The review discusses six typography books, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. It praises 'Shaping Text' for its practical approach and 'Reading Letters' for its academic rigor, while criticizing 'Typography, Referenced' for its outdated presentation and errors. The review also appreciates the unique design and content of 'Inside Paragraphs' and 'Cómo crear tipografías', and finds 'The Anatomy of Type' a helpful tool for type classification.
The review explores six typography books, each offering a unique perspective on the subject. 'Shaping Text' by Jan Middendorp is commended for its practical and dynamic approach, making it a potential classic. 'Reading Letters' by Sofie Beier is noted for its academic depth and practical examples, despite some historical inaccuracies. 'Typography, Referenced' is criticized for its outdated look and errors, though it contains inspiring material. 'Inside Paragraphs' by Cyrus Highsmith is praised for its clever design and effective explanation of typographic fundamentals. 'Cómo crear tipografías' is highlighted for its structured guide to typeface design, hoping for an English edition. Lastly, 'The Anatomy of Type' by Stephen Coles is appreciated for its playful and helpful approach to type classification.
Quick quotes
The book is profusely illustrated and contains inspiring material, such as Gerry Leonidas’ essay on type design.
By comparison, Jan Middendorp’s _Shaping Text_ is a refreshing and humbler crack at the genre.
Despite minor historical errors and occasional difficulty shaking off its dense scientific foundations, Beier’s book is a solid starting-point, offering lots of food for thought.