Readers who prefer physical books as well as those who opt for e-readers might not notice the choices that go into creating and presenting books and how they impact interaction with the text. But the remarkable The Design of Books: An Explainer for Authors, Editors, Agents, and Other Curious Readers by Debbie Berne can fix that. Berne provides insights into all the components of different kinds of book design--from things that readers might have considered, such as the cover ("a book's visual identity"), to details they probably haven't, such as the difference between typeface and font.
Berne, a book designer with hundreds of books and their covers under her belt, is the best kind of writer-teacher, one who both knows and cares deeply about her subject and doesn't shy away from sharing her thoughts on all elements of book creation. She writes, for example: "Conflating underline, something you do to type, with bold and italic, which are kinds of type, is one of the most egregious typographic crimes committed by word processing software."
She explains what all books have in common, such as front matter and running heads, as well as characteristics that differentiate them. For instance, when creating an illustrated book (whether cookbooks or graphic novels), there's a vast array of considerations such as paper and trim size. Berne also covers the arcane and little-known histories of how various conventions evolved over time, and much more. It's riveting reading for anyone who loves the magic of a good book. --Elizabeth DeNoma, executive editor, DeNoma Literary Services, Seattle, Wash.