Four Must Have Typography Books
I am always reminding my students that type is the basic currency of design. Without proper command over your typography, your design suffers. Whether you’re a neophyte or had your baptism by fire in the design world, here are four books you should own. 
The Elements of Typographic Style
Robert Bringhurst This is the typographer’s bible. No other tome is more important. It is dense and richly fortified with indispensable lessons on how to properly craft type on a page. Modernism at its heart, this book still applies to David Carson disciples. Don’t be intimidated by the academic quality of this book. You will be rewarded for plowing through it.
Thinking with Type
Ellen LuptonEllen Lupton is one of the most prolific writers on design theory and practice. She applies her ample skills to a type book directed toward students and young designers in Thinking with Type. This book is a primer and guide that you should keep handy if you’re early in your career.
Fonts & Logos
Doyald YoungThis book is difficult to find and expensive once you track it down. I got my copy from Hennessy & Ingalls bookstore in Los Angeles and it was well worth the hefty price tag. Doyald Young (that’s not a typo) is legendary. I have yet to see a designer manipulate and understand type like this man. This book is a series of case studies for the famous custom lettering work he executed throughout his illustrious career. If you’re a hardcore typophile, you will definitely cherish this book.
Designing Type
Karen ChengIf you’ve ever wondered what goes into designing a typeface, this book is a must have. It is a technical but accessible guide that will lead you through all of the counter-intuitive considerations that go into designing both a serif and sans-serif font. No one should attempt to craft letters without reading this book first. Perhaps it should be called Designing Modernist Type but the lessons contained within will do you tremendous good.
There are, of course, countless other fantastic books out there that cover typography but these are some of my favorites, and ones that I consider most valuable throughout my continued development as a designer and conjurer of type. Be on the lookout for these books and be prepared to invest the money when you see them. The information and lessons contained within their pages will pay you back many times over. Have some favorites of your own? Let me know about them in the comments. I’m always looking to add to my library.
The Elements of Typographic StyleRobert Bringhurst This is the typographer’s bible. No other tome is more important. It is dense and richly fortified with indispensable lessons on how to properly craft type on a page. Modernism at its heart, this book still applies to David Carson disciples. Don’t be intimidated by the academic quality of this book. You will be rewarded for plowing through it.
Thinking with TypeEllen LuptonEllen Lupton is one of the most prolific writers on design theory and practice. She applies her ample skills to a type book directed toward students and young designers in Thinking with Type. This book is a primer and guide that you should keep handy if you’re early in your career.
Fonts & LogosDoyald YoungThis book is difficult to find and expensive once you track it down. I got my copy from Hennessy & Ingalls bookstore in Los Angeles and it was well worth the hefty price tag. Doyald Young (that’s not a typo) is legendary. I have yet to see a designer manipulate and understand type like this man. This book is a series of case studies for the famous custom lettering work he executed throughout his illustrious career. If you’re a hardcore typophile, you will definitely cherish this book.
Designing TypeKaren ChengIf you’ve ever wondered what goes into designing a typeface, this book is a must have. It is a technical but accessible guide that will lead you through all of the counter-intuitive considerations that go into designing both a serif and sans-serif font. No one should attempt to craft letters without reading this book first. Perhaps it should be called Designing Modernist Type but the lessons contained within will do you tremendous good.
There are, of course, countless other fantastic books out there that cover typography but these are some of my favorites, and ones that I consider most valuable throughout my continued development as a designer and conjurer of type. Be on the lookout for these books and be prepared to invest the money when you see them. The information and lessons contained within their pages will pay you back many times over. Have some favorites of your own? Let me know about them in the comments. I’m always looking to add to my library.
