If this book were a website it would have serious usability problems. You often have to rotate the book 90 degrees to read a lot of the text, and a lot of the key graphics are way too small while non-essential graphics are blown up way beyond their importance.
For example, some grid layouts discussed in the text are accompanied by a graphic of the aforementioned layout at the size of a matchbox; while a graphic of a relatively uninformative application toolbar spans the entire spread. The designers have sacrificed readability and comprehension to “style”.
It’s a pity because this book has some interesting information on grids, and tackles the subject from unusual angles. If you’re already familiar with the grid then the text and mini essays provide a refreshing perspective on this topic. The content is of mixed value and should be read critically, much of it is clearly presented as a particular designer’s view or idiosyncratic method which may or may not be useful to you depending on your design philosophy and methods.
If you are just learning about grids then this is not the place to start. There is some practical information on how to create and set up a grid but surprisingly it comes right at the end in the last 2 chapters and it is only briefly touched upon.
I half-heartedly recommend this book if you want to view the grid in a wider context, or from a historical or psychological perspective, and want to explore how some designers approach the grid. Be prepared to work a little, thanks to the small graphics and “designer” layout.
Despite these problems, I enjoyed reading this book; it’s a break from the more dense and dry works on the subject which I am immersed in a lot of the time. Be aware that it’s not a book that will teach you very much about actually implementing the grid in your own work, though you might get some new insights and ideas.
