Woohoo! This is perfect. I’ve just started doing some graphic work for a small publisher, and already we’re talking about book designing later this year. This will come in handy!

Wow! This came in the perfect time,it can be very handy! Thanks!

Nice, this could be perfect for my final work at college. Thanks for this!

Oh… must resist urge. Want.

Looks really interesting… and nice.

What an awesome concept. Thank you!

Obviously I am commenting because I hope to win a copy. Sounds like a dream book!

Thanks for all the inspiration and instruction you bring us in this blog.

I think I’ll hold off on buying it just long enough to try and win it :) Sounds great.

Wow, sounds like a really interesting read - and looks beautifully designed too!

For sure this one is being added to my amazon wishlist :p

That’s a great book – I think I have to buy it. Thank’s for the review!

Good pick. Looks very interesting. Design books are always great to read & flip through.

Wow how do you find these things? I simply can’t wait to add this to my bookshelf!

owwww!! that’s pretty cool!!!

Looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the review, ILT. Concisely informative overview, which is fitting, given the book’s approach. Well done. (And I’m not just saying that to sway the giveaway. Okay, maybe that’s part. But a very small part.)

i want it! ;D

I’d love to get a copy. Count me in!

I love books. I love design. I love books about design. I love books about designing books. I think. May I have one?

Well if I don’t win a copy, I’ll definitely put this on the Amazon wishlist!

Looks like an interesting read. I only have a passing interest in typography, but have a friend that would love something like this.

Thanks for the review. I definitely have to pick up a copy.

Glad to see the photos on the publisher’s page; I was quite disappointed when Amazon listing didn’t include the page preview feature.

As someone who’s never explored book design, the length seems ideal for an introduction to the stimulating subject.

Thanks, too, for the innumerable references in your posts. I find myself in very happy tangents to my mid-day web browsing!

Sounds like a very interesting read. Actually, I would love to design a book one day, perhaps I’ll start with an e-book.
Whenever I read a book, I always pay attention to the way the content has been laid out, the fonts that were chosen, the way illustrations accompany the text.

I like books…

This looks like it’ll be a great companion to the Elements of Typographic Style – great find!

Mmmm, Baskerville. And is that a 2-color diagram? Sold.

Well if I don’t win it, I’m buying it!

I would love to win the book! Great article on a very interesting subject. Thanks a lot.

I would like to one :)

This book tickles both the amateur designer and amateur writer inside me. Very, very interesting!

This seems like a great book to help me with my handmade books; thanks for the review!

Johno, you are the mano!

Didn’t even know this book existed. Can’t wait to check it out.

Thanks for everything. Jason

Heheh, I was just looking at buying that book yesterday, but winning it would be even better! Thanks Johno!

Would like to compare it with “The Elements of Typographic Style”. Don’t think that it can goes any better, but who knows?

Great review John! Come at the right time, I started my Master’s degree and need to think about the design of my thesis…

John, or someone else, you know the “Detail in typography” by Hochuli? What you think, is good too? I thinking about buying this and “Designing books”…

And, a typo: In the last time you cite Hochuli o->u ^_^’. Bye!

Sounds pretty good.

I’d love to get into book design.

Looks like an interesting book; great layout, although not so sure about the cover…

Looks like an interesting (and really useful) book. Sign me up for this little contest!

On another note: I’m enjoying your more frequent posts. (I like Sunday Type, but smaller posts are always good, too.)

I am pretty sure my synapses are salivating. Lovely find.

Do you have any books to recommend on newspaper design?

Wow, I sure would love to own one of these!

I would like to win one. Thanks!

‘twould be a wonderful addition to help with my typography studies!

Great, just in time for when my credit card company complained about all my amazon purchases!

This looks great. I’d love to win one.

thanks for the review, looks interesting!

Ooooh, I’d love to win a copy!

Awesome, I’ll push this book onto my type students.

I think some saliva just dripped on my keyboard.

Really I just want a copy. Also, why didn’t this show up in the RSS feed until just now?

EDIT: I guess there have just been that many comments in the past two hours. I guess the comment date is determined by GMT, then?

Looks like an amazing book. Thanks for posting John. If I don’t win it I’m definitely going to buy it.

