good how to motorcycle books

wondering what the best books out were. and do they
cover such things as counter steering.
ive heard the idiots guide to motorcycle . is that a good one.  

without a doubt the best books to get are keith code's "twist of the wrist" & "twist of the wrist 2"  

I believe that the most comprehensive book is Sport Riding Techniques by Nick Ienatsch. I have read this book as well as Keith Code's work. I learned much from both (There probably is no one "best" book.) but Nick's book was more beneficial to me. You might get both of them and think of it as cheap investmetn in your personal safety.   No mattter which you get do the drills- take riding seriously. Ride safely - and if you want to go fast, go to a track day. They are more fun and way safer than going fast on the road. No tickets, no cops, no cars turning in front of you,  a much safer environment in which to learn. Thanks for reading.      

For a new/novice rider with little or no riding experience?

Probably the MSF's Basic RiderCourse Student Handbook. Free. If you take a MSF BRC.

For someone that's got some riding under their belt:

"The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Guide To Motorcycling Excellence"
"Proficient Motorcycling" by David Hough
"Sportriding Techniques" by Nick Ienatsch
"Total Control" by Lee Parks
"More Proficient Motorcycling" by David Hough
"Twist of the Wrist, Vol. II" by Keith Code  

with how much all of us mention the MSF courses you would think we were getting some sort of kickback from them .  

We do, indirectly. Rather than have a newbie potentially go out there, wreck and have insurance claims, hopefully, a MSF or similar rider training course will help reduce these types of incidents.

Dunno about you but I don't like insurance rate hikes.    

yea thats a negative on the insurance hikes. notice the "us" I used. i too am guilty of boosting the msf course. As a matter of fact i'm about to put my wife through it. i just find it ammusing that i see it so often.  

The MSF BRC isn't the silver bullet that's guaranteed to keep a rider safe or make the rider a good rider. But it is a decent start.  

agreed! In my opinion the strongest aspect of the basic course, at least in my case, was slow speed manouvers. I don't know about you but i remember the first time i even sat a bike upright and it felt awkward as hell . youre right, it is a good stepping stone, and if i didn't believe in it i wouldn't waste my money on putting my wife in it. she has been hinting at wanting to ride lately. It makes me a little nervouse but i know where i'd tell someone to stick it if they tried to tell me that I couldn't ride if I wanted to . I'm thinking of getting her a used Kawi 250 or 500. she only weighs about 120 and the only riding she has ever done was on a quad out here in the dunes. but she actually impressed me on her first hour riding .  

all of the books mentioned are great.
Idiots Guide is more of an over-all book for someone who knows *nothing* about bike. As for all the other books mentioned, I think they can be a little too much info to swallow for an abject beginner. if your *totally* new, check out Idiots, then take the MSF course...after that then explore all the other titles mentioned (twist of the wrist, total control, sport techniques, etc), and then alot of the stuff therein will make much more sense to you.