Practical Endgames by Keres covers everything endgame that you are likely to meet. There are plenty of others.
Chess Strategy (Lasker) is free on the download section (middlegame). In fact there are quite a few on the section. Anything free will leave you more for something else I guess.
Get a general opening guide, not specific opening books, for the time being. Theres lots online for specifics. Check around the forums, you'll find plenty of links. Good luck.
'My system' by Aron Nimzowitch is essential reading. Its a book that you will read once and learn valuable lessons. You will need to re-read this book at a later stage tho to re-cap on the ideas in the book and then you will progress again on second reading. Great book to have in your collection and it is a well known famous book. (people may contest that the Jeremey Silman books are better, but read My System first is my opinion and what my 1st coach directed me to do).
There is a book called 'The king hunt' by John Nunn (and another name, i dont know), it is out of print but a great book with lots of ideas in it. If you can get a copy, its well worth it.
The 'Art of attack' by Vladamir Vukovic is essential reading imo, and will improve attacking play tenfold. The book is an easy enough read too and has some very enjoyable games to play through.... simply because you are thinking 'Attack' at all times, hehe
For endgame book, essential...an i really mean the best endgame book experience i have had is 'complete endgame course' by Jeremey SIlman. In fact, Jeremey Silmans 'reasses your chess' would be a great book for middlegame, and ideas in general.
Nunns Chess Openings is a book entirely of Opening Chess moves, no commentary, only brief introductions. Great to have a hard copy although it seems to becoming out of fashion because use of online databases and software such as fritz and chessbase etc.
Some books on openings can be very indepth and go through only one opening, and are heavily detailed. There are two books called 'Chess openings explained for white/black' by Lev Alburt. These are really good books and give you a complete repitoire for white and black. cuts out alot of opening study time, and since i bought and studied them i have improved at a rate i didnt expect at all. They also include new opening ideas, more up to date than NCO 
Books are expensive, so try second hand ones on ebay or something, and remember...you wont be able to read ALL the books at once so only buy an amount that you can handle. Perhaps buy opening,middlegame, and endgame and break your study up like that.
Hope this helps.
might check this book out myself, a christmas present for myself lets call it
I would just like to commend you for making a respectable forum topic. Although I'm not going to follow your guidelines I will reccomend three outstanding books.
1) CHESS 5,334 Problems, Combinations, and Games by Laszlo Polgar....seemingly endless numbers of scenarios to improve the games of novice to greats.
2) Paul Morphy and the Evolution of Chess Theory by Macon Shibut....a book that demonstrates how powerful initiative is as opposed to material advantage.
3) The Immortal Game by David Shenk....doesn't teach much about the game itself but any who read this book and aren't sucked deeper into chess shouldn't play the game at all.
I hope these recommendations help.
Practical Endgames by Keres covers everything endgame that you are likely to meet. There are plenty of others.
Is the book by Keres sill available? Silmans book on endgames seems to be great. I think that books on openings are almost useless for players on my side of ELO2000.
(I wish I could follow my own advice)
A book in the "each move commented" should be on the shopping list.
The opening poster is a beginner. That narrows it. Three to six books also narrows it further. The poster needs an inexpensive introduction as he/she may not stick with it.
1.Games collection book : Logical Chess Move by Move by Chernev or equivalent by Nunn
2. Any of several beginners books on 1.e4 e5 without the Ruy Lopez. Search carfully and choose Kindle as these books are one third the cost relative to printed books.
3. Silmans endgame book
4. The middle game treatise is a difficult call since you are a beginner.
5. The tactics book by Renault and Kan is one of the best. You need a good tactics book. Search carefully.
6. A repertoire book as Black. Choose an author who gives respectable solid replies.
He asked in 2007, and hasn't been online since 2010. I'm thinking he won't be answering.
OTOH, the books are all excellent recommendations. I'm particularly impressed with the John Nunn books
I only started playing chess at all seriously a couple of months ago, and well I don't own ANY chess books. So basically what I am looking for is a list of say 3-6 basic books that no chess player should be without to ground my chess library.
At least one MUST deal fairly comprehensively with openings and one with endgame in similar fashion. One to analysize some great games, that are illustrative of key strategic points, would be nice. And then anything else that you have found useful.
And um, I'd liked to stay under $100.
Fire away!