Not a “hacking book” per se, but essential. You can’t exploit Windows without understanding its kernel, processes, and memory management.
Which specific (web apps, network security, or malware analysis) are you looking to master first? index of hacking books best
by Georgia Weidman: Ideal for beginners, this book walks through setting up a lab and performing core testing tasks. RTFM: Red Team Field Manual Not a “hacking book” per se, but essential
Malware analysis & reverse engineering If you want to understand exploits at the assembly level, start here. Andriesse teaches binary format internals (ELF/PE), disassembly, dynamic tainting, and symbolic execution. The last third includes a DIY binary analysis toolchain in C++ – challenging but immensely rewarding. No other book bridges academic RE and practical hacking as well. by Georgia Weidman: Ideal for beginners, this book
Bug Bounty Hunters The internet runs on web apps, and this is the Bible of that domain. Even a decade after its release, the methodologies for session hijacking, SQL injection, and cross-site scripting (XSS) remain timeless. Topping the index of hacking books best for web security, this tome sits open on every professional’s desk.
by Patrick Engebretson: A simple, step-by-step introduction to the entire penetration testing process, perfect for absolute newcomers. Hacking: The Art of Exploitation (2nd Edition)
by Jon Erickson. Unlike the flashy, cinematic hacking he’d seen in movies, this book was a "hands-on cybersecurity classic" that taught him hacking from the ground up. It wasn't about breaking things; it was about creative problem-solving. He spent nights with the included LiveCD, learning the fundamentals of C and debugging code without risking his own system. The Legend: A Life on the Run