This comprehensive guide lists all officially recommended and expert-suggested books for CSS examination based on the FPSC syllabus for CE-2016 and onwards.
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Compulsory Subjects
English Essay (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Type |
| The Art of Writing |
Norman Lewis |
Writing Skills |
| Active Voice |
W.H. Whitaker |
Style |
| Current Essays |
Leading publications |
Contemporary |
| World Current Affairs Digest |
Various |
Topics |
| Dawn, The News, Express Tribune |
Daily newspapers |
Current Issues |
English Precis and Composition (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Focus Area |
| Practical English Grammar |
A.J. Thomson & A.V. Martinet |
Grammar |
| High School English Grammar |
Wren & Martin |
Grammar |
| Word Power Made Easy |
Norman Lewis |
Vocabulary |
| English Vocabulary in Use |
Michael McCarthy |
Vocabulary |
| English Precis and Composition |
Prof. Syed Kazim Shah |
Precis |
| Sentence Structure |
John Lacey |
Sentence Making |
| Idioms in Use |
Felicity O'Dell |
Idioms & Phrases |
| Advanced Grammar in Use |
Martin Hewings |
Advanced Grammar |
General Science and Ability (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Science for Everyone |
Clifford Craig |
General Science |
| General Science |
Maqbool Ahmad |
Physics, Chemistry, Biology |
| Geography of Pakistan |
K.U. Kureshy |
Geography |
| World Geography |
Majid Hussain |
World Geography |
| Environmental Studies |
Savindra Singh |
Environment |
| Non-Verbal IQ Tests |
Philip Carter |
Reasoning |
| Verbal IQ Tests |
Philip Carter |
Reasoning |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
R.S. Aggarwal |
Mathematics |
| Test of Reasoning |
R.S. Aggarwal |
Logical Reasoning |
Current Affairs (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author/Publisher |
Type |
| Pakistan Year Book |
- |
Annual Reference |
| World Digest |
Jahangir Publications |
Global Affairs |
| International Organizations |
Ikram Rabbani |
Organizations |
| Leading Newspapers |
Dawn, The News |
Daily Updates |
| YouTube Lectures |
Sir Sikandar & others |
Analysis |
| CSS Current Affairs Notes |
Various |
Exam-focused |
| Economist, TIME |
International magazines |
Global Perspective |
Pakistan Affairs (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Focus Area |
| Pakistan Studies |
Dr. Safdar Mahmood |
Comprehensive |
| History of Pakistan Affairs |
Dr. Farooq Nasim |
History |
| Pakistan: A Hard Country |
Anatol Lieven |
Analysis |
| Pakistan Studies |
Ikram Rabbani |
General |
| Constitutional Documents of Pakistan |
Safdar Mahmood |
Constitution |
| Pakistan: The Land and its People |
Fazle Karim Khan |
Geography/Culture |
| Oxford Atlas |
Oxford |
Maps |
| Pakistan Movement |
G. Allana |
Independence |
| Jinnah: Creator of Pakistan |
Hector Bolitho |
Quaid Biography |
| Speeches and Statements of Quaid |
Khurshid Ahmed |
Primary Source |
Islamic Studies / Ethics (100 Marks)
For Islamic Studies:
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Major Themes of the Quran |
Fazlur Rahman |
Quranic Studies |
| Introduction to Study of the Quran |
M.M. Al-Azami |
Quran |
| Seerat-un-Nabi |
Shibli Nomani / Suleman Nadvi |
Sirah |
| Ar-Raheeq-ul-Makhtum |
Safiur Rahman |
Sirah |
| Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam |
Allama Iqbal |
Philosophy |
| Human Rights in Islam |
Abul Ala Mawdudi |
Rights |
| Nizam-ul-Hukamat Fil Islam |
Dr. Hamidullah |
Political System |
| Hadith Literature |
Muhammad Zubayr Siddiqi |
Hadith |
| Key to Al-Quran (Lughat-ul-Quran) |
G.A. Pervez |
Dictionary |
| Islam: Faith and Practice |
Riffat Hassan |
Modern Perspective |
For Ethics (Non-Muslims):
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Moral Philosophy |
Lillie |
Ethics Theory |
| Ethics |
P.H. Nowell-Smith |
Philosophical Ethics |
| Ethics |
A.C. Ewing |
General |
Group-I: Commerce & Economics Subjects
Economics (200 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Principles of Economics |
Carl Case & Ray Fair |
