My rating:
add to my books
Loading...
The Elements of Typographic Style
Renowned typographer and poet Robert Bringhurst brings clarity to the art of typography with this masterful style guide. Combining the practical, theoretical, and historical, this edition is completely updated, with a thorough exploration of the newest innovations in intelligent font technology, and is a must-have for graphic artists, editors, or anyone working with the pr
...moreHardcover, 352 pages
Published
February 11th 2005
by Hartley and Marks Publishers
(first published 1992)
There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!
sign in »
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
2,169)
I am in the process of transforming myself into a book. In order to do that, I am having my spine surgically removed and removed and replaced with a smyth sewn binding. My skin is being stripped off in large patches and replaced with 12 pt cardstock with a four color cover and scuffless matte film lamination. I have hired a designer to come up with a treatment for my textual body. I can't take it anymore. Someone please take me off of the shelf and put me in your lap. I know it doesn't really ma...more
view all 5 comments
Yes, I seriously read a typographic style manual, but believe me, it was worth it. Not only is this a detailed, informative, and surpassingly witty survey of typography, but it's a simply beautiful book to hold and to read. It's a bit like taking an introductory lesson from a friendly architecture professor, learning about intricacies and critical minutia you had never before considered, and slowly realizing your teacher designed the room, the building, perhaps even the chair you're sitting in...more
This book convinced me that there is a lot of art in typography. It convinced me that good typography can make a big difference in how good text looks in a page. And it definitely convinced me that Robert Bringhurst is a stellar typographer. But it hasn't convinced me that he can convey this knowledge effectively.
Bringhurst has deep knowledge of typography, and the historical chapter on typefaces alone makes it worth your read. However, in many instances he falls into the trap of conf...more
Bringhurst has deep knowledge of typography, and the historical chapter on typefaces alone makes it worth your read. However, in many instances he falls into the trap of conf...more
As the title clearly indicates, Bringhurst sets out to do for Typography what Strunk and White’s Elements of Style did for writing: condense the vast array of typographic rules into one thorough reference manual. Of course, the role of typography has vastly expanded over the past century, and the typographic rules for billboards are entirely different from those for websites. Wisely, Bringhurst restricts himself primarily to one form: the book.
Within that field, the Elements does a...more
Within that field, the Elements does a...more
Within a short time after completing my formal education and entering my profession, I became rather painfully aware that my training in the art and craft of typography had been sorely lacking in many respects. There is an incredibly rich history and a fascinating set of accepted principles and rules which govern typography, the skillful use of letterforms and typeset matter which is a very important sub-discipline of graphic design. These were practically occult to me early in my career. I had ...more
I'm sure it's only the tip of the iceberg, but the book is engrossing enough that I now cast my amateur eye at any piece of text that floats my way. The author knows his stuff; better yet, he weaves humour and passion into what could have been a very dry introductory text.
Although there is a glossary in the back, I would have appreciated more graceful (read: the existence of) introductions to many of the technical terms. There were a few that weren't defined in the glossary and I had...more
Although there is a glossary in the back, I would have appreciated more graceful (read: the existence of) introductions to many of the technical terms. There were a few that weren't defined in the glossary and I had...more
If any of my friends also love this book, I will be surprised and very happy. It is itself a gorgeous example of restraint and class, and the information contained within is invaluable for the typographically-inclined; but anyone without a very strong interest in the most technical of typographic rules will, I fear, be bored to death. That said, I for one find it to be one of the most useful and elegant books I have ever had the good fortune to acquire.
Bringhurst brings elegance to his explanation of how text gets laid out onto a page. This book, at times, is more applicable to the days before computer layout software. However, the rules and the techniques described still pertain.
This book was instrumental when I first studied letterpress printing. I refer to it religiously when I do digital layouts and try to figure out to shape a page or what rules apply to make my text readable and legible.
This book was instrumental when I first studied letterpress printing. I refer to it religiously when I do digital layouts and try to figure out to shape a page or what rules apply to make my text readable and legible.
An incredibly comprehensive journey through the art and science of typography. Written with a poetic edge, the book is a romantic embrace of the world of type. The text often borders on grandiloquence, sometimes resulting in a loss of clarity, but the practical applications, and the author's overriding passion for the subject, justify this book's reputation as a classic of the field.
This book was an excellent, acerbic, and concise overview of how to properly present text.
It is an opinionated book. The author speaks definitively about all manner of subjects and if you can't handle an assertive text, it might not be for you.
The provided layout forms, and overviews of digital typefaces are worth far more than this book costs.
It is an opinionated book. The author speaks definitively about all manner of subjects and if you can't handle an assertive text, it might not be for you.
The provided layout forms, and overviews of digital typefaces are worth far more than this book costs.
