Further Reading: Film Editing: Great Cuts Every Filmmaker and Movie Lover Must Know by Gael Chandler

This book is really simple and uses modern films to explain the basis and basics of cutting.
Page 2 entitled CUT states: Every cut must be motivated; in other words, the editor must have a reason for making it. A cut builds story, idea, or emotion, changes the point of view, or keeps the pace going: In fact a cut may do some or all of these things. This statement is accompanied by two pictures from Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Mans Chest signifying one cut. The book continues in the same style through out, addressing a range of editing techniques from Cutting for Pace, Rhythm and Time (Stopping, Expanding, Compression of time etc.), Cuts That Use Time Effects  (Freeze Frame, Slow Motion, Speed Up) .

Even though it feels and reads like a beginners to editing book it takes away all the complicated jargon and lays it out on the table simple, which is sometimes what you need.

Chandler, G. 2009. Great Cuts Every Filmmaker and Movie Lover Must Know. USA. Michael Wiese Productions