Texts on Type: Critical Writings on Typography

Book Description

When Transforming Words Into Print Becomes a Passion

Color'em, distort'em, move'em: changing fonts on a computer screen is almost as easy and fun as playing with a set of rubber stamps. And yet, creating and choosing type is an art that not only requires artistic skills, but a deep understanding of the many ways type is rooted in the communication patterns of our times. In "Texts on Type: Critical Writings on Typography," acclaimed design authors Steven Heller and Philip B. Meggs open a window into the secret universe of present and past typography.

"Texts on Type" is an unprecedented opportunity to discover some of the most brilliant and sparkling minds of 20th century type design and typography. In fifty thought-provoking essays, readers encounter the evangelists and critics of a craft whose aesthetic frontiers have always been negotiated with unsurpassed fervor, from W.A. Dwiggins, Herman Zapf, and Paul Rand to the front-runners of contemporary typography. Practitioners of type and typophiles will perceive this craft with new eyes as they learn about the groundbreaking technological, aesthetic, and cultural changes that have propelled typography from a rarified, secluded craft into a dynamic activity practiced by millions.

The fifty essays cover topics such as

* Principals of designing and choosing the right typeface
* The Modernism versus Tradition debate
* The relationship between type form and expression
* The anatomy of typefaces across the 20th century
* Aesthetical reflections from classics to electronic and dynamic typography

Customer Reviews:

Interesting book for those into typography.......2007-06-13

On first examination, this book looks very dry. There aren't any pictures or examples to go with the articles, and overall the book just isn't "designed" to any extent. That being said, the articles themselves are very entertaining and interesting for those in the typographic field.

don't judge a book by its cover, design, or content.......2005-03-26

This hilarious mess manages to belie almost every principle of design espoused within its pages, with its frankly ugly, workmanlike design, errors in proofreading, and strange choices in content. The layout is slapdash and the printing quality is dodgy-anyone wanting typography to match the content of the book should be looking at Robert Bringhurst's essential Elements of Typographic Style, or any other Hartley&Marks book on typography, instead. If typography is the art of overweening attention to minute details, this book is certainly a betrayal of that art.

Keeping that in mind, several of the essays contained within are classic (anything Beatrice Warde or Stanley Morison has to say about type is essential reading), and Heller has done his usual job of hitting the high points, without going into any great depth. His own contribution to the volume is typical of the limited attention span he brings to a lot of his editing projects: a thinly-researched polemic on blackletter type and fascism that manages to omit some key details that would totally change the thrust of his argument were they to be acknowledged. I have, and like, other Heller books, and he's a charismatic public speaker, but this is not his finest effort.

Heller Is Prolific.......2001-08-14

Steven Heller puts the "Good Graphics Seal of Approval" on any graphic design book, in my opinion. The essays in "Texts on Type: Critical Writings on Typography" is no exception. Together with Philip B. Meggs, Heller pulls together over fifty essays on the history, aesthetics and practice of type design and typography. You'll find essays in this anthology penned by the likes of Goudy, Zapf, Rand, Ogilvy, and other huge names in the arena of graphic design. This is just another Heller book to have to back up the rest of your everyday knowledge. After all, if you know more than the next guy, you'll get the job. My only complaint is that - for such an excellent book on typography - the typeface in the body copy is smaller than the norm. If you're over 40, pull out the reading glasses.

Texts on Type : Critical Writings on Typography

Average customer rating:

Texts on Type : Critical Writings on Typography

Manufacturer: Allworth Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HNN6J2

Book Description

The co-creator of MAD and Little Annie Fanny finally gets the career retrospective he deserves.

Will Elder is widely regarded as one of the most influential cartoonists of the second half of the 20th century. And one of the funniest. He is best known for his artistic partnership with Harvey Kurtzman on all their most highly visible collaborations throughout their careers: MAD magazine, Humbug, Goodman Beaver, Trump, and Little Annie Fanny. At long last, Elder is getting the book he so richly deserves: Will Elder: The Mad Playboy of Art, a gigantic coffee table book collecting his best work from more than a half a century of drawing and painting.

The book will reprint a representative sampling of the work well-known to aficionados, including stories from the original MAD comic, independent efforts from Humbug, Help!, and Trump magazines, and Little Annie Fanny pages reproduced from the original, painted artwork. Above and beyond the known is the relatively unknown, obscure, or unpublished work, such as pages and spreads from a variety of magazines in the '50s and '60s that Elder contributed to (such as Pageant and Saturday Evening Post), the infamous Norman Rockwell painting parody slated for the 3rd, unreleased issue of Trump, hysterical gag sketches, celebrity caricatures, oil paintings done for his family, and more.

