As an avid reader and cook, Martha often invites influential authors and chefs to appear on "The Martha Stewart Show." Here are some of their must-read books, along with a few by Martha herself.

Cybele Pascal's "Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook" is packed with sweet and savory recipes that leave out ingredients responsible for most allergies. Cybele is an expert on allergen-free ingredient substitutions, and she blogs about allergy-friendly cooking for Whole Living Daily.

Martha recommends "Clean," by Dr. Alejandro Junger, because it's a proven detoxification guide from a trusted source. Dr. Junger created the detox program for our 28-day Whole Body Action Plan.

With the natural remedies in James Wong's "Grow Your Own Drugs," it's easy to address minor ailments using nontraditional methods. For a sneak peek, take a look at the plant-based remedies from his appearance on the show.

The "New Encyclopedia of Gardening Techniques" offers useful, Earth-friendly gardening tips from the American Horticultural Society. Martha recommends the book for amateur and veteren gardeners alike.

Legendary cookbook editor Judith Jones expounds on the freedoms and possibilities of solo meal prep in "The Pleasures of Cooking for One." She and Martha made the Cheese Souffle recipe from the book during her appearance on the show.

"Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home" was designed for the culinarily ambitious home chef who doesn't want to spend all day in the kitchen. With 200 recipes divided by season into 52 menus, the diverse collection features meals for every occasion, from casual family dinners to fancy soirees.

"The Mayo Clinic Diet" is a lifestyle program for healthy weight loss, developed from years of research at the renouned medical institution. Dr. Donald Hensrud, the book's editor, related some lessons from the book on the show.

"Everyday Baking" host and baker extraordinaire John Baricelli collected the best recipes from his celebrated bakeshop for this handy book. It's a must for any baker.

"The Park Avenue Nutritionist's Plan" sheds light on the high-energy, low-calorie diet that fuels Dr. Jana Klauer's busy New York clients. Dr. Klauer highlighted some of the book's nutrition and energy tips on the show.

Mindy Pennybacker's "Do One Green Thing" is the eco-living guide for those who want to live greener lives but don't know where to start. Mindy recommended some eco-friendly baby steps from the book during her "Martha" appearance.

This delightful children's book teaches kids to be charming and well-mannered with cute illustrations and a fun storyline. Alex von Bidder, co-owner of the Four Sesons Restaurant in New York City, decided to write the book after teaching manners to a class of fifth graders at the restaurant.

The editors of Everyday Food magazine assembled this useful cookbook for budget-conscious families that crave simple, flavorful meals. The book's 250 recipes include economical ideas for leftovers, lighter versions of classic comfort foods, and tempting vegetarian main dishes.

Master baker Karen DeMasco's "The Craft of Baking" teaches amateur bakers to think like the pros, with innovative and tasty results. Karen put her expertise to use as a contest judge on our special Pie Show, and she showed Martha how to bake her Butterscotch Cream Pie with Gingersnap Crust.

"Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts" is a broad visual reference guide that covers the basics of sewing and other traditional crafting techniques, with detailed instructions for more than 150 projects. Take a peek at some of the book's beautiful projects.

"Slow food" pioneer Alice Waters gathered recipes from her favorite like-minded chefs for this remarkable cookbook, which focuses on the techniques that yield fresh, natural flavors from food. Alice appeared on a recipe-filled "Martha" episode along with three chefs featured in the book.

Prolific cookbook author Paula Wolfert takes on the clay pot with a collection of recipes that exemplify the vessel's unique flavor-enhancing powers. Paula prepared her Moroccan Fish Tagine Recipe with Martha on the show.

Renowned restauranteur Danny Meyer stocks his restaurants with top-shelf bartenders known for their innovative cocktails. "Mix Shake Stir" brings together their best recipes, including the Mortoni and Modern Old-Fashioned cocktails that he concoted with Martha on the show.

"The Cheese Chronicles" delves into modern American cheesemaking in loving detail, profiling top cheesemakers and tracking the development of the industry over the years. Author Liz Thorpe, of New York's Murray's Cheeses, showed Martha how to make the perfect cheese plate during her appearance on our special Cheese Show.

Greek cooking giant Michael Psilakis has written the gourmand's guide to modern Greek cuisine, featuring savory recipes and compelling stories about food culture in his native country. Michael made his mouthwatering Striped Bass Plaki and Greek Salad on the show.