 good all around approach to type
a good intro on how to work with type and what mistakes to avoid when formatting type
 Great Book, Intresting History of Type
This book talks about the history and elements of type. As a part-time designer I really enjoyed reading this book and learning about some of the creative people behind typefaces.
An interesting read, not a comprehensive guide
If you're looking for an instructional guide to typography, check out The Elements of Typographic Style or The Complete Manual of Typography. After revisiting this book, I've upped it to 4 stars, realizing that while it doesn't serve as a typographical reference, it is thought-provoking.
This book, while it does contain some practical dos and don'ts, is more useful for: seeing good examples of interesting typography; learning a bit of history about typefaces, layout, and grid; and for learning about how typographical grids and other techniques apply to web design.
I agree with some other reviewers that the design and layout of the book at times is overwrought, and distracts from the content. This is most evident in the first chapter, Letters, which I found very difficult to get through. However, the second (Text) and third (Grid) chapters aren't laid out so busily, and are much stronger.
I wouldn't recommend this as a first or only book on typography, but is worth reading after more complete, nuts-and-bolts volumes.
 Highly overrated, badly designed.
After reading all the glittering reviews (and realizing that I could probably do with a little more typeface history and design knowledge), I purchased this book from Amazon. To be honest, I found the inside of the book to be laid out in a very ADD manner, with varying multi-colored, different-sized, intersecting sections of what-not COMPETING FOR ATTENTION. The information itself was good, but to be honest it was so badly laid out that it hindered me from reading any further, and had to force myself to read to the 20th page. As a Master's level Graphic Design student, I am APPALLED at the design or lack thereof of the pages of this book (with the exception of the cover), and even more shocked that this is considered one of the best typeface textbooks there is (and even more so that it was written by a PROFESSOR who is currently teaching in this field). There has to be a MUCH better and reader-friendly textbook on type out there.
great review
Good learning material. I needed it for my class and i like the ease of reading it and the useful amount of knowledge it has. since i am a graphic design major, i found it helpful. Good condition when i bought it as well.
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