The book includes commentary by Hugh Hefner, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Davis, Al Jaffee, Terry Gilliam, William Stout, and Jerry Garcia, who describe the impact that Elder's work had on satire and comic at in the second half of 20th century America. Elder himself comments on individual pieces, and Daniel Clowes, the author of Ghost World, supplies the introduction.

Customer Reviews:

The Most Potrzebie Book Ever!.......2006-03-06

Just buy this already-- here's a book with great production values that features one of the great artists (of any kind!) of the 20th century, Villy Elder. "Genius" it says-- and for once it's fully justified. Comic genius, artistic genius, wiseass genius: Elder is the real thing.

Good, but lots of overlap with other collections.......2005-06-06

I'm not going to fault Daniel Clowes for including selections from Elder's work available elsewhere (MAD satires on "Gasoline Alley", "Archie", etc) or for NOT including the complete "Goodman Beaver Goes Playboy," which is apparently under copyright limitations from the ARCHIE publishers (and is available elswhere on the 'net!) However I would have preferred more complete sequences from TRUMP and HUMBUG - which are not readily available elsewhere - and fewer examples of Elder's "straight" artwork - one still-life fruitbowl is plenty, thanks! How about more on the "A Night at the Castle" and "With trembling pseudopods" illos, which are in any event reproduced elsewhere?

Hoo-ha! At Last:The Whole Furshlugginer Mess!.......2005-03-11

This collection of Elder's work is a solid addition to what is already available. (The complete Mad comic book issues are available in paperback form at most bookstores, and the Little Annie Fanny series can be ordered from Amazon.) This volume contains much of Elder's work from Trump, Humbug and Help, as well as other magazines, like the 1950s Pageant.

Also included are many personal paintings and drawings of Elder's family, as well as landscapes.

A class clown in art school, Elder also assiduously studied such masters as Peter Breughel and Cezzane. In fact, he even gives homage to these painters in an illustrated series for Pageant, in which he discusses the artists which inspired him.

There is a lengthy essay by Bill Stoudt in which he describes the painstaking process by which Elder, Harvey Kurtzman and Hugh Hefner created each episode of the "Little Annie Fanny" series. Hefner insisted that each page resemble a painting, and that is precisely what Elder delivered. Only after numerous drafts, sketches and erasures was a page of "Annie" ready for print.

When commissioned to satirize Norman Rockwell, Elder decided to prepare for the work exactly as Rockwell would. He enlisted his neighbors to model for the characters in the painting, and the result was the hilarious "Visit to Grandma's" in which a wholesome American family is depicted feeding small animals to a Venus Fly-Trap plant.

You can look over the panels of "L'il Melvin" or "Howdy Dooit" and see something different each time. This is because Elder doted over each picture, cramming it with details, building one joke over the next. Thus it took hours - maybe days - to complete one page, but so what? It kept the kids in the 1950s laughing their butts off! (I know because I was one of them. We used to run around the playground, running like the characters in the "Starchie" parody with our knees up to our chins.)

But did he make money? Well, eventually, but he could have made a lot more. In 1956, Kurtzman and Elder left Mad to start their own humor magazine, Trump, financed by Hugh Hefner. Kurtzman had given an ultimatum to publisher William Gaines that he would remain with Mad only if he could retain 51% ownership. Gaines insisted on 49%, so Kurtzman quit. In retrospect, he should have stayed, because the magazine went on to make a fortune for Gaines. Trump, however, folded after two issues.

As other reviewers have suggested, Elder's work belongs not only the category of "comic books" but possibly to the world of art. Will Elder drew in the tradition of Breughel and Hogarth. He drew the Human Comedy. Ultimately, he held the mirror up to nature and found it all hilarious.

Excellent Art Book.......2004-06-17

Will Elder is one of the greatest artists in American history. Elder's works have appeared in magazines ranging from Mad to Playboy. Many of Elder's best works are parodies of such comic strips as Archie and Lil' Abner. Elder eventually became a full-time artist at Playboy Magazine and was one of Hugh Hefner's top assistants.

This is a must have book for all Will Elder fans.

An in-depth retrospective of the American satirist.......2004-04-04

Gary Groth and Greg Sadowski's Will Elder: Mad Playboy Of Art provides an in-depth retrospective of the American satirist known for his MAD comics. Will Elder packs in over a hundred pages of black and white and color illustrations from both popular and obscure magazines. The Goodman Beaver stories are reprinted for the first time in their original format, while paintings and sketches from Elder's other works document the personality and achievements of a zany artist.

