Most of us became aware of fonts first through using the computer. Open up any word processing program, and you have dozens of options available for self-expression. Before personal computing, Microsoft Windows, and Apple computers, most of us had little clue about the world of fonts. We knew text presents itself differently in, say, movies, newspapers, and magazines.
Recently, ubiquitous computing – and especially the Internet – have made different type faces a pervasive part of everyday life. It’s almost as if their commonality has reduced some of their novelty. Through this book, author Simon Garfield seeks to renew the wonder about fonts. He describes engaging stories in typography’s history that accentuate each font’s personality.
Although I listened to this audiobook, it still communicated well even aurally. Because I was familiar with a lot of type faces already, I didn’t need visuals to construct the book’s meaning. I suspect someone unfamiliar with different fonts might have more trouble, though.
Garfield brings the typographer’s profession to life, all the way back to Gutenberg’s printing press. He talks about the personalities of type makers, the obscure uses of many fonts, and their dissemination into popular culture. I’ve read a few books about fonts before, but this one is certainly the most comprehensive. The stories entertained me while my mind fixated on the diversity of fonts around me.
Since I work in software, fonts play a major role in my life. When I write, I often switch from Times New Roman to Georgia straightaway to please my eyes more. Anyone who does a lot of work on the computer – which is a lot of us these days – can benefit from educating themselves about fonts. This book is one of the most fun ways to do that and just makes readers feel smarter and more in control of communication.