(Part 2) Best typography books according to redditors

I'm tempted to.

It looks pretty, and I have many books (some expensive) documenting design, photography, and typography. This book would live on my shelf and serve as a reference on projects.

These books are icons of their age - for better or worse. They are museum exhibits.

A few of my favorites in no particular order

The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst
The definitive source for classic typography, a must read for anyone seriously interested in type.

[Reading Letters by Sofie Beier] (https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Letters-Legibility-Sofie-Beier/dp/9063692714)
A great intro to text legibility with lots of imagery.

Shaping Text by Jan Middendorp
Nice intro to typography and the importance of context.

Shady Characters by Keith Houston
Part novel, part history, part art. All about the origins of typographic symbols, characters, and alphabets. If that sort of thing interests you check this book out.

A few recommendations from my bookshelf:

• Designing Type
  
• Theory of Type Design
  
• Type Tricks
  
• Reading Lettters

I think it's not bad, I would say the biggest things are around typography.

1. Add more padding around some of the typography.
   
   
2. On the second image that "intro paragraph" is kind of weird, its two paragraphs I think, but in it's own style? Usually those type of things are one headline sentence which leads into the content.
   
   
3. Fix what is called a "widow" basically one word on the last line of a paragraph.
   
   
4. If you are using InDesign, select your text, go to paragraph styles and uncheck "hyphenate" to remove all the hyphenated words.
   
   
5. Some of your text is just oddly aligned, the yellow box quote, each line starts more and more to the left
   
   
6. Look at the "Working in the industry" page, I would redesign to be left aligned, the "rivers" pattern (white space between words) as we call them in typography looks more like lakes in these pages.
   
   
7. I like the fifth image, but add more padding around the text so it's not to the edge of the bounding box.
   
   
8. Pros & Cons page, I like the title design, nice job here; But the box below again with justified text, not working too well.
   
   
9. On the note of the above, make sure your paragraphs have a clear space between the previous paragraph.
   
   
10. You've got a lot of different font types, and styles going on each page, which is fine, but you should come up with a look and feel, that makes it so if each page were looked at separately (like we are here) someone could say "Yes these pages are from the same magazine."
    
    
11. On the contents page (last screenshot) left align the text, it's generally not a good idea to right align text as it makes it difficult to read. (the numbers can stay right aligned)
    
    And Finally:
    
    If you can - try to learn more about grid systems and typography, there are some great books out there that if you have cash or can ask your parents to buy you a couple books, here are some recommendations (even to just look at for inspiration):
    
    Grid Systems in Graphic Design: A Visual Communication Manual
    
    Thinking with Type - This one is one of my favorites
    
    The Typography Idea book
    
    I hope this helps :) And keep at it!! Definitely better than I was doing in high school!

Without doubt, the prettiest way to read the source for TeX is to read Computers & Typesetting, Volume B: TeX: The Program (also in Computers & Typesetting, Volumes A-E Boxed Set.)

If you don't feel like spending $50, I'm pretty sure if you can view the source of tex.web (TeX is written in WEB) by getting the source for the major TeX distros, like teTeX.

Or you can get it from offical source of TeX and download the tex.web file (it's pretty big) and then run that through weave(1) and tangle(1) so you can either extract just the source or typeset it the way it's meant to be seen.

Check out http://www.amazon.com/Hand-Lettering-Ledger-Practical-Illustrated-Hand-Drawn/dp/1452125589

There are also lots of instagram accounts dedicated to lettering. Popular ones are:

• goodtype
  
• calligritype
  
• thedailytype

I still have the 2nd edition of this book on my shelf and refer to it occasionally:

http://www.amazon.com/Guide-LaTeX-Edition-Helmut-Kopka/dp/0321173856

I find that it's good for getting you started in writing documents right away, and also serves as a good reference for commonly-used commands.

This is a list of books that was suggest to me by John Langdon (An internationally known typographer for his ambigram used in The DaVinci Code) while I was taking his class in College:

Type Directors Club Annuals: I just recently picked up the latest issue of this (32 I believe) and it shows current works of typography across a broad spectrum of mediums. These are great because they feature only current work and many of the featured designs are extremely creative and pushing the envelope in terms of readability and style.

Logo Lounge Master Library Vol. 1: I do not have a copy of this book but I have thumbed through it briefly and it features tons of logos that mainly deal with letter forms. This is certainly on my personal list of books I would like.