Microeconomics |
| Macroeconomics |
Mankiw |
Macroeconomics |
| Macroeconomics |
Rudiger Dornbusch |
Macroeconomics |
| International Economics |
Paul Krugman |
International Trade |
| Money and Banking |
S.B. Gupta |
Monetary Economics |
| Public Finance |
H.L. Bhatia |
Public Finance |
| Development Economics |
Todaro & Smith |
Development |
| Pakistan: Economy |
Ishrat Hussain |
Pakistan Economy |
| Economic Survey of Pakistan |
Government |
Annual Report |
Political Science (200 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Political Science |
Mazhar ul Haq |
General |
| Introduction to Political Science |
R.G. Gettel |
Basics |
| Comparative Politics Today |
Gabriel Almond |
Comparative |
| International Politics |
Palmer & Perkins |
International Relations |
| Political Thought |
Sabine |
Philosophy |
| World Order |
Henry Kissinger |
Global Politics |
| Western Political Thought |
Prof. Mazheruddin Siddiqui |
Western Thinkers |
| Muslim Political Thought |
Prof. Mazheruddin Siddiqui |
Islamic Thinkers |
International Relations (200 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| International Relations |
Joshua S. Goldstein |
Comprehensive |
| International Politics |
K.J. Holsti |
Theory |
| World Politics |
Bruce Russett |
Contemporary |
| Diplomacy |
Henry Kissinger |
History |
| Foreign Policy of Pakistan |
S.M. Burke |
Pakistan Foreign Policy |
| Foreign Policy of Pakistan |
Abdul Sattar |
Recent Developments |
| International Relations Since 1945 |
John Young |
Post-WWII |
| International Organizations |
Margaret Karns |
UN, Regional Bodies |
Computer Science (200 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| A Concise Introduction to Software Engineering |
Pankaj Jalote |
Software Engineering |
| Computer Networks |
A.S. Tanenbaum |
Networks |
| Data Communication Networks |
Behrouz Forouzan |
Networks |
| Fundamentals of Databases |
Elmasri & Navathe |
Databases |
| Introduction to Algorithms |
CLRS |
Algorithms |
| Operating Systems |
William Stallings |
OS |
| Principles of Compiler Design |
Aho & Ullman |
Compilers |
| Structured Computer Organization |
A.S. Tanenbaum |
Architecture |
| Programming with C |
Byron Gottfried |
Programming |
| Data Structures Using C |
Lipschutz |
Data Structures |
Accountancy & Auditing (200 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Advanced Accounts |
M.A. Ghani |
Accounting |
| Financial Accounting |
Mukherjee & Hanif |
Financial |
| Cost Accounting |
Jain & Narang |
Cost |
| Auditing |
Spicer & Pegler |
Auditing |
| Income Tax Laws |
Government |
Tax |
| Practical Auditing |
Kamal & Hanief |
Practical |
| Cost and Management Accounting |
M.Y. Khan |
Management |
Group-II: Science Subjects
Physics (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Concepts of Modern Physics |
Arthur Beiser |
Modern Physics |
| Introduction to Quantum Mechanics |
David J. Griffiths |
Quantum Mechanics |
| Introduction to Electrodynamics |
David J. Griffiths |
Electromagnetism |
| Classical Mechanics |
Herbert Goldstein |
Mechanics |
| Optics |
Eugene Hecht |
Optics |
| Mathematical Methods for Physicists |
George B. Arfken |
Math Methods |
| Statistical Mechanics |
K. Huang |
Thermodynamics |
| Fundamentals of Physics |
Halliday, Resnick & Walker |
General |
Chemistry (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Atkin's Physical Chemistry |
P.W. Atkins |
Physical Chemistry |
| A Textbook of Physical Chemistry |
S. Glasstone |
Physical |
| Organic Chemistry |
Morrison & Boyd |
Organic |
| Organic Chemistry |
Paula Bruice |
Organic |
| Inorganic Chemistry |
Shriver & Atkins |
Inorganic |
| Concise Inorganic Chemistry |
J.D. Lee |
Inorganic |
| Advanced Inorganic Chemistry |
Cotton & Wilkinson |
Advanced |
| Modern Approach to Chemical Calculations |
R.C. Mukherjee |
Calculations |
Statistics (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Introduction to the Theory of Statistics |
Mood, Graybill & Boes |
Theory |
| Mathematical Statistics |
John E. Freund |
Statistics |
| Probability and Statistics |
