Books about TeX, typography, and friends

On this page we gather book-related links: books published by TUG and others, discounts from various publishers, book reviews, and more. Listing on this page does not imply endorsement by TUG.

If you'd like to review a TeX-related book, or have your TeX-related book be reviewed, or have questions or suggestions about any of the information here, please drop a line to tugboat@tug.org.

News

February 3, 2024. Review of LaTeX Cookbook by Stefan Kottwitz; review by Uwe Ziegenhagen.

November 1, 2023. Review of Godine at Fifty by Karl Berry.


Books by Donald E. Knuth - Books published by TUG - Books about TeX and its applications - Books about typography and fonts - Other notable books - Affiliations and discounts - Book reviews in TUGboat.


Books by Donald E. Knuth

Computers and Typesetting  Computers and Typesetting by Donald E. Knuth.

The 2021 Jubilee Printings of Computers & Typesetting. Now, 35 years after the first edition, the leading worldwide experts on these systems have spent several months inspecting every page thoroughly. We believe that every "i" has been properly dotted, every "t" has been properly crossed, and every bug has been properly exterminated. Donald Knuth has also overseen the creation of PDF eBooks for these volumes, and they are available for the first time. The set includes The TeXbook (Volume A) and The METAFONT Book (Volume C). The books can be purchased individually, or as a set.
A discount for these books is available.

 
Digital Typography  Digital Typography, by Donald Knuth, which collects most of his TeX-related papers and reports (Center for the Study of Language and Information, ISBN 978-1575860107, 685pp).
A discount for this book is available.
 
Cover  Companion to the Papers of Donald Knuth, by Donald Knuth, (Center for the Study of Language and Information, Stanford, 2012. 441+xiii pp. Paperback, $35.00, ISBN 978-1575866345. Hardcover, $70.00, ISBN 978-1575866352).

In this volume, Knuth explains and comments on the changes he has made to his work over the last twenty years in response to new technologies and the evolving understanding of key concepts in computer science. His commentary is supplemented by a full bibliography of his works and a number of interviews, which shed light on his professional life and publications, as well as provide interesting biographical details.
Reviewed for TUGboat.
A discount for this book is available.

 
The Art of Computer Programming  The Art of Computer Programming by Donald E. Knuth.

Boxed set, volumes 1-4A. This multivolume work is widely recognized as the definitive description of classical computer science. It was also Knuth's proximate cause for creation of the TeX system.
A discount for this book is available.

 
The Art of Computer Programming, v.4a  The Art of Computer Programming, volume 4A, part 1 by Donald E. Knuth.

In this long-awaited new volume, the old master turns his attention to some of his favorite topics in broadword computation and combinatorial generation (exhaustively listing fundamental combinatorial objects, such as permutations, partitions, and trees), as well as his more recent interests, such as binary decision diagrams.
An appreciation in TUGboat.
A discount for this book is available.

 
Algorithmic Barriers Falling: P=NP?  Algorithmic Barriers Falling: P=NP? by Donald E. Knuth and Edgar G. Daylight (Lonely Scholar, 2014, 116 pp. Paperback, US$20.00. ISBN 978-94-9138-604-8).

By investigating Knuth's developing thoughts on the theoretical underpinnings of efficient computation, this book sheds light on Knuth's present-day conjecture that P = NP.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 4, Fascicle 5  The Art of Computer Programming, Volume 4, Fascicle 5 by Donald E. Knuth (Addison-Wesley, 2019, 382 pp., softcover, US$34.99, ISBN 978-0-13-467179-6).

This fascicle, brimming with lively examples, forms the first third of what will eventually become hardcover Volume 4B.
Reviewed for TUGboat.


Books published by TUG

These books can be ordered through TUG, or from most online bookstores. They are also available electronically to TUG members.

 
Glisterings  In July 2020, TUG published Glisterings: LaTeX and Other Oddments by Peter Wilson, a softcover book of 27 columns on LaTeX and other topics written by Peter Wilson for TUGboat (130 pp., 8.5x11, ISBN 098246262X, publication date July 16, 2020). The book was reviewed for TUGboat.
 
TeX 2^5 Anniversary  In June 2010, TUG published TeX's 25 Anniversary: A Commemorative Collection, a hardcover book of selected articles from TUGboat by Donald Knuth and other members of the original Stanford TeX project, with a foreword by Barbara Beeton and drawings by Duane Bibby.
 