Type: A Visual History of Typefaces and Graphic Styles, Vol. 1: I recently purchased this book as well and I have to say it is a MASSIVE collection of vintage typography and ornaments from type founders all over the world. The majority of the samples in this book are from before the 1900's so you are almost guaranteed to not recognize anything in it. Excellent resource for inspiration!

Logo, Font & Lettering Bible: This is another book on my list. Covers a broad spectrum of lettering and is also good for learning fundementals.

Some other books he has suggested to me but I have not personally look through or read are: Type & Typography, Fonts & Logos, and finally John Langdon's book: Wordplay.

I hope this helps!

This PDF will give you a pretty basic understanding of print design, and creating a portfolio, and it's free!
http://www.portfoliohandbook.com/PortfolioHandbook_UCID12.pdf


i've grabbed a stack off my shelf, i'll list a few here

[Thinking with type] (http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Type-2nd-revised-expanded/dp/1568989695) (Typography)

[Layout Workbook] (http://www.amazon.com/Layout-Workbook-Real-World-Building-Graphic/dp/1592533523/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374116370&sr=1-1&keywords=layout+workbook+a+real-world+guide+to+building+pages+in+graphic+design) (Typography & Page Layouts)

[Production for Graphic Designers] (http://www.amazon.com/Layout-Workbook-Real-World-Building-Graphic/dp/1592533523/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374116370&sr=1-1&keywords=layout+workbook+a+real-world+guide+to+building+pages+in+graphic+design)
(This one is more technical, Printing, Final Art Production, Etc.)

[Designing with Type] (http://www.amazon.com/Designing-Type-5th-Essential-Typography/dp/0823014134/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374116474&sr=1-1&keywords=designing+with+type) (Typography)

[Type & Image] (http://www.amazon.com/Type-Image-Language-Graphic-Design/dp/0471284920/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374116510&sr=1-1&keywords=type+and+image) (Combining Typography & Imagery)

[Color & Type for the Screen] (http://www.amazon.com/Color-Type-Screen-CD-ROM-Digital/dp/2880463297/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374116649&sr=1-1&keywords=color+and+type+for+the+screen) (Web Typography)

[The Element of User Experience] (http://www.amazon.com/Elements-User-Experience-User-Centered-Design/dp/0321683684/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374116686&sr=1-1&keywords=elements+of+user+experience+by+jesse+garrett) (User Experience/Web Design)

[Don't Make Me Think] (http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Me-Think-Usability/dp/0321344758/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374116719&sr=1-1&keywords=dont+make+me+think) (User Experience/Web Design)

There are also a ton of threads here on Reddit about Design books alone, and there is still the rest of the internet!
These are most of the books I got from my first two years at well respected design program, some are more helpful than others. But it doesn't hurt to read!

Also if you really want to give this a shot, work your ass off! Know that there is someone out there that is willing to (and probably is) working harder at it than you! Design is just like any other field of business, you gotta put in the work to get what you want.

Since making this post I've discovered many great books. If you want to learn how to make icons/pictograms properly, search for a translation of this book, if you want an intro to designing typefaces, this is an up-to-date book definitely worth the money - and if you want to create an actual serious font, designing type is the sickest book I came across so far. It's helped me so much and I only borrowed it for a week. If you want to work with editorial design, Book Typography offers a surgigcally raw info on right and wrong. Anyway, have fun exploring the books, I wish I had started earlier :)

If you're interested, TeX was (partially) written in Pascal, and there's a book that's essentially an extended commentary on that code.

No, not Donald Knuth's The TeXbook that taught the TeX system Knuth designed (pdf search), but Leslie Lamport's classic LaTeX2e book that taught the LaTeX system Lamport designed on top of TeX (pdf search).

In addition to the fine critique others have given you, I have a core list of books that i adore and highly recommend.


Basic tips on working with type I like this book because half of it lays out all the "rules" and then the other half breaks them all - in a good way. Really laid back, easy to read, and good advice.

A good book on just some basics and a little history of typefaces This one's a little more in depth, but still a great book on type.

If you're interested in learning a little history

More history

And also, a wonderful book that reads a little more like a novel than a text book: Just My Type I absolutely love this book. It shows you some history, but at the same time everything is in layman's' terms and very easy to understand. Simon Garfield is a colorful writer and goes through lots of effort to show you all the things about type you might not ever notice.

