As for a description of books and compilations, the questioner will have heard from me what Allah has made easy on other occasions. I will say this much now, that out of all the compiled books which have been divided into chapters, there is none more beneficial than the Saheeh of Muhammad bin Ismaa`eel al-Bukhaari,; however, this alone is not enough to cover the major principles of the knowledge, nor can it fulfil all the objectiaves of one who seeks to dive into the ocean of knowledge, because it is imperative that other Ahadeeth, and the words of the people of Fiqh and the people of knowledge of those matters in which certain people are specialised, be known, for the Ummah has progressed in all fields of learning. He whose heart Allah enlightens, He guides him through whatever of all that reaches him; but he whose heart Allah blinds, more and more books only increase him in confusion and misguidance, as the Prophet said to Ibn Labeed al-Ansaari, "Do the Jews and Christians not have the Tauraat and the Injeel? So what benefit did these bring them?"