TeX People  In July 2009, TUG published TeX People: Interviews from the world of TeX, a book of more than fifty interviews from the TUG Interview Corner.

Books about TeX and its applications

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LaTeX and Friends  LaTeX and Friends, by Marc van Dongen (Springer, Feb. 29, 2012, x+330pp., 145 ill., 15 in color. Hardcover, $69.95 approx., ISBN 978-3-642-23815-4).

This book teaches all the ins and outs of LaTeX which are needed to write an article, report, thesis, or book. The book teaches by example, giving many worked out examples showing input and output side by side. The book presents the most recent techniques for presenting data plots, complex graphics, and computer presentations, but does not require previous knowledge. However, it is also a reference for the more seasoned user, with pointers to modern techniques and packages. Recurring themes in the book are consistent and effective presentation, planning and development, controlling style and content, and maintenance.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Computer Science with TeX and LaTeX  The Computer Science of TeX and LaTeX, by Victor Eijkhout (Lulu, 2012, 234 pp. Paperback, US$17.05. ISBN 978-1-105-41591-3). PDF available (free) at http://eijkhout.net/texsci.

This book uses the TeX and LaTeX system to provide an introduction to a number of computer science topics. This book is based on the lecture notes of a course taught at the University of Tennessee.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
TeX by Topic  TeX by Topic. A TeXnician's Reference, by Victor Eijkhout (Lulu, 2011, 319 pp. Paperback, US$16.61). PDF available (free) at http://eijkhout.net/texbytopic/texbytopic.html and CTAN.

TeX by Topic is a systematic reference manual designed as a companion to tutorial guides on the system. Packed with original, practical ideas, this book provides an invaluable information source that will give the TeX user the essential insight needed to solve TeX problems.
Reviewed for TUGboat (starting on p. 185)

 
The LaTeX Graphics Companion, 2nd Edition  The LaTeX Graphics Companion, 2nd Edition by Michel Goossens, Frank Mittelbach, Sebastian Rahtz, Denis Roegel, Herbert Voss.

The LaTeX typesetting system remains a popular choice for typesetting a wide variety of documents, from papers, journal articles, and presentations to books, especially those that include technical text or demand high-quality composition. This book is the most comprehensive guide to making illustrations in LaTeX documents, and it has been completely revised and expanded to include the latest developments in LaTeX graphics. The authors describe the most widely used packages, and provide hundreds of solutions to the most commonly encountered LaTeX illustration problems.
A discount for this book is available.

 
The LaTeX Web Companion  The LaTeX Web Companion: Integrating TeX, HTML, and XML by Michel Goossens, Sebastian Rahtz, Eitan M. Gurari, Ross Moore, and Robert S. Sutor.

This book shows how you can publish LaTeX documents on the web. LaTeX was born of the scientist's need to prepare well-formatted information, particularly with pictures and mathematics included; the web was born of the scientist's need to communicate information electronically. Until now, it has been difficult to find solutions that address both needs. HTML and today's Web browsers deal inadequately with the nontextual components of scientific documents. This book, at last, describes tools and techniques for transforming LaTeX sources into web formats for electronic publication, and for transforming web sources into LaTeX documents for optimal printing.
A discount for this book is available.

 
More Math into LaTeX, 5th edition  More Math Into LaTeX, 5th edition, by George Grätzer (Springer. 609 pp. Paperback, US$67.99. ISBN 978-3319237954).

For over two decades, this comprehensive manual has been the standard introduction and complete reference for writing articles and books containing mathematical formulas.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Practical LaTeX  Practical LaTeX, by George Grätzer (Paperback, 216 pp., Springer, 2014).

Practical LaTeX covers the material that is needed to compose everyday LaTeX documents. This accessible manual is friendly, easy to read, and is designed to be as portable as LaTeX itself. .
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Learning LaTeX  Learning LaTeX, by David Griffiths and Desmond Higham (SIAM, ISBN 978-0-898713-83-1, 1997, 84pp).

A short example-based book covering core LaTeX and a few packages.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Learning LaTeX  Learning LaTeX, 2nd Edition, by David F. Griffiths and Desmond J. Higham (SIAM, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 2016, paperback, x+103pp., US$31.00, ISBN 978-1-611974-41-6).

