What Are the Best CEH Books for Self-Study?

Introduction

CEH v13 is 60% practical — books give theory, labs give marks. Still, the right books save you 100+ hours of confusion. We analysed 2025 syllabus, student results, and placement interviews to bring you the only 12 books you need. At Ethical Hacking Training Institute we give all these books (original + our concise notes) + 500+ live labs so students clear CEH in first attempt even with self-study.

Top 12 CEH v13 Books for Self-Study (2025 Ranking)

Start with official books.

Official EC-Council CEH v13 Books (Must-Have)

• Volume 1–4 Official Courseware → only book that covers 100% syllabus
• Free with our institute training
• Available on Amazon/Flipkart
• Best for theory + exam questions

All-in-One & Exam Guide Books

Matt Walker All-in-One is the most popular — concise, exam-focused, 1000+ practice questions. CEH Certified Ethical Hacker Study Guide by Ric Messier is another favourite. These are perfect for self-study when combined with labs.

Use All-in-One guide.

Practical & Lab-Focused Books

• The Hacker Playbook 3 → real pentesting scenarios
• Penetration Testing: A Hands-On Introduction → Georgia Weidman
• Black Hat Python 2nd Edition → Python scripting
• Web Application Hacker’s Handbook → DAWF

Free & Budget-Friendly CEH Books

Official CEH v11/v12 PDFs are freely available online (Google search). CEH v13 notes from Ethical Hacking Training Institute (600+ pages) are given free to our students. You can also find older All-in-One PDFs for practice.

Books to Avoid in 2025

• Old v9/v10 books → outdated
• Local author “CEH in 10 days” → no practical value
• Only theory books without questions

Avoid outdated books.

Conclusion

Books give theory, labs give marks. Join Ethical Hacking Training Institute and get:

• All 12 books + our concise notes
• 500+ live vulnerable targets
• Weekend & weekday batches
• 100% placement support

Book free demo — get all books free with course!

Start your journey today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best CEH book?

Official CEH v13 Courseware (4 volumes).

Is All-in-One enough?

Yes — with labs.

Are official books free?

No — but free with our training.

Can I clear CEH with only books?

No — need labs.

Is Hacker Playbook good?

Yes — best for practical.

Do you provide books?

Yes — all 12 books + our notes.

Is v11 book useful?

80% yes — but v13 is better.

Weekend batch gives books?

Yes — same as weekday.

How many books to read?

3 main + 2 practical.

Is PDF enough?

Yes — if you have labs.

Do you give v13 books?

Yes — latest version only.

Is Black Hat Python useful?

Yes — for scripting.

Can freshers understand books?

Yes — we explain in classes.

Placement after books?

Yes — with our labs.

How to start today?

Book free demo — get books list + sample!