DeGroot & Schervish |
Probability |
| Introduction to Statistical Theory Part I & II |
Sher Muhammad Chaudhry |
Basics |
| Applied Regression Analysis |
Draper & Smith |
Regression |
| Sampling Techniques |
William G. Cochran |
Sampling |
| An Introduction to Probability and Statistics |
Vijay K. Rohatgi |
Probability |
Mathematics (Applied and Pure)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Topics in Algebra |
I.N. Herstein |
Algebra |
| Contemporary Abstract Algebra |
Joseph A. Gallian |
Abstract Algebra |
| Linear Algebra |
Hoffman & Kunze |
Linear Algebra |
| Mathematical Analysis |
Tom M. Apostol |
Analysis |
| Complex Variables |
Churchill & Brown |
Complex Analysis |
| Elementary Differential Equations |
Boyce & DiPrima |
ODEs |
| Vector Analysis |
Murray R. Spiegel |
Vectors |
| Mathematical Methods for Physicists |
Arfken & Weber |
Methods |
| Operations Research |
Hamdy A. Taha |
Operations Research |
| Numerical Analysis |
Richard L. Burden |
Numerical Methods |
Geology (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Physical Geology |
Plummer, McGeary & Carlson |
Physical |
| Principles of Physical Geology |
Arthur Holmes |
Physical |
| Manual of Mineral Science |
Klein & Hurlbut |
Mineralogy |
| Optical Mineralogy |
W.D. Nesse |
Optical |
| Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology |
Myron G. Best |
Petrology |
| Sedimentology and Stratigraphy |
Gary Nichols |
Sedimentary |
| Principles of Paleontology |
Raup & Stanley |
Paleontology |
| Economic Geology |
Evans |
Economic |
| Geology of Pakistan |
Kazmi & Jan |
Pakistan |
Group-III: Social Sciences
Sociology (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Sociology |
John J. Macionis |
General |
| Introduction to Sociology |
Anthony Giddens |
General |
| Sociological Theory |
George Ritzer |
Theory |
| Social Problems |
D. Stanley Eitzen |
Problems |
| Sociology of Education |
Jeanne H. Ballantine |
Education |
| Pakistan: A Sociological Perspective |
Akbar S. Ahmed |
Pakistan Society |
| Social Stratification |
Harold Kerbo |
Stratification |
| Methods of Social Research |
Kenneth Bailey |
Research Methods |
Psychology (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Introduction to Psychology |
Morgan & King |
General |
| Psychology |
Robert S. Feldman |
General |
| Abnormal Psychology |
Ronald Comer |
Abnormal |
| Social Psychology |
David G. Myers |
Social |
| Educational Psychology |
Anita Woolfolk |
Educational |
| Theories of Personality |
Jess Feist |
Personality |
| Cognitive Psychology |
Robert L. Solso |
Cognitive |
| Research Methods in Psychology |
Elmes, Kantowitz & Roediger |
Research |
Geography (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Geography of Pakistan |
K.U. Kureshy |
Pakistan |
| World Geography |
Majid Hussain |
World |
| Physical Geography |
Savindra Singh |
Physical |
| Human Geography |
Majid Hussain |
Human |
| Economic Geography |
Hartshorn & Alexander |
Economic |
| Environmental Studies |
Savindra Singh |
Environment |
| Oxford Atlas of the World |
Oxford |
Atlas |
| Atlas of Pakistan |
Survey of Pakistan |
Maps |
Public Administration (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Public Administration |
Nicholas Henry |
General |
| Public Administration |
S.P. Naidu |
Theory |
| Principles of Public Administration |
L.D. White |
Principles |
| Introduction to Public Administration |
Dr. Hameed Akhtar |
Basics |
| Public Policy Making |
James Anderson |
Policy |
| Public Administration |
Gerald Caiden |
Theory |
| Development Administration |
S.C. Dube |
Development |
| Government and Binding Theory |
Khan Hamid |
Pakistan Admin |
Governance & Public Policies (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Governance in the 21st Century |
OECD |
General |
| Understanding Public Policy |
Thomas Dye |
Policy |
| Public Policy Analysis |
William Dunn |
Analysis |
| The Elements of Public Administration |
Fritz Morstein Marx |
Elements |
| Good Governance and Policy Studies |
Dr. Shafqat Munir |
Pakistan Context |
