The Elements of Typographic Style

The book moves from the small to the large. Bringhurst covers rhythm and proportion, spacing between letters, words and lines, the structure of paragraphs and headings, the use of figures, small capitals and other details, and the shaping of the page itself, with a chapter on proportions drawn from music and geometry. Each rule is stated briefly, explained and illustrated, and he often notes when it is wise to break one.

Later chapters trace the history of letterforms from the Renaissance to the present, explain how to choose and combine typefaces, and survey many well-known type families. There is also guidance on setting text in many languages, and a glossary of characters and terms. The writing is precise and often poetic. Some technical sections will feel dense to beginners, and the book focuses on print, though its principles apply on screen too.

Authoritative, beautiful and rewarding, a book many designers keep within reach for their whole career. It is best read slowly, a section at a time, and returned to often. About 382 pages in the Hartley & Marks paperback, the fourth edition, version four point zero.