A short, well-written book that covers the material essential for learning LaTeX.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
A Guide to LaTeX, 4th Edition  Guide to LaTeX, 4th Edition by Helmut Kopka and Patrick W. Daly.

This popular book shows you how to begin using LaTeX to create high-quality documents. The book also serves as a handy reference for all LaTeX users. In this completely revised edition, the authors cover the LaTeX2e standard and offer more details, examples, exercises, tips, and tricks. They go beyond the core installation to describe the key contributed packages that have become essential to LaTeX processing. As did the three best-selling editions that preceded it, Guide to LaTeX, Fourth Edition will prove indispensable to anyone wishing to gain the benefits of LaTeX.
A discount for this book is available.

 
LaTeX Guide  LaTeX Beginner's Guide by Stefan Kottwitz (Packt Publishing, Birmingham-Mumbai, 2011. 314 pp. Paperback, US$44.99).

Create high-quality and professional-looking texts, articles, and books for Business and Science using LaTeX
Reviewed for TUGboat.
A discount for this book is available.

 
LaTeX Guide  LaTeX Beginner's Guide, Second Edition by Stefan Kottwitz (Packt, Birmingham, UK, 2021, 354 pp., softcover, US$39.99, ISBN 9781801078658).

The LaTeX Beginner's Guide will make getting started with LaTeX easy. If you are writing mathematical, scientific, or business papers, or have a thesis to write, this is the perfect book for you. With the help of fully explained examples, this book offers a practical introduction to LaTeX with plenty of step-by-step examples that will help you achieve professional-level results in no time. You'll learn to typeset documents containing tables, figures, formulas, and common book elements such as bibliographies, glossaries, and indexes, and go on to manage complex documents and use modern PDF features. You'll also get to grips with using macros and styles to maintain a consistent document structure while saving typing work.
Reviewed for TUGboat.
A discount for this book is available.

 
LaTeX Cookbook  LaTeX Cookbook: Over 90 hands-on recipes for quickly preparing LaTeX documents to solve various challenging tasks by Stefan Kottwitz (Packt Publishing, 2015. 357 pp. Softcover, US$41.99).

The example-driven approach of this book is intended to help productivity.
Reviewed for TUGboat.
A discount for this book is available.

 
Graphics with TikZ  LaTeX Graphics with TikZ by Stefan Kottwitz (Packt Publishing, 2023. 304 pp. Paperback, US$39.99, ISBN 9781804618233).

From installation procedures to the intricacies of its syntax, this comprehensive guide will help you use TikZ to create flawless graphics to captivate your audience in theses, articles, or books.
Reviewed for TUGboat.
A discount for this book is available.

 
LaTeX  LaTeX: A Document Preparation System, 2nd Edition by Leslie Lamport.

This authoritative user's guide and reference manual for the LaTeX computer typesetting system has been revised to document features now available in the new standard software release—LaTeX2e. The new edition features additional styles and functions, improved font handling, and enhanced graphics capabilities. Other parts of the book have been revised to reflect user comments and suggestions. Selected sections have been rewritten to explain challenging concepts or functions, and the descriptions of both MakeIndex and BibTeX have been updated.
A discount for this book is available.

 
LaTeX  Tout ce que vous avez toujours voulu savoir sur LaTeX sans jamais oser le demander. Ou comment utiliser LaTeX quand on n’y connaît goutte by Vincent Lozano (Framasoft; 2013, 304pp, ill. Seconde édition. €15.00. ISBN 9791092674002).

All you always wanted to know about LaTeX, but never dared to ask, in French.
Reviewed for TUGboat.
The book is available under the Libre Art License. 10% of sales of the print edition are donated to TUG.

 
Introduction to LaTeX  Introduction to LaTeX by Leo Liu (Publishing House of Electronics Industry (China), July, 2013, 566 pp., Paperback, CNY ¥79, ISBN 978-7-121-20208-7).
In Chinese.
Reviewed for TUGboat.
 
Plain TeX with PostScript - Integrating Plain TeX with PostScript  Plain TeX with PostScript - Integrating Plain TeX with PostScript by William Maguire.

The book outlines a collection of the author's favourite TeX macros and PostScript procedures, which he has developed over the past three years. The book avoids the more esoteric aspects of plain TeX and covers macros totalling less than 1000 lines that can be used to produce a wide range of documents (including the book itself). Plain TeX offers the greatest flexibility in controlling font sizes, page layout and control of headers and footers without some of the constraints that are imposed by LaTeX packages.
A discount for this book is available.

