Reddit reviews Detail In Typography

Quick comments!

1. Somewhat interesting application of how to use the layout of a text to represent its meaning. Perhaps useful? Not sure I'd call it essential.
   
   
2. Not familiar enough with Arabic type design nor the book to give feedback on it. The pictures look interesting. Essential though? Maybe if you're doing Arabic.
   
   
3. Definitely an important reference guide to typographers, but I find it difficult to really engage with. Jost Hochuli's Detail in Typography is much easier to read and covers many of the same things.
   
   
4. Good book. Accessible, informative, interesting. Beginners should read this (rather than Stop Stealing Sheep which I find over-hyped and only suitable, perhaps, for absolute beginners)
   
   
5. Lettering, not typography. If you're interested in lettering, sure, pick up a copy, but it isn't typography.
   
   
6. An intro to typography by a non-typographer. Accessible for non-graphic designers, but an essential book for typographers? Not sure. At least is good to know about.
   
   
7. Gill is a rather interesting individual. I haven't read this myself, but it could be fun. Good old Gill. Haha. Might be a bit more inaccessible though.
   
   
8. Similar to #5, this is also lettering rather than typography per se. That said, this book looks pretty awesome and I plan to get one.
   
   
9. What I've heard about this book is that the text in it isn't terribly brilliant, but the imagery is amazing and by purchasing it, you get to download high-res versions. Probably worth it for those, but I haven't been bothered to get a copy.
   
   
10. Again, this is not typography. This is lettering.
    
    Soooo, what have we got here? I'd say, on the list, there's probably 2 books that are quite valuable and should be checked out for anyone interested in this sort of thing. The rest are optional or completely unrelated to typography. That doesn't mean that they aren't useful or interesting, but they aren't essential.

On typography:

• The Elements of Typographic Style, the Bible of Typography.
  
• Thinking with Type, a nice overview of how type works.
  
• Detail in Typography, on the finer points of type.
  
  On grids:
  
  
• Raster Systeme, by the eminent expert of the Swiss School.
  
• Making and Breaking the Grid, a modern update on the timeless grid.
  
  On colour:
  
  
• The Art of Color, a classic on color.
  
• Interaction of Color, another classic text on color (theory).
  
  On usability:
  
  
• Don't Make Me Think, a classic on web usability.
  
• The Design of Everyday Things, a general usability Urtext.
  
• Understanding Comics, a great primer from an unlikely field.
  
  On information design:
  
  
• The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, the master at work.
  
  On inspiration:
  
  
• How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer, inspiration from the field.
  
• How to Be a Graphic Designer without Losing Your Soul
  
  On theory:
  
  
• What is a designer, philosophical musings, existential questions.
  
• Graphic Design Theory: Readings from the Field, theoretical backgrounds on the craft.
  
  On history:
  
  
• Meggs' History of Graphic Design, a canonical classic.
  
• Graphic Design: A New History, an alternative narrative.
  
  Monographs:
  
  
• From Lascaux to Brooklyn, the inimitable Paul Rand.
  
• Saul Bass: A Life in Film & Design, the art of Saul Bass.
  
• Tibor Kalman, Perverse Optimist, the exceptional work of Mr Kalman.

I'm coming from a book design perspective, but:
Robert Bringhurst's "The Elements of Typographic Style" is really good (my copy is all dog-eared and bookmarked). Jost Hochuli's "Detail in Typography" is great for getting to grips with the more technical side of things. They are both very readable, too.