As far as your type site goes, parts of it are really slick, parts are a little awkward. As others have said, legibility is (for the most part) king when working with type. I've made a couple of critiques on some screen shots for you.

Anyhow, you've got a lot of great advice from everyone here to work with. Just keep practicing and of course looking at examples type and analyzing why it's good or bad. Best of luck!

For practice I can't recommend any book. I would suggest finding old homework that's on paper and try and emulate it with LaTeX.

https://www.sharelatex.com/learn/Creating_a_document_in_LaTeX You can use this link to write a basic setup.

I'm using TexStudio editor, it does everything I need. And if you are stuck, and don't know how to write some symbol or environment. Just google it. For example, if you want an integration symbol and don't know the function. Just google it. That's how I learned to use LaTeX. You'd be surprised how easy it is.

I bought one book http://www.amazon.com/LaTeX-Beginners-Guide-Stefan-Kottwitz/dp/1847199860/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1452951731&sr=8-3&keywords=latex
It covers a lot of the basic stuff, and didn't help me much. But you can decide if you want to check it out.

Thats probably a great place to start. There's probably plenty of resources online. I recommend this book. Its only 11 bucks and worth it if you're interested in learning.

http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Typography-Ambrose-published-Publishing/dp/B00E6TJHKA/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1417409853&sr=8-8&keywords=typography+fundamentals

• Run texdoc on every package you use.
  
• When you understand the basics, read the TeXbook.
  
• If you want more details about how things work, read TeX by Topic.
  
• If you’re stuck, ask on tex-sx.

Type & Layout: Are You Communicating or Just Making Pretty Shapes

Banned in typography circles because it actually bases its advice on testing.

https://smile.amazon.com/American-Typefaces-Twentieth-Century-Revised/dp/0938768395/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485807124&sr=8-1&keywords=american+metal+typefaces

https://smile.amazon.com/Encyclopaedia-Typefaces-Berry-Johnson-Jaspert/dp/1844036707/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485807144&sr=8-1&keywords=encyclopedia+of+typefaces

https://smile.amazon.com/Modern-Encyclopedia-Typefaces-1960-90-Lawrence/dp/0442308094/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485807162&sr=8-1&keywords=modern+encyclopedia+of+typefaces

https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=an+a%E2%80%93z+of+type+designers

https://smile.amazon.com/American-Design-Designers-David-Consuegra/dp/1581153201/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485807215&sr=8-1&keywords=american+type+design+and+designers

https://smile.amazon.com/American-Wood-Type-1828-1900-Evolution/dp/0978588177/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485807240&sr=8-1&keywords=american+wood+type

https://smile.amazon.com/French-Renaissance-Printing-Types-Conspectus/dp/1584562714/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485807262&sr=8-1&keywords=french+renaissance+printing+types

https://smile.amazon.com/Nineteenth-Century-American-Designers-Engravers-Type/dp/1584562617/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485807283&sr=8-1&keywords=nineteenth+century+american+designers+and+engravers+of+type

The LaTeX Companion and/or the Guide to LaTeX are probably the most comprehensive, definitive guides out there. However, for getting started, I'd second/third/whatever the recommendations for The Not So Short Guide to Latex2e (aka lshort.pdf).

I would also suggest that you use XeLaTeX rather than plain-jane LaTeX. It adds nice features like easy support for Unicode and OpenType fonts. You can read up on it in the XeTeX Companion.

Edit: incidentally, when you're writing TeX or LaTeX in plain text, capitalize it thus. ;-)

I recently picked up the book Typographic Web Design. The book runs you through lessons of doing type layout on the web. Its very good at leading you through the process from start to finish and the layouts could be called "modern"

would definitely give that book a look over.

the first decent book i got a long time ago was Type and Image. A very good book on typography is The Elements of Typographic Style, for a wider perspective go for Typographic Design: Form and Communication. To get a perspective on the 'communication' part of graphical communication i'd got for Information Architects

I guess this list dates me a bit :)

Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols, and Other Typographical Marks https://www.amazon.com/dp/0393349721/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_50dPAbGDKY7JH

I have had this book on my wish list for a while now. would be an awesome addition to my collection. this book is on my default list