A widely recommended starting point is Light: Science and Magic by Fil Hunter, Paul Fuqua, and Steven Biver. It’s considered a classic because it explains how light behaves and how it moves around a scene, which helps you understand and solve lighting problems rather than just copy setups.

If you want something more hands-on and less technical, community suggestions also include Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It by Scott Kelby and Lighting Notebook by Kevin Kubota.

A good approach is to pair one technical book with one practical book: use the technical material to understand why lighting works, then test those ideas in your home studio with your strobes and ring flash. Since you already have the space and gear, regular experimentation will teach you a lot alongside any book.

If possible, check a local library for older editions before buying, especially for the more technical titles.