Reddit reviews Introductory Mining Engineering

Ok, here's a list of books that might interest you.

• [Introductory Mining Engineering] (http://www.amazon.com/Introductory-Mining-Engineering-Howard-Hartman/dp/0471348511/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412111081&sr=1-1&keywords=introductory+mining+engineering) as others have mentioned is a good, not too technical introduction to mining engineering and the industry as a whole.
  
  
• [Mining Explained] (http://www.smenet.org/store/mining-books.cfm/Mining-Explained%2C-11th-Edition/9041) is a good little overview of the industry, I believe it was written as an introductory guide for investors.
  
  
• [The Deep Dark] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Deep-Dark-Disaster-Redemption/dp/0307238776) is about the Sunshine Mine disaster. It is a well written book that reads like a novel. It gives a good overview of hardrock mining techniques in northern Idaho, but is more focused on the people, the disaster and the recovery efforts.
  
  
• [The World of Mining] (http://www.amazon.com/World-Mining-Richard-Woldendorp/dp/0415671892/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412111733&sr=1-1&keywords=the+world+of+mining) is more of a photography book, but it has a lot of great contemporary pictures from mines around the world.
  
  
• [Deep Enough] (http://www.amazon.com/Deep-Enough-Working-Stiff-Western/dp/0806125292/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412110097&sr=1-1&keywords=deep+enough) is the memoir of a man from an affluent New York family that decides to go to the western US in the early 1900's, where he ends up working in mining. This is a good one if you're interested the culture of a 1900's mining camp as well as the technical aspects.
  
  
• [Trapped] (http://www.amazon.com/Trapped-1909-Cherry-Mine-Disaster/dp/0743421957) is about the 1909 Cherry Creek mine disaster at a coal mine in Illinois.
  
  
• [The Making of a Hardrock Miner] (http://www.amazon.com/making-hardrock-miner-experiences-molybdenum/dp/0831071168/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412110431&sr=1-1&keywords=the+making+of+a+hard+rock+miner) is similar to Deep Enough, but written in the 1970's.
  
  
• [Mines, mules and me in Mexico] (http://www.amazon.com/Mules-Mines-Me-Mexico-1895-1932/dp/0816506264/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412110933&sr=1-1&keywords=mines+mules+and+me+in+mexico) similar in style to Deep Enough, it was written by a mining engineer that was working in Mexico before and during the Mexican Revolution.
  
  
• [Grasberg] (http://www.amazon.com/Grasberg-richest-deposit-mountains-Indonesia/dp/0965289001) is a historical account of the discovery and development of the Grasberg mine in Indonesia.
  
  
• [The Roar and the Silence] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Roar-And-Silence-Shepperson/dp/0874173205) is a historical account of Virginia City, Nevada which was the most advanced and affluent mining camp of its day. It follows Virginia City from a gritty mining camp, to a city whose influence rivaled some of the biggest cities of its day, through its slow fade into obscurity.
  
  
• [Out of the Fiery Furnace] (http://www.amazon.com/Out-Fiery-Furnace-History-Mankind/dp/027100441X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412110707&sr=1-1&keywords=out+of+the+fiery+furnace) is a look at how world history was shaped by mankind's discovery and utilization of different metals. It discusses how mining techniques have evolved over time.

SME Handbook

Hartman Book

Used both while getting my Mining Engineering degree. They are both really great for what you want but I would go with the Hartman Book. It's cheaper and does just as well.

A book about the history of fraud, treachery and thieves in the industry can be found here:A hole in the ground with a liar at the top

There's also another title that tells more stories about the workers in artisan diamond mining: Diamond a journey into the heart of an obsession

As far as books that get more technical, Introductory Mining Engineering would be a good start.

If the business and economics are more what you're interested in, a quick google search for "mining white papers" should yield a whole pile of results. Most of them being written by some consulting houses such as E&Y, KPMG, McKinsey, et al.

Let me know more what you're looking for. Mining Engineer here who loves to read. =)

It's the best I can do.