John, I think I mentioned this book to you a long while back. A handful of other must-haves are Rich Hendel’s On Book Design, Robert Bringhurst’s The Elements of Typographic Style, The Design of Books by Adrian Wilson. I’ve discussed them all, as well as others, on my blog; but my recommended “big three” are Hochuli/Kinross, Hendel, and Bringhurst.

I would love to give this book a home in between Chip Kidd’s “Book One” and Robert Bringhurst’s “The Elements of Typographic Style” - among my collection of inspirations to aspire to.

I certainly wouldn’t mind winning a copy…

I guess I need this book. I designed my second-to-last book, but my publisher insisted on letting someone else design my last book. The one I designed isn’t perfect, but the last one is far worse.

The part I find most interesting is that presumably the cover is the best design possible (as the ones who designed the book are experts.) I would really like to know what went into that process and do hope they address such items in the book. Sounds like a winner!

Luck

I bought this book a few months ago on Steve Tiano’s recommendation — it’s really nice. Someday, I shall design a book. I think that’s pretty attainable goal that can replace one of my more unattainable ones, like becoming a rock star.

Wow! That looks great!

My synapses are in high salivation mode. Could have used this a few times in the past for sure; but better late than never, right?!

Love it, great review :)

The only thing I’ve ever won in my life is a dead goldfish from a fair when I was eight. Let’s hope this trumps.

I’ve got to tell you, you’re wrong. Synapses do indeed salivate, and this book makes it happen.

Long time no post.
Time to win stuff!! Haha

I hope all is well Johno

i would so so so love a copy of this book.

This looks fabulous — and I’m delighted to be reading your new short posts Johno!

Great post as usual! will try to get my hand on this!!

I would love a copy!

That looks like a gorgeous book. Once upon a time I was a book designer, and it always seems like I’ll do that again one day. And usually it’s gorgeous books on book design that make me want to design more books (maybe design more books on book design). —blessings…

Thanks for the review. I hadn’t heard of the book until now. I would love to learn more about book design.

mmm…book design. I just got my copy of The Solid Form of Language and I’m still drooling over it. Would love a copy of Designing Books to go along with it!

Always a joy.

Thanks for the contest. This book looks like an interesting read, indeed.

oh gosh… only at amazon or uk? it’s hard to live in south america… hahahaha

alliteration is my favorite poetic device. ever. ::applaud:: ♥

I design books on traditional and ethnic textile skills, especially knitting and spinning. I do it because I love books, love knitting, am fanatic about making the images and the text work together as well as possible.

Thanks for the book alert (it would be lovely to win a copy: my dedication to craft has impeded my income flow in the past several months) and the connection to Steve Tiano’s blog, via the comments.

Two nice discoveries to end the day, for which I am grateful. Although before I can close out the day for real, I still have a drawing to place electronically in my latest book design and see if I’ve got the pen weights right. Yes, I know I could do this piece in Illustrator, but it just wouldn’t look right for a book on handcraft… .

It’s always weird to read articles like this.

On one hand, I’m eager to leaf through the book, hear what they have to say. But on the other you have to wonder: When does an art become a science and when is that science… unnecessary? Is it really so complex that we can lecture on it enough to write a book?

But I’m sure it’ll prove to be interesting, regardless.

would love to add this to my library of instruction!

Kinross is a great writer and authority on typography. The book is worth every dollar.

Sweet. I’ve been waiting for Hochuli’s Detail in Typography to come to the US for ages now. This looks great as well.

You sure know how to entice comments John! That book looks exquisite.

Nice review. Like everyone else, I’d love to win a copy of the book. But if not, I’ll probably buy it soon.

very interesting book!

thanks for blogging this - if I don’t win it (heh) then I will probably also buy it soon :) I am excited to read it.

Wow… thanks, I just found my next design purchase! Unless I win it. :)

Wow! Useful book!

Pick me?

Choice!! Maybe what Bringhurst has done for type & typesetting, Hochuli & Kinross can do for book design. Thanks for the critique!

Looks awesome! Buying design books is somewhat of an addiction.

Sounds very useful book. Thanks for sharing this!

