This book should be put into the hands of everyone working in the publishing industry. I am just a “Curious Reader” (as the subtitle puts it) so I read this purely out of personal interest and I have no ambitions to be a writer, but I can’t imagine that any writer would not benefit greatly from owning this book.

Debbie Berne goes through all the details you need to know regarding book design, from the history of typeface to the modern design process (including helpful illustrations). There is so much valuable and fascinating information in this book that I would stop reading to tell people about what I found out because I was amazed by what I didn’t know. These are the nitty gritty facts about every facet of publishing a book that I could think of. And more.

Berne’s writing is so conversational and pleasant to read that you feel you have a mentor sitting beside you showing you the ropes.

I will never look at a book the same way again! Highly recommended to bibliophiles and everyone in the publishing industry.

As an author and bibliophile, I really enjoyed this book! I love that it's broken into sections discussing each element of how a book is designed, from the cover to considering how a book looks on the shelf vs on a website. I love better understanding what's going on "behind the scenes"! Highly recommend. Would make a great gift for the book lover in your life!

Clear and concise, like the best book design. This book is a must-have reference for anyone who says "I love books" and means it literally -- not just for the stories they contain, but for the elegance in their enduring design.

This book has a lot of really interesting facts and tidbits that give great insight into the publishing industry and all of the things we take for granted when books sit on our bookshelves.

An excellent explanation of how books look, the process to design them, and what goes into that process. It's helpful for any writer whether self-published or not. I learned so much from this book.

The Design of Books by Debbie Berne is the kids of book best appreciated by authors, bibliophiles, and anyone who aspires to be an author. It was so interesting, and felt like getting a behind-the-scenes tour to a favorite museum. Highly recommend!!!

Engaging and accessible - this will please the nerdiest of bibliophiles. A recommended purchase for collections where writing craft and trade books are popular.

A brilliant book on all the design that goes into the books we own and love. Everything from size, to font, to cover, to the famous debate of Paperback vs Hardcover. Authors will especially appreciate this book, as it breaks down the process their future book is soon to follow. If you ever thought of publishing a book, going into book design, or are simply curious about the behind the scenes of book making, this one's for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and University of Chicago Press for this ARC.