mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

While it’s not a how-to, I’ve found “Ansel Adams 400 photographs” to be very instructional.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Favorite, you have got to be kidding, Ansel Adams man, he was the best. Here are some additional ones to consider.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_24?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=books+on+b%26w+photography&sprefix=books+on+B%26W+photography%2Caps%2C211&crid=2CYY43CTPN2IA

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

👍👍 Indeed!

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

In reference to translation of Adams’s work into digital terms, the concepts of light and shadow, dynamic range, perspective, lighting setups, perspective control, filtering light, etc. are all easy. The camera work advice stands on its own, and the rest is now much easier, using your post processing software. In reading them, just skip the film based parts if not interested, but virtually everything I know about B/W photography came from this series. I believe they were all available bound together at one time - they’re actually very slim volumes individually.

Andy

newcamman

Dont neglect watching some old black and white movies... You can find them on YouTube for free. Film Noir movies seem to be among the best with great contrast and mood setting techniques

rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

I wrote a simple, English sentence, “What book on digital, b&w photography do you recommend?” You suggested a five volume set of books on film-based photography. Why?

rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Oh, goodness! Someone finally quit listening to herself ramble and strut and gave me a straight answer. Thank you, thank you, thank you...

BrianFlaherty Loc: Wilseyville, CA

I will add to the comments re: Ansel Adams 5-vol set. . .Truly The Best! With the added pleasure of "watching" a master at work that comes with reading Adams' books!

A few years ago, I "did" an "Adams Trip" to Yosemite . . .On a sunny Spring morning, I set out on Cross-Country skis (with a set of the books for reference in my backpack) to "visit the photographs" in an attempt to take the same shots using the books as a "User's Manual." Since I was much younger, I wasn't troubled by the weight of the backpack [Adams' books; a pair of binoculars' and, a pair of Nikon F-100's; several lenses; a tripod; and, 20 or so rolls of film] I was able to take duplicate shots using both cameras equipped with different lenses. . .And, came away with a "book" of my own (I took notes, using a pocket dictator, for transcription later)

It was a great experience. . .Yosemite in all it's magnificence was worth the "walk" all by itself. . .And, Mr Adams was "frosting on the cake!"

PS. . .At that time of the year, I had much of the Park to myself! And, was not bothered by "foot traffic interference!" <smile>

PS#2. . .re: someone's comment re: a single book. . .Read any ONE of Adams' books. . .Or, read them all. . .The man knew how to shoot B&W. . .And, your time will be well-spent. . .You'll gain from the experience. . .Because you're dealing with a topic that virtually cannot be covered in one shot!

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Except they won't have anything about the digital B&W conversion, which is the most important aspect of digital B&W photography, and they will have way more information about film processing and darkroom printing which isn't applicable to digital.

rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Note to administrator: we need a new forum, “Ramblings Of People Who Ignore Topics And Just Ramble.”

rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

GOODNESS! Someone understands! There is hope!! Bless you, John Swanda, bless you...

granbob Loc: SW Wisc; E Iowa; W Illinois

I recently purchased "Nik Software Captured: The Complete Guide to Using Nik Software's Photographic Tools" by Tony Corbell & Josh Haftel and have found it very well written and extremely helpful. Its copyright date is 2012. I found a used copy via Albris. While this book is not exactly what the OP asked for, I thought I would list it as it may be helpful to others who are venturing into the use of Nik software. The authors use many illustrations showing monitor screen shots and the effects of various Nik editing tools.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

John Hodgcoe

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Points taken (and valid), but I personally have found that a great deal of Ansel Adam's techniques regarding light, and especially the zone system are the basis of good B&W photography, whether executed in the film or digital world. When my son asked a similar question at about age 13, I gave him the 3 classic Ansel Adams books to read. He still has and occasionally refers to them as he prepares his lesson plans and content - he's a photography and graphic arts teacher, much like the OP.

SueScott Loc: Hammondsville, Ohio

Really interesting account - I'm going to look him up.