| Essentials of Governance |
Pradeep Chaturvedi |
Basics |
Journalism & Mass Communication (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Mass Communication Theory |
Denis McQuail |
Theory |
| The Media of Mass Communication |
John Vivian |
Media |
| Journalism: Principles and Practice |
Tony Harcup |
Journalism |
| Introduction to Mass Communication |
Ralph E. Hanson |
Introduction |
| Media Ethics |
Clifford G. Christians |
Ethics |
| Communication and Media Studies |
Jeremy Orlebar |
Studies |
| Media and Culture |
Richard Campbell |
Culture |
Group-IV: History Subjects
History of Pakistan and India (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| A Short History of Pakistan |
I.H. Qureshi |
General |
| Muslim Community of Indo-Pakistan Subcontinent |
I.H. Qureshi |
Muslim Era |
| Struggle for Pakistan |
I.H. Qureshi |
Pakistan Movement |
| Pakistan: A Modern History |
Ian Talbot |
Modern History |
| History of Modern India |
Bipin Chandra |
British Period |
| Making of Pakistan |
K.K. Aziz |
Independence |
| Pakistan Movement |
Ch. Muhammad Ali |
Movement |
| Emergence of Pakistan |
Ch. Muhammad Ali |
Creation |
| Freedom Movement in India |
Tara Chand |
Independence |
| India Wins Freedom |
Abul Kalam Azad |
Memoir |
| Political History of Pakistan |
K.B. Sayeed |
Post-Independence |
Islamic History and Culture (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| History of the Arabs |
Philip K. Hitti |
Comprehensive |
| A Short History of the Saracens |
Syed Amir Ali |
General |
| The Preaching of Islam |
T.W. Arnold |
Expansion |
| History of Islam (3 Volumes) |
Akbar Shah Najeebabadi |
Comprehensive |
| Al-Faruq: Life of Umar the Great |
Shibli Nomani |
Biography |
| The Spirit of Islam |
Syed Amir Ali |
Culture |
| Warriors of Islam |
Mahmood Ahmad Ghaznavi |
Military |
| A History of Muslim Philosophy |
M.M. Sharif |
Philosophy |
| Muslim Civilization in India |
S.M. Ikram |
Subcontinent |
British History (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| A History of England |
Goldwin Smith |
General |
| The English Constitution |
Walter Bagehot |
Constitution |
| History of England |
G.M. Trevelyan |
Comprehensive |
| The Age of Revolution |
Eric Hobsbawm |
Modern |
| A History of Modern Britain |
Andrew Marr |
Contemporary |
| The Victorian Age |
J.L. Hammond |
Victorian Era |
| Britain Since 1945 |
David Childs |
Post-War |
| Churchill |
Martin Gilbert |
Biography |
European History (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| A History of Modern Europe |
John Merriman |
Modern |
| Europe Since Napoleon |
David Thomson |
Post-Napoleonic |
| The Age of Revolution |
Eric Hobsbawm |
Revolution Era |
| The Age of Capital |
Eric Hobsbawm |
19th Century |
| The Age of Empire |
Eric Hobsbawm |
Imperial Era |
| The French Revolution |
Christopher Hibbert |
France |
| Europe Since 1870 |
James Joll |
Contemporary |
| History of Western Civilization |
W.H. McNeill |
Comprehensive |
History of USA (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| A History of the American People |
Paul Johnson |
General |
| The Growth of the American Republic |
Morison & Commager |
Growth |
| A People's History of the United States |
Howard Zinn |
Alternative |
| American Pageant |
Thomas Bailey |
Comprehensive |
| Battle Cry of Freedom |
James McPherson |
Civil War |
| The Glory and the Dream |
William Manchester |
20th Century |
| The Cold War |
John Lewis Gaddis |
Cold War |
| American Foreign Policy |
Walter McDougall |
Foreign Policy |
Group-V: Regional Languages
Urdu (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Tareekh Adab-e-Urdu |
Noor-ul-Hasan Naqvi |
History of Literature |
| Urdu Zuban-o-Adab |
Iftikhar Arif |
Language & Literature |
| Pakistani Adab |
Various |
Pakistani Literature |
| Tehzeeb ul Akhlaq |
Sir Syed |
Classical |
| Makatib |
Ghalib |
Letters |
| Selected Essays |
Various authors |
Essay Collection |
Sindhi, Punjabi, Pashto, Balochi (100 Marks each)
Books specified by FPSC in respective syllabi - consult FPSC website for updated lists.