 
LaTeX Companion, 3rd Edition  The LaTeX Companion, 3rd Edition by Frank Mittelbach with Ulrike Fischer.

The new edition, in two volumes, of this essential resource has been published in print and pdf; an ebook edition will be published later.
Reviewed for TUGboat by John D Lamb (hardcover edition and electronic edition), and George Grätzer.
A discount for this book is available.

 
LaTeX Companion, 2nd Edition  The LaTeX Companion, 2nd Edition by Frank Mittelbach, Michel Goossens, Johannes Braams, David Carlisle, and Chris Rowley.

The LaTeX Companion has long been the essential resource for anyone using LaTeX to create high-quality printed documents. This completely updated edition brings you all the latest information about LaTeX and the vast range of add-on packages now available—over 200 are covered. Full of new tips and tricks for using LaTeX in both traditional and modern typesetting, this book will also show you how to customize layout features to your own needs—from phrases and paragraphs to headings, lists, and pages.
Available as an ebook in both English and German.
A discount for this book is available.

 
The LaTeX Companions  The LaTeX Companions, Third Revised Boxed Set: A Complete Guide and Reference for Preparing, Illustrating, and Publishing Technical Documents by Frank Mittelbach, Michel Goossens, Sebastian Rahtz, Helmut Kopka, Patrick Daly.

This attractively priced boxed set comprises four authoritative books on the LaTeX software system for typesetting documents. Because LaTeX is especially good for technical documents and is freely available for almost any computer system, it has become a lingua franca of the scientific world. Whether you are new to LaTeX or want to be sure that your LaTeX library is current and complete, you will find a useful place for this set on your reference shelf.
A discount for this book is available.

 
 
Let's Learn LaTeX  Let's Learn LaTeX, by S. Parthasarathy (24 pp., free ebook. Version 201408e).

This is a D-I-Y approach to learning LaTeX.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
 
LaTeX for Complete Novices  LaTeX for Complete Novices, by Nicola L. C. Talbot (Dickimaw Books, 2012, x+279 pp. Paperback, GB£12.99. ISBN 978-1-909440-00-5).

This introductory book covers the very basics of LaTeX with exercises along the way to get you started.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
 
Using LaTeX to Write a PhD Thesis  Using LaTeX to Write a PhD Thesis, by Nicola L. C. Talbot (Dickimaw Books, 2012, x+279 pp. Paperback, GB£12.99. ISBN 978-1-909440-00-5).

This is a follow-on from LaTeX for Complete Novices geared towards students who want to use LaTeX to write their PhD theses.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
 
LaTeX for Administrative Work  LaTeX for Administrative Work, by Nicola L. C. Talbot (Dickimaw Books, 2015, xiv+637 pp. Paperback, US$33.99. ISBN 978-1-909440-07-4.

This book is aimed at people who want to use LaTeX for administrative work, such as writing correspondence, performing repetitive tasks or typesetting problem sheets or exam papers.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
 
Apprendre \`a programmer en TeX  Apprendre à programmer en TeX, by Christian Tellechea (Paperback, 580 pp., Lulu, 2014. Revision of 21/9/2014). Latest version available on CTAN.

Progressive learning and educational programming in TeX language.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Typesetting Tables with LaTeX  Typesetting Tables with LaTeX, by Herbert Voß (UIT Cambridge, ISBN 978-1-906860-25-7, 2011, 240pp).

A practical book on typesetting tables with LaTeX, covering many packages.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Typesetting Tables with LaTeX  Typesetting Mathematics with LaTeX, by Herbert Voß (UIT Cambridge, ISBN 978-1-906860-17-2, 2010, 304pp).

A practical book on typesetting mathematics with LaTeX, covering many packages.

 
PSTricks  Presentations with LaTeX, by Herbert Voß (DANTE e.V., Lehmanns Media, 2012, 2012. 212 pp. Paperback, €19.95. ISBN 9783865414960).

This books how show to create presentations with the two most important classes, powerdot and beamer. In addition to the basic functionality, examples illustrate how to realize a custom corporate design to create a custom document class or package.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
PSTricks  PSTricks: Graphics and PostScript for TeX and LaTeX, by Herbert Voß (UIT Cambridge, 2011. 928 pp. Paperback, US$64.99. ISBN 9781906860134).

