Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works

by Erik Spiekermann
Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Design, and Photography
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Technical
  • ID: 5898
  • Added: 2025-10-25
  • Updated: 2025-10-25
  • ISBN: 9783949164033
  • Published: 2022-09-15
  • Reviews: 3

Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works is a beloved and comprehensive introduction to designing with type, now in its fourth edition. Author Erik Spiekermann brings his classic work up-to-date with a new chapter on variable typefaces and a wealth of visual examples that demonstrate how to communicate effectively through type. This handbook is not only a fun and fast read but also invites exploration, ensuring you learn something new each time you open it. Whether you're a design student or a type enthusiast, Spiekermann's engaging style will help you understand how to choose the best typeface for your message and express yourself more effectively through design. With anecdotes and a multilayered design, this book is a treasure trove of knowledge for anyone who uses type. It covers everything from the basics of looking at type to the nuances of working with it, making it an essential resource for both beginners and professionals. The inclusion of new typefaces and references throughout the book ensures that it remains relevant and useful in the ever-evolving world of typography.

Reviews
The Storygraph · 2025-10-25
recommended 4.75

The book is highly recommended for its coherent explanations of various fonts and their unique characteristics. It is praised for its educational value and practical insights.

This reviewer appreciates the book's ability to explain different fonts in a coherent and accessible manner. They find the explanations of what makes each font special to be particularly valuable. The reviewer highly recommends the book, noting that they don't give out five-star ratings lightly. They find the book to be a great resource for anyone interested in typography, offering both educational value and practical insights.

Quick quotes

    Lots of fonts explicated along the way, with coherent explanations of what makes them special.

    Very recommended. (I can't hand out 5 stars willy-nilly--it's not just a book I read, it's a book I learned from.)

    An entertaining, informative and educational tour through the most basic unit of communication--type.

Hardcover.app · 2024-07-31
decent 3.50

The book serves as a decent introduction to typography with lots of visual aids, though it was more casual than expected.

This reviewer found the book to be a casual coffee-table book rather than an in-depth study, but still appreciated its value as an introduction to typography. They liked the visual aids and found the book to be a decent starting point for understanding the basics of type. The reviewer notes that while it may not be as comprehensive as some might expect, it still offers valuable insights and a good overview of the subject.

Quick quotes

    Was more of a casual coffee-table book than I was expecting but still served as a decent intro to the topic with lots of visual aids.

    Explains in every-day laymen's terms what type is.

    An entertaining, informative and educational tour through the most basic unit of communication--type.

TUG.org · 2023-02-05
insightful 4.50

The book explains the importance of design choices in typography and illustrates how they enhance readability and beauty. It is praised for its practical insights and educational value.

This review highlights how the book effectively explains the significance of design choices in typography. It appreciates the practical examples and illustrations that make the concepts accessible and engaging. The reviewer finds the book to be a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding and improving their use of type. They particularly enjoy the way the book balances technical information with readability, making it suitable for both beginners and professionals.

Quick quotes

    Spiekermann explains why these and other design choices matter and illustrates how they work to produce more readable, legible and beautiful typography.

    Whether you want to use OpenType or just use type well, Stop Stealing Sheep has much to offer, without excessive technical detail.

    It's a very enjoyable read! I spent quite a bit of time and effort on it, as I translated a few chapters in French for my master's thesis in typography.

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