Customer Reviews:

Doctors Killed George Washington.......2007-06-07

I discovered this book in my own doctor's office. He'd received it as a gift from a friend and loved it. Finding myself wishing I could have stayed longer to read more, I ordered copies for myself and as a gift for a friend, who has enjoyed it as much as I have. It's a fun book, full of obscure medical trivia. Very easy and enjoyable reading! I have since ordered three other books by the same authors and have found them to be equally interesting and entertaining. I highly recommend this book. You're sure to learn a lot of things you never knew about the medical profession.

Doctors Killed George Washington - Hundreds Of Fascinating Facts From The World Of Medicine

Average customer rating:

Doctors Killed George Washington - Hundreds Of Fascinating Facts From The World Of Medicine
Erin and Mingo, Jack; Foreword by Colbert, David Barrett
Manufacturer: Conari Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JZBPRI

Customer Reviews:

A very buggy movie . . ........2005-11-21

As a long-time reader of science fiction, I greatly enjoyed Heinlein's novel when it first came out in my senior year of high school, even though I had reservations about the political slant. I was greatly disappointed in the film when it finally came out, however; most of the thoughtful themes that always made Heinlein enjoyable reading (whether you agreed with him or not) were missing, and the details of the alien "bugs" and the boot-camp training and so on were created from whole cloth with almost no reference to the book. It was just another "alien menace" movie. This book provides some answers -- mostly that it was a budget-driven film and anything that cost more money, especially complicated costuming (like the missing power-suits) and special effects, was simply dropped. And what that bought them was a very mediocre movie. Unfortunately, this is also a rather mediocre behind-the-scenes book.

A Must Buy for Fans of the Film.......2002-03-25

A "making of" book for a film like Starship Troopers is a natural. There's so much material in this picture worthy of coverage - the awesome visual effects, the exotic equipment and vehicles, the far flung locales, the intense space combat. Throw in all the issues involved with the adaptation of Heinlein's classic sci-fi novel, the film's fascist political overtones, and the involvement of director Paul Verhoeven. Not to mention those astonishing bugs.

Fans of the movie will enjoy a comprehensive look at just about everything that went into the making of this future war classic. This large-format book is packed with color photos, illustrations, storyboards, sketches, model shots, and interviews.

If you were as fascinated with what you saw on screen as I was, and wondered how it was all done, then this is the book for you. Out of print, but available on the used-book market, this is a definite must have. Careful shopping will snag you a copy in nice condition for a reasonable price. Some "new" copies are still floating around if you're willing to pay a premium. Enjoy!

Behind the bugs.......2001-11-20

"The Making of Starship Troopers," by Paul M. Sammon, is an interesting look at the making of one of my favorite science fiction films of recent years. The book is packed full of visual elements: reproductions of conceptual art, behind-the-scenes photographs, and more. Some of the most interesting illustrations are sketches done by Paul Verhoeven, the film's director.

Together, the text and visuals describe the process by which Robert Heinlein's novel of the same name became a film. Integrated into the text are a wealth of quotes from both cast and crew members. Particularly intriguing are the explanations behind some of the differences between the novel and the film. There are some fascinating anecdotes, such as the funny story behind the filming of the notorious co-ed shower scene.

The book includes a lengthy interview with director Verhoeven in which he discusses such topics as the echoes of Leni Riefenstahl in the style of the film. If you're a fan of this film, you should get a lot out of this book.

A Must For Any Starship Troopers Fan.......2001-01-06

If you enjoyed the movie, you will enjoy this book. Mr. Sammon has done a wonderful job taking us through the creative process faced by each of the technical departments. From concept to creation he includes a wealth of behind-the-scenes information and photos that feed our desire for more. Easy to read, hard to put down. Buy this book or face Administrative Punishment... Live forever Apes!

Like the movie...this book is amazing!.......1999-06-03

Starship Troopers is one of the most highly underrated movies of 1997 (i still don't understand why it didn't win an oscar for best special effects in '98)!

This movie is an incredible piece of work, and 'The Making of Starship Troopers' shows you all of the HARD work that has gone into it.

It has numerous High quality pictures of the weapons, costumes and concept art. Interviews with the cast and members of the crew who worked on this amazing movie. Also included is a very interesting interview with director Paul verhoeven.