The book describes everything, from how to draw simple lines on curves, to creating three-dimensional images, trees, knots, charts, etc. The book contains hundreds of examples, with ready-to-run code, for hardcopy or PDF output.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
LaTeX Quick Reference  LaTeX Quick Reference, by Herbert Voß (UIT Cambridge, 2011. vi+234 pp. Paperback, US$29.95. ISBN 9781906860219).

This is a quick-reference book for LaTeX users.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Dynamic Documents with R and knitr  Dynamic Documents with R and knitr, by Yihui Xie (Chapman & Hall/CRC Press, 2013, 190+xxvi pp. Paperback, US$59.95. ISBN 978-1482203530).

Illustrates the extensibility of the popular knitr package, which was created by the author for doing reproducible research.
Reviewed for TUGboat.


Books about typography and fonts

 
 
 
Histoire de l'écriture typographique–Le XXe siècle, Jacques André, editorial direction. (Atelier Perrousseaux, Gap, France, 2016, 264pp.+364pp., ill.; also available as ebooks).

These are the last two volumes in the series The History of Typographical Writing, comprised of seven volumes in all, from the beginning of printing with Gutenberg through the 20th century. All are in French. The individual volumes and the series as a whole are available in various electronic and print formats; please see the publisher's web site for current offerings.
Review and summaries in TUGboat, by Charles Bigelow (in English).

 
Manuale Typografico  Manual of Typography, by Giambattista Bodoni (Stephan Füssel, editor. Taschen, 2010. 1208 pp. Hardcover, US$69.99. ISBN 978-3-8365-0553-6).

The two-volume set—published posthumously in a limited edition of 250—features 142 sets of roman and italic typefaces, a wide selection of borders, ornaments, symbols, and flowers, as well as Greek, Hebrew, Russian, Arabic, Phoenician, Armenian, Coptic, and Tibetan alphabets.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Palatino: The natural history of a typeface  Palatino: The natural history of a typeface, by Robert Bringhurst (David R. Godine, Publisher; Boston, 2016, 296pp, ill. US$65.00. ISBN 978-1-56792-572-2).

Robert Bringhurst takes as his theme Palatino, probably the most widely known and used of all Zapf faces, and traces its development, with all its infinite permutations, and often invisible refinements through a long and fascinating history.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Some Reflections on Reading and Writing, Culture and Nature, & Sorting Things Out  Some Reflections on Reading and Writing, Culture and Nature, & Sorting Things Out, by Robert Bringhurst (RIT Cary Graphic Arts Press; Rochester, 2016, Hand sewn softcover, 12pp. US$20.00).

A limited-edition pamphlet of Bringhurst's selected writings.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
What Is Reading For?  What Is Reading For?, by Robert Bringhurst (RIT Cary Graphic Arts Press; Rochester, 2011, Softcover, 40pp. US$29.95. ISBN 978-1-933360-53-9).

This succinct and thoughtful essay is the text of a talk commissioned for a symposium entitled The Future of Reading which was held at RIT in June 2010. Written and designed by Robert Bringhurst, this limited edition is carefully crafted and letterpress printed.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
What Our Lettering Needs  What Our Lettering Needs: The Contribution of Hermann Zapf to Calligraphy & Type Design at Hallmark Cards, by Rick Cusick (RIT Cary Graphic Arts Press, Rochester. 2011. 136 pp. Paperback, US$24.95. ISBN 978-1-933360-55-3).

This book is a thorough account of Herman Zapf's contributions to the artistry and success of Hallmark Cards, an experience that is now fully blended into the company's rich heritage.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Just my type  Just My Type: A book about fonts, by Simon Garfield (Gotham Books, 2011. 356 pp. Hardcover, US$27.50. ISBN 9781592406524).

What does your favorite font say about you?
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Godine at Fifty  Godine at Fifty: A Retrospective of Five Decades in the Life of an Independent Publisher, by David R. Godine (Godine, 2021, 292 pp., hardcover (9x12), US$60.00, ISBN 978-1-56792-676-7).

David R. Godine, the retired founder of the press, conducts a personal tour of the most memorable books he published during his 50-year career.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Shady Characters  Shady Characters: Ampersands, Interrobangs and Other Typographical Curiosities, by Keith Houston (Penguin; 2015, xiv+340pp, ill. Softcover. First published by Norton in 2013. £9.99. ISBN 978-0-718-19388-1).

