Types faces are about 560 years old, but hardly anyone knew their names until about 20 years ago, when the pull-down font menus on our computers made us all aware of them. Simon Garfield, author of Just My Type, unravels all kinds of information in this easy-to-read book. Although the book is non-fiction, it reads very easily.
The Book: Just My Type by Simon Garfield
Fonts (also known as typing elements) are taken for granted. Perhaps, we do think of them once in awhile when we sit down at the computer and choose a font for our written words, other than simply using the default, “New Times Roman, 12,” if you use Word, or “Courier New, 14” if you work at the US State Department.
All the usual characters that one thinks of when discussing typeset are in Just My Type. Gutenberg, Edward Johnson, John Baskerville and Claude Garamond, to name a few, are all present.
History, psychology, and even modes of transportation depend on fonts.
- Just My Type Opens with Historical Snippet
“In Budapest, surgeons operated on printer’s apprentice Gyoergyi Szabo, 17, who, brooding over the loss of a sweetheart, had set her name in type and swallowed the type.”
--Time Magazine, 28 December 1936
An expert on typeset, William Shehan of R.R. Donnelly in Chicago was kind enough to explain this folklore further, “Back then, all of those tools were made of lead. So, that man really did risk his life for his sentiment.” It’s too bad we don’t know how his surgery turned out, but lead poisoning was most likely involved.
- The Best of Fonts, The Worst of Fonts
From that little bit of trivia, we enter a book full of more surprises. Many fonts are thoroughly discussed, and over 200 are sampled. There are chapters on the ‘best’ fonts—New Courier, Times Roman, Dot Matrix, Archer Hairline, Universal, Courier, and Cooper Black Italic—as well as on the ‘worst’ fonts—Comic Sans, Gill Sans Light Shadowed, Brush Script, and Ransom Note. The reasoning behind these choices is all explained in the book.
- Psychology Used When Choosing Fonts
Fonts have relationships, and these are well described; for example: some software is “warm and fuzzy and holds your hand,” and it needs to be paired with a font that feels comfortable. On the other hand, certain fonts are “traditional and chilly,” like Times New Roman, so it is a better fit for serious business letters.
- Aric Sigman, a fellow of the British Psychologival Society, has recently (2001) been vocal about his studies on how what fonts we prefer can help others know more about us.
His findings include: Courier is favored by libraries and data entry companies. Sans Serif fonts are typically utilized by those who value their safety and anonymity. Comic Sans is favored by attention seekers.
- Fonts have sexual stereotypes, too. Shelly is soft and curvy, and its usage indicates the user’s high sexuality. Consider the title of the book, Men are From Mars, Women are from Venus. Arquitectura is used for the male lines, and Centaur is used for the female ones.
- Transportation companies put a lot of study and money into choosing the fonts that worked best for them. Obviously, during transport, vehicles are moving, so it’s extremely important to choose a font that is easily readable. Focus groups are brought in to explore and find a font that is easiest to read while the type is moving.
- All this information and anecdotal evidence in the book is perfectly in line with the most basic tenet of all concerning fonts. That is, regular or italics, light or bold, upper or lower case—the fonts that work best are the ones that allow readers to read without straining their eyes.
The Author of Just My Type: Simon Garfield
Simon Garfield, author of Just My Type, has thought about fonts a whole lot. That’s why he wrote this book for lay people. It’s a pop-printing industry book for all of the rest of us.
Garfield is the author of twelve acclaimed books of nonfiction. Incidentally, he has a soft spot for Requiem Fine Roman and HTGelateria.
The Review: Just My Type
- The Text
From the start of the book (see the snippet is in its entirety above) to the Periodic Table of Fonts that greets us at end of the book, Just My Type is filled with entertaining, incidental stories and anecdotes that keep the reader learning completely painlessly.
Unlike most non-fiction books, this one changes up fonts throughout to show the reader what the described font actually looks like; a picture of a font is worth a thousand words.
- The Illustrations
Fonts make it possible for mankind to read, to pass down information, to enable computers, to share messages—all of those things and much more! Just My Type is entertaining, informative, and will give any reader a greater appreciation for the “lowly” font.
So much information is included, so many topics are covered, and there is a plethora of illustrations that make it impossible to give the book enough coverage in one limited book review. This is one of “those books” that should be seen to be appreciated.
This author now has a whole new attitude about fonts to go along with her newfound knowledge. I notice them everywhere--on busses, trains, billboards, books, newspapers, taxis—you name it.
If you like to read non-fiction that reads easily, this book is for you. After all, fonts are for everyone, and it only makes sense that everyone should know more about the ubiquitous font.
5 out of 5 stars.
Just My Type by Simon Garfield. Gotham Books, 2011. ISBN 978-1-592-406524.
Renee Blixt - Renée Blixt holds an MBA and MHRM, and is a member of various yarn Guilds. She teaches business courses, crochet, knitting, and ...
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