Thinking With Type by Ellen Lupton

Published on 14^th June 2008 in Book reviews, tagged typography.

There are plenty of books on typography, but few come as highly recommended as Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students. I have a growing interest in the subject, so I thought that that this would give me an grounding in typography and tie all of the bits of information that I’d picked up from elsewhere together.

The page you see when you first open the book is a perfect example of the clarity with which Lupton presents the subject. I simply reads, “Typography is what language looks like.” Crisp, concise and succinct.

Thinking with Type is divided into three sections: Letter, Text and Grid. The first introduces the context in which the rest of the book can be explained, looking at the history of typefaces and their evolution since the presses of the Middle Ages. It explores different letterforms and their anatomy, so you’ll never wonder what people mean by a ‘humanist sans serif’ ever again.

While the first section concentrates on individual letters, Text examines what happens when we bring them together into a coherent block of text. Lupton explains tracking, line spacing, alignment, hierarchy and paragraphs, both in the context of print and the Web.

The final section introduces the historical context and practice of using grids in design. It’s perhaps less focused on typography than the previous chapters, but it’s a relevant and welcome inclusion nonetheless.

Unlike most books, Thinking with Type‘s appendix is actually well worth reading. It offers helpful hints, short pieces of advice and a brief guide to proofreading conventions.

As you might expect from a book of this sort, it’s designed really well, with interesting but consistent page layouts and typography that’s easy on the eye. Thinking with Type is also just the right size and length to be referred to while you’re working.

While I already knew a fair amount about typography, Thinking with Type has undoubtedly been a worthwhile purchase. It’s clearly structured, provides a solid historical context, explains theories clearly and has excellent examples. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who uses type on a fairly regular basis and wants to learn more.

Links:
The book’s website
The book on Amazon UK
The book on Amazon USA