You probably won't read through this book unless forced. But that's only because this book is dense with meaning. If you are looking for a book to thoroughly explain the intricacies of type in an approachable way, get this book and read it every now and then – you will be rewarded with a solid grounding in typography.
Although this book is a bit too academic for me, I rate it a perfect 5 because typography is an extensive subject that spans over 500 years and for a "novel length book" it is very comprehensive providing knowledge from a beginner to a season profesional.
Read this if you care at all about how your writing is presented, or how other peoples' writing is presented, or if you're interested in alphabets, or the history of printing, or how many different diacritics are used when writing Vietnamese with the Latin alphabet.
Simple. Beautiful. Helpful. Classic. You can't help but gain an appreciation for the book as a beautiful and useful tool, over and above the text itself. Better yet, this book is itself a testimony to delightful design.
Un libro super completo sobre todo lo relacionado al mundo y arte de la tipografía.
Un libro imprescindible en la coleccón de cualquiera que se interesa por el mundo del diseño.
Un libro imprescindible en la coleccón de cualquiera que se interesa por el mundo del diseño.
The ultimate book on typography. Simply beautiful. It can be a quick reference guide, a manual, a teaching device, interesting and profound humanistic read. A real treasure box.
Definitivo, ironico, stimolante, rigoroso.
Bringhurst passa in rassegna font, formati, convenzioni tipografiche ecc. connettendo fra loro i suoi oggetti di studio e inserendoli nel più ampio contesto culturale e storico: per capire che i libri e le riviste sono fatti in un certo modo perché devono essere leggibili e perché le loro forme sono, esse stesse, cultura.
Bringhurst passa in rassegna font, formati, convenzioni tipografiche ecc. connettendo fra loro i suoi oggetti di studio e inserendoli nel più ampio contesto culturale e storico: per capire che i libri e le riviste sono fatti in un certo modo perché devono essere leggibili e perché le loro forme sono, esse stesse, cultura.
Thorough to say the least! I get exhausted—but excited!—just thinking about this book. It's an entire course-load (and then some) in itself. But majorly geeky.
Absolutely indispensable. If you want to understand how to get under the hood of a page layout, this is your Chilton's guide. It's also strangely compelling reading.
A classic, and definitely a must-have for any designer and/or type enthusiast. That being said, Bringhurst can get a little preachy and inflexible at times.
Bible of type! old school style. Its more of a reference, keep coming back to it if a type project is on the go. Great musical metaphor throughout.
Fascinating. Quite a lot to digest, especially for the amateur typographer, and doubly so for one working purely in reflowable digital text. Everyone I've mentioned this book to has assumed it to be about "fonts," but only a third or so of this book deals with issues connected to type face design and selection, even counting issues of kerning etc. A rich field well introduced.
Excellent, comprehensive, beautifully typeset (as you'd expect). Maybe slightly over-prescriptive, but I guess that's part of the charm.
This book is more beautiful than I ever imagined a book on typography could be. It inspired me to make a dance about typography. Seriously.
Very "meaty" book. Written pretty well which makes it easier to read than most informational books. Designed quite beautifully.
I really like this book. The author writes like typography is his only love in life. Very descriptive and clear. Fun to read too.
One of my top ten books of all time, and that's a lot coming from a reader with a major bias against non-fiction. I can't be 100% sure that my rating would apply for everyone, since even the most dry text will interest me 2x as much as normal if it's about type, but I think Bringhurst's commanding yet poetic voice (he's actually also a professional poet, besides being a type guru) could make typography fascinating for anyone. And for people who actually need to learn about type (hello, anyone wh...more
Beautifully written, perfectly correct, a resource for refinement and exactitude. I love this book.
This book covers the basic of what typography is all about. If do not you have the concepts it covers on the tip of your tongue, you aren't a graphic designer.
Quite possibly one of the worst books I have ever had to wade through.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Readers Also Enjoyed
Robert Bringhurst is a Canadian poet, typographer and author. He is the author of The Elements of Typographic Style – a reference book of typefaces, glyphs and the visual and geometric arrangement of type. He has also translated works of epic poetry from Haida mythology into English.
He lives on Quadra Island, near Campbell River, British Columbia (approximately 170 km northwest of Vanc...more
More about Robert Bringhurst...
He lives on Quadra Island, near Campbell River, British Columbia (approximately 170 km northwest of Vanc...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Typography is the craft of endowing human language with a durable visual form.”
—
5 people liked it
“In a badly designed book, the letters mill and stand like starving horses in a field. In a book designed by rote, they sit like stale bread and mutton on the page. In a well-made book, where designer, compositor and printer have all done their jobs, no matter how many thousands of lines and pages, the letters are alive. They dance in their seats. Sometimes they rise and dance in the margins and aisles.”
—
5 people liked it
More quotes…