Group-VI: Law & Philosophy
Constitutional Law (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Comparative Constitutional Law |
Hamid Khan & M.W. Rana |
Comparative |
| Constitution of Pakistan 1973 |
Shabbar Raza Rizvi |
Pakistan |
| Introduction to Study of the Law of Constitution |
Dicey |
Theory |
| Constitutional & Political History of Pakistan |
Hamid Khan, Advocate |
History |
| Human Rights in Constitutional Law |
SR. Bansali |
Rights |
| Constitutional Documents of Pakistan |
Safdar Mahmood |
Documents |
| The Leading Cases in Constitutional Law |
A.G. Chaudhry |
Case Law |
International Law (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| International Law |
Malcolm N. Shaw |
Comprehensive |
| Principles of Public International Law |
Ian Brownlie |
Principles |
| International Law |
Dr. S.K. Kapoor |
General |
| Introduction to International Law |
J.G. Starke, QC |
Introduction |
| International Humanitarian Law |
ICRC Pakistan |
IHL |
| Cases and Materials on International Law |
D.J. Harris |
Cases |
Muslim Law & Jurisprudence (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Introduction to Study of Islamic Law |
Dr. Hussain Hamid Hassan |
Introduction |
| Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence |
Mohammad Hashim Kamali |
Usul al-Fiqh |
| Theories of Islamic Law |
Prof. Imran Ahsan Nyazee |
Theory |
| Family Law in Islam |
Dr. Mohammad Tahir Mansuri |
Family Law |
| General Principles of Criminal Law |
Prof. Imran Ahsan Nyazee |
Criminal Law |
| Mahomedan Jurisprudence |
Abdur Rahim |
Classical |
| Islamic Law of Inheritance |
Hamid Khan, Advocate |
Succession |
Mercantile Law (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| Law of Contract |
Agarwala, M. Mehmood |
Contract |
| Sales of Goods Act |
Pollock & Mulla |
Sales |
| Contract Act, 1872 (Bare Act) |
Government |
Primary Source |
| Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881 |
Government |
NI |
| Companies Ordinance, 1984 |
Government |
Company Law |
| Competition Act, 2010 |
Government |
Competition |
Criminology (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| New Perspectives in Criminology |
Conklin, J.E |
Perspectives |
| Theoretical Criminology |
George B. Vold |
Theory |
| Modern Criminology |
Hagan, J. |
Modern |
| Juvenile Delinquency |
James, B. / Seigel, L.J. |
Juvenile |
| Security Studies: An Introduction |
Paul, D.W. |
Security |
| Crime Prevention: Theory and Practice |
Stephen, S. |
Prevention |
Philosophy (100 Marks)
| Book |
Author |
Topic |
| A History of Western Philosophy |
Bertrand Russell |
Western |
| Philosophy: The Power of Ideas |
Brooke Noel Moore |
General |
| Elements of Moral Philosophy |
James Rachels |
Ethics |
| Existentialism & Human Emotions |
Jean Paul Sartre |
Existentialism |
| A History of Muslim Philosophy |
M.M. Sharif |
Islamic |
| A History of Islamic Philosophy |
Majid Fakhry |
Islamic |
| Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam |
Muhammad Iqbal |
Iqbal |
Book Buying Tips
- Start with core books - Focus on official recommendations first
- Check editions - Use latest editions where possible
- Use libraries - Many books available at public and university libraries
- PDF versions - Some classical texts available legally online
- Form study groups - Share books among aspirants
- Second-hand markets - Liberty Market, Lahore; Urdu Bazaar, Karachi
- Online stores - Readings.com.pk, Kitab.pk, Amazon
- Quality notes - Supplement books with quality CSS notes
Important Notes
- Official vs. Recommended: Books mentioned without specific attribution are those commonly used by successful candidates
- Subject combinations: Ensure books cover integrated topics when selecting related subjects
- Updates: Check FPSC website for any syllabus revisions
- Past papers: Always supplement book reading with past paper practice
- Notes: Quality notes from academies can supplement but not replace books
Based on official FPSC CSS Syllabus for CE-2016 onwards. Book recommendations include both official FPSC suggestions and expert recommendations. Always verify current syllabus from FPSC website.