Tobias Churton's book, Freemasonry: The Reality, is probably the single best book for understanding the history and development of Freemasonry from its operative beginnings, through the period of the 1600s, and into the grand lodge era of the 1700s. Undoubtedly, there are other obscure books that go into greater depth about different eras, but no one brings it all together the way Churton does. I have recommended this book to numerous new Masons who seek to understand the fraternity's roots a little better. ( )