Superman: the Ultimate Guide to the Man of Steel by Scott Beatty (DK Children, 2002)
You cannot truly understand a character unless you understand the “universe” in which he lives. Who is he? Where does he live? Who are his allies or enemies? This book, written by the author of several of DC's comics and guides, Scott Beatty, explores the universe of Superman (as it was before the reboot in 2011). Although not up-to-date, this still offers a general idea of the Superman mythos, as comics and other related works of fiction in the media often tend to reboot, retcon, or even contain separate continuities entirely.
The Superman Files by Matthew K. Manning (Andrew McMeels Publishing, 2013)
This book covers seventy-five years of Superman-stories, essentially telling the life-story of Clark Kent (AKA Superman). A comprehensive collection of photos, journal entries, newspaper clippings, and other pieces of history that detail his life (from the comic-universe), best-selling British author Matthew K. Manning writes this story as though it was put together in the story's world. New and old fans of this hero will gain an in-depth understanding of the Man of Steel from his and other characters' perspectives.
Finding Superman: debating the future of public education in America by Watson Scott Swail (Teachers College Press, 2012)
The documentary Waiting for "Superman" discussed America's failing educational-system, focusing on the shortcomings and offering its own potential solution. This book, on the other hand, offers a counter-argument, discussing the untold stories, such as the school systems that are doing well (despite the film's claims), and challenging its solutions. Essentially, it emphasizes that although there is no quick-fix, the proverbial-Superman who saves the day might very well be the everyday-man (or woman). Editor Watson Scott Swail, Founding President and Senior Research Scientist of the Educational Policy Institute and school and government researcher, puts together a compilation of chapters written by different education-experts. American historians, education-researchers, and anyone else who reads this will understand that while there is no real Superman, he is clearly an ideal that everyone can strive for.
Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman by Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Alex Sinclair, Jerry Siegel, and Joe Shuster (DC Comics, 2018)
The fictional-superhero, Superman, debuted in Action Comics #1, and from there began eighty years of adventures. This book contains many of Action Comics' classic stories featuring the Man of Steel, starting with the very first (created by the late Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster). There are various art-styles (including cover-page highlights), as well as commentaries from award-winning writers such as: Marv Wolfman, Larry Tye, and Paul Levitz. Comic book fans and artists alike will appreciate this compilation of classic comics and the slow transition to near present-day. If it isn't the stories they love, they will undoubtedly enjoy both the simplistic and complex art.
Super boys : the amazing adventures of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster-- the creators of Superman / Brad Ricca (St. Martin's Press, 2013)
Whether they are fans or not, many people have heard of the character Superman, but do they know anything about his creators? Brad Ricca, an English professor, writes a literary biography of the lives of those two men: Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and how they grew up together, what led to them creating Superman, and the lives they led after leaving Superman behind. This book also includes subjects such as the inspiration for Lois Lane, Superman's longtime love-interest, along with Shuster's other work or Siegel's activities during World War II. Superman-fans, artists, and American historians will find this biography essential to truly appreciating such an iconic series.
The Krypton Companion by Michael Eury (TwoMorrows Publishing, 2006)
This book hearkens back to the early days of Superman's comics, exploring the mythology of the character's stories. More specifically, it covers the work that takes place from 1958 to 1986, when editors Mort Weisinger and Julius Schwartz introduced new gimmicks to the series, including Superman's classic-weakness to Kryptonite. This compendium, written by comic book editor Michael Eury, contains essays, discussions, artwork (classic and never-before-seen) and more from many of the Superman writers and artists. Fans of comics, pop-culture, and literature, along with aspiring-artists, writers, and historians will greatly appreciate the evolution of this iconic-character and his expansive-universe.