The secret life of punctuation, symbols, and other typographical marks
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
The Book  The Book: A Cover-to-Cover Exploration of the Most Powerful Object of Our Time, by Keith Houston (Norton; 2016, xviii+428pp, ill. Hardback. First edition. $29-95. ISBN 978-0-393-24479-3).

A cover-to-cover exploration of the most powerful object of our time
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Design for Hackers  Design for Hackers. Reverse-Engineering Beauty by David Kadavy (Wiley & Sons, 2011. 352 pp., Paperback, US39.99. ISBN 978-1-119-99895-2).

Learn the principles of beautiful design.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
The Noblest Roman: A History of the Centaur Types of Bruce Rogers  The Noblest Roman: A History of the Centaur Types of Bruce Rogers by Jerry Kelly and Misha Beletsky (David R. Godine, Publisher, Boston. 2016. 128 pp. Hardcover, US$45.00. ISBN 978-1-56792-582-1).

The story behind the type, the many permutations through which it went, the myths that accrued and surrounded it (many based on Rogers's somewhat eratic and chimerical memory) are all exposed in this fully documented account of the type's genesis and development.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
About more alphabets: The types of Hermann Zapf  About more alphabets: The types of Hermann Zapf by Jerry Kelly. Preface by Robert Bringhurst (The Typophiles. 2011. 112 pp., 4.5′′× 7′′. Hardcover, US$35.00. ISBN 9780984274406).

This book, a companion volume to the Typophile Chapbook About Alphabets (1960, updated 1970), describes Zapf's post-1970 type designs and provides new research on many of the earlier types.
Reviewed for TUGboat.
A discount for this book is available.

 
The Art of the Book in 20th Century  The Art of the Book in the Twentieth Century by Jerry Kelly (RIT Cary Graphic Arts Press, Rochester, NY. 2011. 200 pp. Hardcover, US$39.95. ISBN 78-1-933360-46-1).

Through the selection of eleven master designers, Jerry Kelly illustrates a wide range of styles: from classically inspired design and historical revival, to novel and modern layouts.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Hermann Zapf & the World He Designed  Hermann Zapf and the World He Designed: A Biography by Jerry Kelly (The Grolier Club, New York, 2019, hardcover, 364 pp., US$48.00, ISBN 978-1605830827).

This is the first comprehensive biography of Hermann Zapf (1918-2015), whom Robert Bringhurst has called “the greatest type designer of our time, and very possibly the greatest type designer of all time.”.
Reviewed for TUGboat.
A discount for this book is available.

 
W. A. Dwiggins: A Life in Design  W. A. Dwiggins: A Life in Design by Bruce Kennett (Letterform Archive, San Francisco, 496pp., US$95, ISBN 978-0-9983180-0-4 (standard edition), US$350, ISBN 978-0-9983180-1-1 (deluxe edition)).

Designer of books and types, calligrapher, illustrator, marionette engineer, and writer. W. A. Dwiggins was one of the most influential and innovative designers of the twentieth century, but what’s less known is the scope of his creativity, the fullness of his impressive body of work, and the inspiring attitudes with which he faced every challenge in life.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Giambattista Bodoni: His Life and His World by Valerie Lester  Giambattista Bodoni: His Life and His World by Valerie Lester (David R. Godine, Publisher; Boston, 2015, 288 pp., ill. US$40.00. ISBN 978-1567925289).

The first biography in English of the incomparable type designer, punch cutter, and printer, Giambattista Bodoni (1740-1813).
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
 
Manuale Calligraphicum  Manuale Calligraphicum. Examples of Calligraphy by Students of Hermann Zapf, David Pankow, editor (RIT Cary Graphic Arts Collection; Rochester, 2016, 60pp, ill. Hardcover, paper over boards with vellum spine. US$195.00).

This book was conceived as a way to honor Hermann Zapf's legacy at RIT by offering a select group of accomplished former students an opportunity to share, through their art, what his Advanced Calligraphy classes meant to them.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Wood Type  A Specimen Portfolio of Wood Type in the Cary Collection (RIT Cary Graphic Arts Press, Rochester. 2011. 305 pp. Spiral-bound, US$19.95. ISBN 978-1-933360-44-7).