I would recommend this book to everyone who enjoyed this great movie called, Starship Troopers, and want to know more about it!

Mike S. Wolf

Average customer rating:
Musical Repercussions of 1492: Cultural Encounters in Text and Performance
Carol E. (editor) Robertson
Manufacturer: Publisher Unknown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VLH0Q0

Average customer rating:
Musical Repercussions of 1492, Encounters in Text and Performance
Carol E., editor ROBERTSON
Manufacturer: Smithsonian Inst. Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GON3TK

Book Description

From Assyria to Yamato, from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, this guide will give you all the strategy you need to dominate! Comprehensive breakdowns of all Tribes, Ages, technologies, and buildings
Unbeatable resource gathering, movement, exploration, and combat tips
Tactics for Empire advancement and ways to win through economic, diplomatic, or militaristic means
Detailed multiplayer strategies
Complete walkthroughs of all scenarios and campaign gamesWith Age of Empires: Unauthorized Game Secrets, you will build not just any Empire but an Empire to last through the Ages.

Customer Reviews:

Great book !!!!!!.......2004-01-25

It has great cheats and good tips Buy this book!!!!!!!!!!!

Do not buy this book!.......2003-04-20

Of all possible money wasters, This takes the cake. The manual tells you literally everything there is in the book, with an exeption of maybe 1 or 2 details per tech. This book is not worth buying, and is what i'd call a waste of time. The stragetys are not good, the 'highly detailed tactics' are VERY predictiable, by any gamer's standards, and you could learn just as much, and more by slipping into a gamer's forum, or a gamers chat room. i would like to give this book 0 stars, but it dosen't let me... Please... dont waste your time on this book.

Don't waste your time.......2000-03-30

Please I'm telling you don't waste your time on a book that dosent help you with anything just read the manual that it comes with and you will know just as much.

u can get more out of the game manul don't wast your time.......1999-06-22

this book tells u nothing more then what u can find out from the manu

An okay book.......1999-04-21

this book is well detailed in telling you about units,civilizations and technologies. It's not too good for scenerio or multiplayer tips. Everything mentiond you can get from Age's help index

Book Description

Designed specifically for trainers, speakers, and group facilitators, this 400-page cookbook of playful group mixers helps to "break the ice" among participants at the beginning of any meeting, or to recharge participants on the brink of boredom. Complete with guidelines, these simple activities-like games, energizers, brain-teasers, and quizzes-require little or no preparation time, and most can be completed in less than 5 minutes. Also included are props and hand-outs that can be photocopied for the entire group to enjoy.

Customer Reviews:

Great conversation starter.......2007-07-03

Find Me: How Psychic Detectives from Around the World Have Banded Together to Find Missing People

I teach spiritual development classes and i use ths book for some of the beginnings of classes and workshops, to help people get to know each other. It has lots of great exercises.

Excellent!.......2006-07-26

I work in a school and this book has already helped me plan several fun activities for teachers, directors, and students. I highly recommend it!

Well written and has good variety........2006-07-14

While many of the activities might suit a business, I was able to find quite a few for small groups in our church. The instructions are thorough and handouts are well done. My only suggestion for the publisher would be to make the book so the pages could be torn out and put in a three ring binder.

Great for Residence Life staff.......2000-07-03

There are few books on icebreakers/teambuilders that I've found to be useful with college students ( I work in Student Affairs). This book, however, offered many activities that were useful not only for just 'breaking the ice' but also for applying them to the many educational workshops we do in this field. There was also a very helpful section called "Icebreakers for the Non-Icebreaker types" that was both interesting and practical. Because I work with such a diverse range of students, I struggle to find icebreakers that are not geared solely to the extroverted-types. This collection gives a number of activities that are beneficial to teambuilding while respecting the different learning/interaction styles we see in our students. Out of the 201 offered in the book, I have found at least 180 of them that I will use as integral parts of the next staff training. This book also offers activities for groups ranging from 8 participants (good for small staffs) to 400 participants (good for all-hall activities)!

Disappointing.......2000-06-29

It was disappointing to find so few ideas for a group of 100 business people who don't know each other. Most of the activities are far too personal for such a group, involving sharing personal information or touching. In addition, many of the activities have no "closure": they simply end, leaving us to wonder, what was the purpose of THAT? Many of the activities would be fine for very informal gatherings where being silly (marching in a parade, charades, making a human octopus) and getting personal are appropriate. But business people--even my lighthearted group--expect some degree of professionalism and purpose associated with such activities.

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