Perfect for my publication design assignment coming up… will definitely have to pick this up one day or another. Thanks!

Oh, fantastic! Add to this the fact that I ran across a mysterious book bindery in my friend’s neighborhood yesterday, and you’ve got yourself a bona fide binding fixation!

Thanks for sharing! I’ll definitely check it out.

Want want want! I’ve been meaning to get my grubby mitts on some typography and graphic design books, and this looks like it’d be a good way to start such a collection.

Commenting for a chance to win! I already have a book I layed out published but I would definitely like to improve and smooth some bumps in the workflow.

I hope to win a copy. Very interesting! The book looks fine!

What a perfect timing: My next class is about book-design. Would be perfect with a book like this then.

Looks like a goodie !! Be keen check it out.

want one now ! Amazon, where are you ?

I’ve just started on Elements and loving it. Another book worth checking out is Typographic Systems.

Sounds good. I wonder what the overlap is with books such as Bringhursts The Manual of Typographic Style.

Thanks for pointing out this one. Keep up the good work writing the best typography site on the web!

Now this looks rather interesting. I’ll definitely have to get myself a copy someday. :)

I dream about designing books!
Thanks for the review and for letting us know about this one!

If it’s anyway near Kinross’ «Modern typography: an essay in critical history», it must be great.

Oh! Suits you! She wants it sir!

ILT rules!

wow, i really need it!

Wow, looks like a great book. I’d love to win the free copy. Keep up the good blog work!

Definitely a must have. I love it.
Thanks a lot for this book review.

this book will move instantly to my to-buy list!

Book added to my wishlist. It should be fine with The Element of Typographic style.

Now… Is there a book like those on poster design ?

**** Wow! Wow! ****

Did I win the book now? The people that make out that their lives depend on winning this book make me laugh :D

Great way of counting how many people actually read your blog. Well done!

Do want.

i am going to read this book after Bringhurst’s classic

Wow, this looks great, design (obviously) looks bloody amazing!

I’d love reading that book in the winter near the fireplace. Good design makes me all warm inside!

It seems like the ideal next book to read, for me. I’ve based the design of my website on the book metaphor and it would surely help me improve it!

Nice book review, by the way!

Looks like a realy nice book. Good review.

Do. Want.

I am really looking forward to reading this. It will probably clear the air about alot of practical problems one encounters often when designing a book, or booklet. Thanks for the post, and the book.

Wonderful reading. I enjoy reviews. Thanks.

hmmmm… book on book design….
must have…. *dribble*

As a future publisher, I just NEED this.

Oh, wow. That looks like a fantastic resource. I’m teaching a senior design class at a small university, and they are designing a series of books for their first project. I would love to have something like this as a supplemental text. Thanks for sharing. Jason

¡ Want ¡t !!!

Choose me, please!

Its the first time that a book review make me instantanly want to buy it ^__^

Thanks for your enthusiasm

PICK ME FOR THE BOOK :P

Hmmmmm. So many more comments when there is a free book up for grabs :-)
Count me in too!

oh well
cool news

:)

, matt

LOL, when I opened this article with 133 comments, and scrolled down I thought iLT was spammed with ‘thank you’ and ‘count me in’ comments. But the opposite is true, thank you John for bringing this book to our attention. Seems like a great guide into designing a book.

I am currently trying to get a copy of Design in Typography and then this happens! My goodness. This will give me a run for my money. ;)

http://www.doverbooks.co.uk/
They also have some nice books on design etc. I bought one in London earlier this year about general layouting with examples of everything, grids, texts, ratios etc etc!!! It had a bright orange front cover. I cannot find it on the site, but if you like I can give you the name of the book and perhaps a amazon link later. I think it is worth gold!

This also looks very promising and will have to buy it! I can learn a lot I see!!!

Thanks for a great blog btw. Am checking it all the time!

If I don’t win the book, I’ll order it.

Kristian, sounds like you’er talking about Grid Systems in Graphic Design by Josef Muller-Brockmann

Talvez compre. Parece-me bem.

Percebes alguma destas palavras?