This book showcases over 250 of our best wood type specimens, including many complete fonts and samples from unusual designs. All specimen reproductions were painstakingly printed from the original wood type blocks, some distressed with 100 years of use and abuse. The resulting compendium is a rich typographic resource sure to delight any designer, scholar, collector and student of graphic arts history.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
History of the Linotype Company  History of the Linotype by Frank Romano (RIT Press, 2014. 480 pp. Softcover, US$39.99. ISBN 978-1-933360-60-7).

From the Victorian era to the start of the twenty-first century, the Mergenthaler Linotype Company dominated the typesetting and printing industries. Unlike previous books which have ended with the invention of the Linotype, Frank Romano tells the rest of the story. This book details the products, the people, and the corporate activities that kept the company ahead of its competition in hot metal, phototypesetting, and pre-press technology. Over ten corporate entities eventually formed the U.S. manufacturer, which ended its corporate life as a division of a German press maker. What began in 1886 ended finally in May 2013, when the Linotype Library division of Monotype Imaging was closed down. After 127 years, the last resting place of the history of the Linotype Company is in this book.
Reviewed for TUGboat.
A discount for this book is available.

 
History of Desltop Publishing  History of Desktop Publishing by Frank Romano (Oak Knoll Press, 2019, 400 pp. Hardcover, US$75, ISBN 9781584563808; a paperback edition is also available.).

History of Desktop Publishing is a personal and encyclopedic story of how the personal computer, unique applications, and many colorful people changed the creative and print communities.
Reviewed for TUGboat.
A discount for this book is available.

 
The Typographic Desk Refrence  The Typographic Desk Refrence by Theodore Rosendorf (Oak Knoll Press, 2016, 368;pp. Hardcover, US$45, ISBN 9781584563129; a paperback edition is also available).

An encyclopedic reference guide of typographic terms and classification with definitions of form and usage for Latin based writing systems.
A discount for this book is available.

 
 
Zapf Exhibition  Zapf Exhibition: The Calligraphy of Hermann & Gudrun Zapf, by Minako Sando & Akira Kobayashi (Japan Letter Arts Forum, 2011, 64 pp. Paperback, US$29.95).

The exhibition was held in Tokyo in September, 2011. It was planned to be held in spring, which are the dates on the catalog, but it was postponed to September due to the earthquake and tsunami. The Japan Letter Arts Forum (J-LAF) and Akira Kobayashi, type director for Linotype GmBH, organized the exhibition.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
 
Cover of Stop Stealing Sheep  Stop Stealing Sheep & Find out how type works, by Erik Spiekermann (4th edition. The Other Collection, 2022, 231 pp., softcover, ISBN 978-3-949164-03-3).

In this fourth edition, Erik Spiekermann brings his type classic fully up-to-date with an all-new chapter on variable typefaces, scores of visual examples on how to effectively communicate with type, and a full selection of new typefaces used and referenced throughout the book.
Available from https://fonts.google.com/knowledge/ stop_stealing_sheep.pdf at no cost.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
 
Carol Twombly: Her Brief but Brilliant Career in Type Design  Carol Twombly: Her Brief But Brilliant Career in Type Design, by Nancy Stock-Allen (Oak Knoll Press, Newcastle, 2016, 176 pp. Hardcover, US$49.95, ISBN 9781584563464).

This study is a fascinating inside look at digital type design, the rather mysterious career of one of its most important practitioners, and the history and culture of Adobe Type, with additional insight into other type designers of the digital era.
Reviewed for TUGboat.
A discount for this book is available.

 
 
Never use Futura  Never use Futura, by Douglas Thomas (Princeton Architectural Press, 2017, paperback, 208pp., US$24.95, ISBN 978-1616895723).

By presenting Futura in both a historical and contemporary context, the book offers a cultural critique of its many uses.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
 
Robert Granjon, letter-cutter; 1513–1590: an oeuvre catalogue  Robert Granjon, letter-cutter; 1513–1590: an oeuvre catalogue, by Hendrik D.L. Vervliet (Oak Knoll Press, New Castle, DE, 2018, hc, 200 pp., US$75.00, ISBN 978-1584563761).

This book, by typographic scholar Hendrik Vervliet, is a survey of the life and work of the sixteenth-century letter-cutter Robert Granjon (1513-1590). With his contemporary Claude Garamont, he is considered one of the best and most influential figures in the history of type design.
Reviewed for TUGboat.
A discount for this book is available.

