Geoff Barnett runs this excellent reference website. It gives details of all known books about bowls (as well as videos and dvds) - we highly recommend it and have put links to the relevant page on his site for each book

Details here.

We have managed to find some new copies of this very enjoyable little book (104 pages), first published in 1994. Allan opens the door a little on his trade - sports journalist - and that is interesting in itself. But he also invents the character 'Uncle Fred' and paints a portrait of this bowler for us. I bet that everyone who reads it will recognise aspects of bowlers at their own club, with their obsessions, views, habits, abilities and failings. Allan cleverly uses Uncle Fred to espouse views which he might otherwise not be able to air - possible rule changes, for example, or the way lady bowlers are viewed.

Although this is slanted at flat green, I can recommend this without hesitation as a good read for all bowlers, with the possible exception of crown green which is only mentioned in passing. 

Details here (but for a different edition). Rules and tips for both flat and crown green bowls. Various editions over the years - this is the current 3rd edition from A&C Black. 

Author Ron Collingridge - county player and umpire. Details here.

This ring-bound book, 49 pages with several illustrations, is a good beginners guide to the shortmat game of bowls. Shortmat isn't just a cut-down version of outdoor bowls - it is a game which has its own set of quite restrictive rules, dictating where you can put your feet and where you can aim the bowl, for example, so it's good to see specialist books on the subject.

The rules are not quoted in detail - you will need to be familiar with the rules you play under (which differ between England and Wales, for example) - but there are some things that are common and these are explained well. As he says, the details may vary from country to country, but the basic principles are the same, as are the majority of the rules.

There is also a good section for absolute beginners. As a budding short mat coach myself I appreciated the beginners tips he gives here. 

Details here. Author Paul Hammond.

This has its amusing moments, and I applaud the author for producing the book,and for donating something from the sale of each copy of this book to the EBA.

The intention is to explain bowls in a light hearted way, and to a certain extent that is achieved. But I found the book frustrating - it could have been so much better. I found the mistakes irritating (bias is not generated by weighting the bowls), and the layout confusing and at times tedious (one question mark is always enough - you don't need three - and playing about with point size and paragraph justification just annoys the reader).
 

Details here. Author Paul Hammond.

An amusing follow up to The Bowling Club. I haven't had a chance to read this yet and so cannot give my own opinion.
 

Details here. Author Gwyn John (national director of coaching - English bowls coaching scheme). Soft back, 119 pages, illustrated, original publication 1991, this impression 2004. Many of the skills explained here - particularly the psychology - are relevant to all forms of bowls, not just lawn bowls 

Details here. Unfortunately, a lot of this is about match statistics - who beat whom and by how much - and I can't honestly say I learned a huge amount about Willie Wood. However, it does chart the story of one of Scotlands most popular and successful bowlers and every now and then does give an interesting insight or useful tip.

We've unearthed some new copies of this 1990 title. 

Details here. Author Gwyn John (national director of coaching - English bowls coaching scheme). Hard back, 119 pages, illustrated, original publication 1991. Many of the skills explained here - particularly the psychology - are relevant to all forms of bowls, not just lawn bowls

Sorry - out of stock at present 

Details here. A set of cartoons by Bill Stott, 1997. Several genuine chuckles here - this is a very popular bowls gift. Hardback, 58 pages