Guilherme Pires (Portugal)

I’ve got Book Design by Andrew Haslam, part of Lawrence King’s Portfolio series. Theory-wise, it’s pretty comprehensive. I wonder how this book compares.

Pick me! Pick me!

Looks like a realy nice book.
it can be very handy! Thanks for posting!

I’d like to read it.

Sveinn> No actually not, because it has a lot of other things that grids. It is the whole deal with font, keerning, spaces, ratios, grids and so forth. More general layout design. I’ll look it up later!

Wow, 144th comment. People must really want this book! Count me in!

hi again

http://www.felicianotypefoundry.com
great portuguese type!!!!!!! take a look

James, “unnecessary science”? First, John’s hit the nail right on the head, Hochuli seems more interested—when you get into the book—in getting across the need to think about different elements of a book, rather than think about then in any specific way. Toward that end, he covers the initial book design decision: the physical size and proportion of a book’s page in a full, meaningful way, which—to me—then makes it very easy to continue to other aspects in a sure-minded way.

There is both an art and—if you don’t like the notion of science in book design—craft to making books. Much like the pursuit of, say, making great architecture, there is first the basic doing it in a complete way so that the building stands (craft); and then there is doing it well, putting up a beautiful building (art). In some ways, the two notions are inseparable.

pick me or i will kill myself!

Pick me… Pick me…

I’d like to have it.

this looks great, i’ve designed a few books, but still struggle with it, so this looks really useful. thanks again johno!

This looks like an interesting book. And it there is a little Univers 75 Black in it too!

This seems like it would be a great resource for explaining why and how we read books physical books (as opposed to ebooks and such)!

Just to be here… (Interesting book)

This looks great - I have just started producing much longer documents at work.

Don’t you agree this book would look gorgeous next to my version of Fully Booked? A match made in heaven!! :)

This is so going in my Amazon Wishlist! Now, if I can just get around to ordering some of those books :) -MP

Once again, great post! I’ll most definitely have to check this book out!

Nice review…fingers crossed…

I want to win. this would be a nice addition to my library.

I have just begun designing books. I’m almost afraid to read this to discover all I have done incorrectly. It definitely sounds like something to add to my library.

It’s making me salivate…

I’d love this book.

Sounds like it’s on par with The Elements of Typography Style.

Book design seems like the ultimate practice of restraint and humility. Hopefully one day I will have the chance!

wow so many comments!

Awesome! Will be on my bookshelf very soon…

I’d love to get my hands on a copy of this!

Thanks for the review! I love book design and want to read more about it.

I really wanna get this book. Perfect tip, great review. Thanks.

Is there a section on how to control the urge to redesign a book layout once you’ve already half-filled your book with content? :P

Learning to design books is not a particulaly complicated affair. The fundamentals—all of which are covered in the book—can be learned with little effort. However, the same can be said of, for example, chess: learning the moves is nothing more than filing away the rules in memory. Mastery, however, is a lifetime’s work. And as grandmasters of book design and typography, one is in good hands with Hochuli and Kinross.

I may just have to quote you in a presentation I’m giving next month. :)

Nothing is as satisfying as reading a well designed book.

Yeah!

I love the book´s simple aproach: Designing Books! Just it! I would love to get one of them!

Best regards,
Luis Santos

I am a struggling artist/designer trapped in the body of a computer scientist (or is that trapped in the mind of a computer scientist). I am currently writing my first book and because it is a niche product I am also down as the text’s designer. Since I know a thing or two about programmer art, this is sometimes daunting.

Of course, since I aspire to design, I am actually happy to do it. We will see what the finished product becomes. They have given me one color beyond black to play with. I am trying to do my best.

In any case, I really love this blog. It is one of only a dozen feeds I actually subscribe to. The pictures, the news about typography, all that stuff. It makes me happy.

Oh, yeah, if anyone wants a short, sweet, free lesson in book design, look at the documentation for the memoir package for LaTeX. The first half of the documentation is on why the package was needed and each chapter begins with design reasons for the default behavior of the package. Maybe it is my computer science brain that loved it but the presentation was readable and very, very pretty (lots of sample page spreads from books throughout the ages).

Very interesting. I’ve always wondered and kind of figured that there was a definite process and system to