 
 
Granjon’s Flowers: An Enquiry Into Granjon’s, Giolito’s, and De Tournes’ Ornaments  Granjon’s Flowers: An Enquiry Into Granjon’s, Giolito’s, and De Tournes’ Ornaments, by Hendrik D.L. Vervliet (Oak Knoll Press, New Castle, DE, 2016, hc, 248 pp., US $65.00, ISBN 978-1584563556).

This book, by typographic scholar Hendrik Vervliet, examines which 'printer's flowers' -- alternative terms are fleurons or type-ornaments -- may be attributed to Granjon
Reviewed for TUGboat.
A discount for this book is available.

 
50 typefaces  Design Museum Fifty Typefaces That Changed The World, by John L. Walters (Alison Starling Publisher, 2013. ISBN 978-1-84091-629-4).

John L Waters explores 50 of the most influential typefaces and shows them in use on posters, perfume packaging, buildings and more.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Alphabet Stories  Alphabet Stories by Hermann Zapf (RIT Cary Graphic Arts Press, Rochester. 2008. 150 pp. Hardcover, US$65.00. ISBN 978-1-933360-29-4).

Written as an anecdotal first-person account, the reader is treated to Zapf's personal recollections of technical breakthroughs. Zapf reveals milestones tracing his education in 1930s Germany, to his work on forefront of computer-aided typesetting in the 1970s, to the tour de force design of a complex calligraphic font — Zapfino in the late '90s. Vivid reproductions of Zapf's calligraphy, production proofs, typographic specimens, and photographs complete the portrait of one of the most prolific designers of our time.
This new edition is enhanced by the addition of a letterpress-printed broadside designed by Zapf. The insert was typeset and printed at the RIT Cary Graphic Arts Collection using its collection of rare metal “Virtuosa” type — Zapf's elegant script face originally released by Stempel Typefounders in 1952.

The first edition was reviewed for TUGboat.
A discount for this book is available.


Other notable books and events

 
Trees, maps, and theorems  Trees, maps, and theorems, by Jean-luc Doumont (Principiae, Kraainem, Belgium. 192pp. Hardcover, $96.00, ISBN 978-90-813677-07).

Based on hundreds of interactive training sessions, Trees, maps, and theorems offers overall guidelines and practical tips toward getting messages across optimally in written documents, oral presentations, and graphical displays.
A discount for this book is available.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Track Changes: A Literary History of Word Processing  Track Changes: A Literary History of Word Processing, by Matthew G. Kirschenbaum (The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2016, xvi+344 pp. Hardcover, US$29.95. ISBN 978-0674417076).

Matthew Kirschenbaum examines how the interests and ideals of creative authorship came to coexist with the computer revolution.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Paper: Paging Through History  Paper: Paging Through History, by Mark Kurlansky (W.W. Norton & Company, 2017, xx+389 pp. Paperback, US$16.95. ISBN 978-0-393-35370-9).

A definitive history of paper and the astonishing ways it has shaped today’s world.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Imitation Game  The Imitation Game, by Jim Ottaviani & Leland Purvis (http://www.tor.com/stories/2014/06/the-imitation-game-jim-ottaviani-leland-purvis, 2014).

The Imitation Game by Feynman author Jim Ottaviani and Resistance illustrator Leland Purvis chronicles the life of Alan Turing in a full-size graphic novel.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
A Truck Full of Money  A Truck Full of Money, by Tracy Kidder (Random House, 2016, xxiv+260 pp. Hardcover, US$28.00. ISBN 9780812995224.).

The story of Paul English, a kinetic and unconventional inventor and entrepreneur, who as a boy rebelled against authority.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Edward Tufte  Presenting data and information, by Edward Tufte.

One day seminar about data, information, presentatons and many other topics.
Reviewed for TUGboat.

 
Jessica Wynne, Do Not Erase  Do Not Erase: Mathematicians and Their Chalkboards, by Jessica Wynne (Princeton University Press, USA, 2021, 240pp., hardcover, US$35, ISBN 9780691199221).

A photographic exploration of mathematicians’ chalkboards.
Reviewed for TUGboat.


Older reviews can be found on the TUGboat contents pages.


Affiliations and Discounts

All discounts are for TUG members in good standing. The codes for the discounts can be found in the TUG members area.


$Date: 2024/02/28 18:53:58 $;
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