Here is a list of books that students should read before studying the sihaah sittah:
1. بستان_المحدثين_للدهلوي
This book has the biographies of some of the most famous muhadditheen. Knowing the caliber of the author of a book has many benefits. A reader will have more appreciation for his opinions. A student will learn the effort that the author put into studying and writing his book. The student can then try and emulate these luminaries.
Download here:
http://www.mediafire.com/view/ptc42gbvc9iic44/بستان_المحدثين_للدهلوي
 
 

 
Alternately one may purchase “The Great Mohadditheen” by Shaikh Taqiyuddeen Nadwi, a student of the great muhaddith and luminary Maulana Zakariyah Kandhalwi, from here:
http://www.ameenahsstore.com/hadith.html
 
 
 
 
 
2. رسالة الإمام أبي داود السجستاني إلى أهل مكة في وصف سننه،
3. شروط الأئمة الستة ، للحافظ أبي الفضل محمد بن طاهر المقدسي
4. شروط الأئمة الخمسة ، للحافظ أبي بكر محمد بن موسى الحازمي
The Risalah of Abu Dawood is an important introduction to the Sunan Abi Dawud for those who are planing on studying it. The author outlines the reason of compiling his book and many other points that one should remember while studying his book.
The other two books give the student some insight of the conditions and specialties of the sihah sittah. A subject that students must be acquainted with before studying the sihah sittah.
These 3 books have been edited by Shaikh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah. His explanatory footnotes are excellent.
Download here:
https://archive.org/details/RisalahADShuroot5Shuroot6
 
4. الإمام ابن ماجه وكتابه السنن للشيخ محمد عبد الرشيد النعماني بتحقيق عبد الفتاح أبي غدة
This book is not simply an introduction to Sunan Ibn Majah and its author, rather it also delves into the history of hadith preservation and documentation. It mentions the conditions of the sunan arba-ah scholars and many other benefits only found here.
The author of the book is a great muhaddith of deep insight by the name of Maulana Abdur Rasheed Nu’mani. This copy is edited by none other than the muhaddith Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah, whose name is sufficient to show the importance of this work and the fawaaid it will be filled with.
https://ia600804.us.archive.org/9/items/aboughoda/ibnmajeh.pdf
 
 
While studying the sihah sittah many usoolul hadith terms will be used, therefore students should also revise their usoolul hadith books, like Taiseeru Mustalahil Hadith.