Seed to Seed is a reference book organized by type of plant. It doesn't offer many general principles.

I see a lot of reviews now noting that it's a "reference" text -- but somehow that didn't clue me in that it compiles guidance for each vegetable independently, and isn't particularly cohesive or advanced (maybe there just isn't much "advanced" in this area?). As with most hobby texts, I'd recommend borrowing it from a library first. ( )

A great book on seed saving, suitable for everyone from those just getting started to the serious breeder. Well-organized, and contains all the relevant information you need to save seeds for each species / family. I checked this out from the library and quickly realized I was going to want my own copy for reference. ( )

This handy book covers pollination methods, techniques for maintaining varietal purity, cleaning methods, and storage techniques for most vegetable seeds (and a few less-common kinds like Malabar spinach and skirret). This is a straightforward guide for the scientifically-minded non-scientist gardener. ( )

This is not a particularly readable book, but it is a good reference book for those who are serious about seed saving. It has a lot of information about a lot of food plants, including beans, corn, many vegetables, and some less common food plants for modern Americans, like amaranth. ( )

I was needing more information on seed collection for my vegetable garden to save some of the varieties I grow. This book put out by the Seed Savers Exchange and written by Suzanne Ashworth is an excellent reference book. It covers the major vegetable and some that are not well know in the United States. If you want to save seeds this is a great book for your reference desk.