows you the basics of play and defense, but these books really go into the logic behind the basic skills, and they do so far better than any newer books. You'll be much better off if you focus on mastering this material before tackling the more advanced books he recommends. At this point you are perfectly capable of playing casual bridge and having a good time with your friends. If you want to play tournament bridge, or you are serious about getting good, you've got a way to go yet. When you are ready to take your game to the next level, try Bid Better Play Better and How the Experts Win at Bridge.