Product Description

This classic typography book, first published in 1993, is now updated with brand-new typefaces, fonts, and illustrations. Internationally renowned graphic designer Erik Spiekermann explains in everyday terms what typography is and offers design guidance in choosing type for legibility, meaning, and aesthetic appeal. Stop Stealing Sheep and Find Out How Type Works, 2nd Edition guides the reader through all aspects of typography, from the history and mechanics of type, to training the eye to recognize and choose typefaces. Uncover type's roots and placement within society and learn how to use space and layout to improve overall communication. This elegant guide for readers of all levels is revised and updated to discuss the particular design challenges of type on the Internet. Note: This title was originally announced in the October 2000 Pearson Technology Group catalog.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17479 in Books
• Published on: 2002-07-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

From the Back Cover

An updated new edition of the classic guide to typography.

A unique, entertaining, and educational tour through the most basic unit of human communication: type. This book, a perennial seller since 1993, draws in the reader with its beautiful design and layout, making liberal use of more than 200 illustrations and photographs. The author explains in everyday layman's terms what type is and how you can use it to enhance legibility, meaning, and aesthetic enjoyment. This edition is revised and updated to include new chapters on Web typography and other forms of online text display.

About the Author

Erik Spiekermann is an internationally renowned graphic designer and the founder of MetaDesign. He wrote the bestselling first edition of this book and many articles on type and typography, as well as Rhyme and Reason: A Typographic Novel. He is also the designer of typefaces such as FF Meta and ITC Officina. He lives and works in Berlin.

E.M. Ginger is a typographic consultant, editor, and freelance writer in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has worked with type and typography for two decades. She was managing editor of the journal Fine Print for twelve years and the editor of several bestselling cookbooks.

Customer Reviews

A great enthusiasm builder, but not enough meat
This is a great read for someone who has never considered type before. Those graphic design graduates who were never taught type in ground-up way, self-tought pros wanting to learn some theory or for editors, subs or marketing people who are now doubling-up as designers. It really makes you share the authors' total enthusiasm for type, although there are other equally clear introductions that are either cheaper or offer more. If you want hard knowledge rather than enjoyable prose check out The Mac is Not a Typewriter, Rauari McClean's pre-DTP Manual of Typography, or About Face by Rotovision.

Covers lots of basics in an accessible manner
I'm a typography novice. Before reading this book, I thought the font Gaudi was named after the architect of La Sagrada Familia.
The book is written in a down-to-earth tone of voice that held my interest. It gives a good introduction to the use of grids in layout and why they are so important. Basics such as x-height, linespacing, letterspacing and ligatures are covered. Some intriguing typographical history is worked in to give explanation to the current state of type. Most pages give samples of popular fonts.

You'll probably have to do a lot more reading and practicing before becoming a typographic expert, but this little book covers a lot of relevant information for the novice in an accessible manner. Several times, the author makes mention of today's cheap paperback novels that are produced without any thought to good design. This book isn't one of those. Each page has been painstakingly well designed, and the price tag shows it.

Thought provoking
This book gets you thinking about typography rather than teaching you the art - although there are a few practical tips you will pick up along the way. Written in a witty and entertaining style it is a worthwhile introductory read for those just getting into typography.