For spectroscopy, I'd go to the online handbook put out by Richardson Gratings: http://gratings.newport.com/information/handbook/handbook.asp http://gratings.n

For spectroscopy, I'd go to the online handbook put out by Richardson Gratings: http://gratings.newport.com/information/handbook/handbook.asp http://gratings.newport.com/information/handbook/handbook.as... For a textbook, this one is pretty good: http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Spectroscopy-Donald-L-Pavia/dp/0495114782/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346099919&sr=1-1&keywords=spectroscopy http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Spectroscopy-Donald-L-Pav... For optics, Hecht is the classic text: http://www.amazon.com/Optics-4th-Edition-Eugene-Hecht/dp/0805385665/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1346099751&sr=8-2 http://www.amazon.com/Optics-4th-Edition-Eugene-Hecht/dp/080... I'd suggest Keating though, since it is a more comprehensive overview and includes things like the human visual system and some basic math review: http://www.amazon.com/Geometric-Physical-Visual-Optics-2e/dp/0750672625/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1346099751&sr=8-4 http://www.amazon.com/Geometric-Physical-Visual-Optics-2e/dp... For instrument design in general, these books are outstanding: http://www.amazon.com/Building-Scientific-Apparatus-John-Moore/dp/0521878586/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346099961&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.com/Building-Scientific-Apparatus-John-Moo... http://www.amazon.com/Optical-System-Design-Second-Fischer/dp/0071472487/ref=sr_1_18?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346099913&sr=1-18 http://www.amazon.com/Optical-System-Design-Second-Fischer/d... Of course, any understanding of spectroscopy should include some background of the physics behind what you're measuring. Any modern physics book would be fine: Krane, etc.: http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Physics-Kenneth-S-Krane/dp/1118061144/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346100838&sr=8-1&keywords=modern+physics http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Physics-Kenneth-S-Krane/dp/1118... Haven't tried this one, but it looks cool: http://www.amazon.com/Spectroscopy-Reading-Stellar-Practical-Astronomy/dp/0387367861/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346099919&sr=1-8&keywords=spectroscopy http://www.amazon.com/Spectroscopy-Reading-Stellar-Practical...