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The The Non-Designer's Type Book, 2nd Edition | 
 enlarge | Author: Robin Williams
Publisher: Peachpit Press
Category: Book
List Price: $24.99
Buy New: $14.98
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Avg. Customer Rating:  18 reviews
Sales Rank: 145484
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2nd
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.9 x 6.8 x 0.5
ISBN: 0321303369
Dewey Decimal Number: 686.2
EAN: 9780321303363
ASIN: 0321303369
Publication Date: October 2, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
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Product Description
Seven years is a long time in any industry, but when it comes to the worlds of design and technology (and particularly the point at which the two merge), it's an eternity! No wonder, then, that you (and about a million other readers!) have been eagerly awaiting this latest update to Robin Williams' enormously popular Non-Designer's series. In these pages, Robin defines the principles that govern type as well as the logic behind them so that you learn not just what looks best but why on your way to creating effective print and Web pages. Each short chapter in this thoroughly updated guide (which includes new coverage of typography in Adobe InDesign and Mac OS X) explores a different type secret or technique, including understanding legibility and readability; tailoring typeface to a particular project; mastering pull quotes and captions; working with spacing, punctuation marks, special characters, fonts, and justification; and more. The nonplatform- and nonsoftware-specific approach and Robin's lively, engaging style make this a must-have for any designer's bookshelf!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...
 Very thorough and useful June 23, 2008
I have to begin by saying that I have absolutely no experience in design or artwork. I have taken on a project (not exactly voluntarily) which I would prefer doesn't look completely amateurish by the time I finish. I got this book to give me some sort of reference in something I know I'm way over my head on.
It covers everything that an amateur needs to know; it is fairly well indexed so I can locate it quickly; it doesn't go into unnecessary detail, just the to-the-point-basics. It is perfect for someone who doesn't have time to read the whole book and just needs to look up specific aspects of design as the need arises; it is not only well-written, but also well-illustrated. So far, everything I've needed is there.
Having said this, I think that someone who already knows the basics or has design experience might find the tone of the book a little bit arbitrary or pedantic. In questions of taste or style there has to be a little more leeway for personal preference than this book would indicate.
The author does have rather firm ideas of what is right and what is wrong and how things must be done. I tend to agree and do things his way because I don't know anything different and I desperately need strict guidelines since I don't have time to experiment or develop my own style.
People who know more than I about the subject might or might not agree with all he says. But I think everyone will find this book useful at least as a source of reference or a starting point.
A MUST for type lovers September 19, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Contrary to the reviewer below, this book is most definitely a book about type for non-designers. I too love typography. Mantis neglects to mention, in his diatribe about underlining, that Ms. Williams makes it perfectly clear that a rule (line) integrated into the typographic design is entirely different from the underline feature that you hit with a keystroke. She advocates never hitting that keyboard shortcut, and she is correct. Ms. Williams also makes it clear she is creating guidelines for non-designers who need clear boundaries when they first begin, and that once you know the rules, you can break them with glee. Like Helvetica -- a very skilled designer can override the 1970s look that inevitably comes with Helvetica, just as a very skilled designer can work with art deco fonts and create a new look with them. But beginning designers aren't there yet, so Robin suggests some boundaries.
I found this book to be much more practical for the millions of people who are just discovering that there is more to type than "block text." Bringhurst's book is beautiful and philosophical and something to aspire to, but for nuts and bolts and clear guidelines that work on the page, The Non-Designer's Type Book is a must!
Wonderful intro to the world of type... February 15, 2006
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
As an avid reader and (some would argue) somewhat-successful writer, I spend a lot of time looking at the printed word. But I don't have a full appreciation behind the effort and thought that goes into how that word gets transferred from writer to reader on paper. Robin Williams has a great book for those of us who are not professionals in the world of typesetting... The Non-Designer's Type Book.
Contents: Centuries of Type; The Art of Readability; The Art of Legibility; Quotation Marks - Or Not?; Hang that Punctuation; Punctuation Style; Shift that Baseline; OpenType & Expert Sets; Small Caps; Oldstyle Figures; Ligatures; Condensed and Extended Type; Display Type; Kerning; Linespacing (leading); Paragraph Spacing; Alignment; Headlines and Subheads; Pull Quotes; Captions; Emphasizing Type; Line Breaks and Hyphenation; Swash Characters; Initial Caps; Typographic Color; Ornaments & Dingbats; Pi & Picture Fonts; Don't be a Wimp!; Evocative Typography; Choose a Typeface; Telltale Signs of Desktop Publishing; Trends in Type; Typographic Terms; Listen to Your Eyes; Font and Product Vendors; Special Characters; Index
It's easy to look at something written and get an immediate impression as to whether it looks good or not. But it's really hard sometimes to know exactly why. Williams demystifies the whole world of print design in such a way that even a novice like me starts to "get it". Her explanation of font styles and when to use what should be required reading for everyone putting words to paper. Just because you can use 10 fonts in a report doesn't mean you should. Going a little deeper, you learn about kerning (spacing between letters) and how that can be adjusted for the best visual results. All of these subjects continue to build on each other, and by the end of the book you have a solid foundation on the subject. What makes the book even better is that her writing style is conversational and somewhat irreverent, and there are an abundance of examples on nearly every page. Even if you already know a particular rule (such as using smart quotes or hanging punctuation), the visual nature of her writing can be used to glean ideas for your own work. Reference and inspiration in a single volume is a hard thing to accomplish, but she pulls it off with ease.
This is another one of those books that will stay close at hand. This will probably be more of a "stay at home" book, as that's where a lot of my writing takes place. But it's guaranteed to get slotted in next to all my other volumes that allow me to make-believe I'm a writer. Great book...
 Get the "The Non-Designer's Design Book" instead January 16, 2006
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
I'm a big fan of the author, but I feel this is not one of her best books. She clearly illustrates all the important type concepts, but the book felt too long for the amount of information presented.
I love her "The Non-Designer's Design Book" which concisely covers some of the same information. I've recommended the "Design Book" to lots of people but cannot think of anyone I'd recommend the "Type Book" to. I would have preferred it as a quick reference companion to the "Design Book", maybe at half its current size.
Great Guide to help get your message into print. October 8, 2005
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I have been reading Robin Williams' books since "The Mac is Not a Typewriter" came out.
This author gives great, clear information that will help with the look of anything that you produce in print. (Or on the web)
If you aren't a designer, or aren't particularly artistic, like me, you will benefit from this book because she gives clear examples of how to catch the reader's eye, and gives examples of pitfalls to avoid.
There are also some who are a little too artistic for their own good. This book will help them avoid over-embellishing to the extent that their message doesn't get accross.
A good buy for anyone who has to communicate in print. It doesn't matter if it's ad copy, a report for the boss, or your book, web site or menu.
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