3D Printing has the potential to change multiple industries. The following are the books I have enjoyed most concerning 3D printing:

  • Makers, The New Industrial Revolution; by Chris Anderson  -Genuinely fun, fast read.  See Makers review.
  • Fabricated, The New World of 3D Printing; by Hod Lipson an Melba Kurman – Well done book with lots of worthwhile information.  There is less cheerleading than Makers, with more meat about future 3D printing areas, including Bioprinting, Food processing and environmental.
  • Additive Manufacturing, 3D Printing, and the Coming Stock Market Boom; by Dr Alexander Elder – Short blurb which gives solid background info on 3D and also discusses the few 3D printing companies that are public.
  • 3D Printing: The Next Technology Gold Rush – Future Factories and How to Capitalize on Distributed Manufacturing by Christopher D Winnan – Fantastic read with lots of entrepreneurial ideas.
  • Getting Started with MakerBot, by Bre Pettis, Anna Kaziunas France, and Jay Shergill.  A must if you are purchasing a Makerbot, but it also offers good tips for home 3D printing in general.
  • It Will Be Awesome If They Don’t Screw It Up: 3D Printing, Intellectual Property, and the Fight Over the Next Great Disruptive Technology, by Michael Weinberg – Short white paper (30 pages) mainly concerning Copyrights, Patents, and trademarks with respect to 3D printing.
  • What’s The Deal with Copyright and 3D Printing, by Michael Weinberg – Another short paper (30 pages).
  • From Bits to Pieces: The Business Innovation of 3D Printing, by Peter Keen – Discusses 3D printing for larger corporations.  The case studies of auto makers and shoe makers show the influence, use and dramatic impact of 3D printing.
  • The Tinkerers: The Amateurs, DIYers and Inventors Who Make America Great, by Alec Foege – Not about 3D printing, but celebrates the American innovative spirit.