The US Forest Service has a lab, that does some of the best research into wood, and wood products. 

They have published a really good manual on wood, that covers everything from how to dry it, to how to fasten it, how to protect it, and how to finish it. 

There is some math in there.  But don’t let that scare you off.  If you read through the text, and look at the illustrations, you can still come away with a lot of very good information. 

Here is a link:  http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/products/publications/several_pubs.php?grouping_id=100&header_id=p