Synopses & Reviews
Born of a laboratory accident, this odd shade of purple revolutionized fashion, industry, and the practice of science.
Mauve is the story of a man who accidentally invented a color, and in the process transformed the world around him. Before 1856, the color in our livesthe reds, blues, and blacks of clothing, paint, printcame from insects or mollusks, roots or leaves, and dyeing was painstaking and expensive. But in 1856 eighteen-year-old English chemist William Perkin accidentally discovered a way to mass-produce color in a factory.
Working on a treatment for malaria in his London home laboratory, Perkin found mauve by chance. His experiments failed to result in artificial quinine as he had hoped, but produced instead a dark oily sludge that happened to turn silk a beautiful light purple. Mauve became the most desirable shade in the fashion houses of Paris and London, and quickly led to crimsons, violets, blues, and greens, earning its inventor a fortune. But its importance extends far beyond ballgowns.
Before mauve, chemistry was largely a theoretical science. Perkin's discovery sparked new interest in industrial applications of chemistry research, which later brought about the development of explosives, perfume, photography, modern medicine, and today's plastics industry.
Perkin is honored with the odd plaque and bust in colleges and chemistry clubs, but is otherwise a forgotten man. With great wit, scientific savvy, and historical scope, Simon Garfield delivers a fascinating tale of how this accidental genius set in motion an extraordinary scientific leap.
Review
The man was William Perkin (1838-1907), an English chemist. The color was mauve, which he discovered by accident when he was 18. "While working on an experiment, I failed," he said many years later, "and was about to throw a certain black residue away when I thought it might be interesting." The experiment was an effort to make synthetic quinine, and the black residue was coal tar. Perkin's accidental discovery gave rise to industrial aniline and the modern synthetic-dye industry, as well as to a number of other processes employing coal-tar derivatives. It also, Garfield says, "affected the whole nature of scientific investigation: for the first time, people realized that the study of chemistry could make them rich." Perkin became rich and received a knighthood. Garfield, a Londoner who writes about science, tells the Perkin and aniline stories well. Scientific American
Review
"An engaging and airy history." Marcia Bartusiak, New York Times Book Review
Review
"...a witty, erudite and entertaining tome about the history of synthetic dyes. And, yes, we're very happy they made a book out of this unlikely subject." Adrienne Miller, Esquire
Review
Born of a laboratory accident, mauve--this odd shade of purple--revolutionized fashion, industry, and the practice of science. Mauve became the most desirable shade in the fashion houses of Paris and London in the late 1800s and sparked new interest in the industrial applications of chemistry research. of color illustrations.
Review
andldquo;This is a smart, funny, accessible book that does for typography what Lynne Trussandrsquo;s best-selling Eats, Shoots and Leaves did for punctuation: made it noticeable for people who had no idea they were interested in such things.andrdquo;
Review
andquot;An engaging look at the world of fonts. [andhellip;]
Just My Type urges us to put on the brakes and take in the scenery as far as typography goes. Whether you're a graphic designer or a layperson with no background in this area, reading what Garfield has to say will change the way you perceive the written word forever. It might even lead you to make more discerning choices the next time you have a desktop publishing project in front of you. The take-away from Garfield's book is simple: Contrary to reports of its premature death, print is very much alive.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;A deliriously clever and entertaining bookandrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Informative, delightful andmdash; and essential reading for word geeks everywhere.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Lively [andhellip;] intriguing [andhellip;] a cheeky book about the human side and our reaction to fonts.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Highly entertaining andhellip; Garfield takes readers on a rollicking tour of the world of typography, from book jackets to road signs, TV shows to computers.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;This is a book for typography lovers who just can't get enough of their favorite fonts. In this well-researched book, Garfield takes a look back at the history of typefaces and how they've influenced consumers throughout the years. Using specific examples, Garfield shows just how powerful different fonts can be.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Reading Simon Garfieldandrsquo;s
Just My Type can transform your daily life into an endless quest for knowledge of the typefaces in which signs, books, magazines, newspapers, etc. are set.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;For typomaniacs [andhellip;] who can't rest until they've identified a font, Garfield's engaging history of letter design will be eye candy.andrdquo;
Review
andquot;Irresistible.andquot;
Review
andldquo;Garfieldandrsquo;s romping history (with multitype text) is zestfully informative.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Garfield dances across 560 years of typographic history, sprinkled with fascinating anecdotes and vignettes, to infect you with his own inability to walk past a sign without identifying the typeface and some curious factoid about it. Funny and fascinating, irreverent and playful yet endlessly illuminating, the book is an absolute treat for the type-nerd, design history geek, and general lover of intelligent writing with humor.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;A thoroughly entertaining, well-informed tour of typefacesandrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Garfield has a light touch and moves effortlessly among various aspects of typography past and present [andhellip;] Highly recommended to all, whether or not you feel predisposed to like this kind of thing! Eye-opening and mind-expanding!andrdquo;
Review
A andldquo;lively romp through the history of fonts. Garfieldandrsquo;s evocative prose [andhellip;] entices us to see letters instead of just reading them.andrdquo;
Review
andquot;Whether you're a graphic designer or a layperson with no background in this area, reading what Garfield has to say will change the way you perceive the written word forever.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Funny and fascinating, irreverent and playful yet endlessly illuminating, the book is an absolute treat for the type-nerd, design history geek, and general lover of intelligent writing with humor.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Delightfulandhellip; If maps be the fuel of wanderlust, read on.andrdquo;
--From the foreword by Dava Sobel, author of Longitude
Review
"Mr. Garfield uses cartography as a springboard to similar explorations of how we have viewed not only the world around us, but ourselves." and#8212;
New York Journal of Books "His droll humor and infectious curiosity will keep readers engrossed as he uncovers surprising ways in which maps chart our imaginations as much as they do the ground underfoot." and#8212;Publishers Weekly
"A fine, fun presentation of the brand of cartography that continues to whet our imaginations." and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
and#8216;Completely enthralling.and#8217;and#160; and#8212;Daily Mail (UK)
and#8216;Garfield has a genius for being sparked to life by esoteric enthusiasm and charming readers with his delight.and#8217; and#8212;Times (UK)
and#8216;Simon Garfieldand#8217;s new book is a rollicking sweep through map history, packed with curiosities and written with verve . . . On the Map will inspire you to take a trip to somewhere new, buy an antique globe to chart the rise and fall of empires, or just dig out a tatty orange Ordnance Survey Explorer map and let its filigree of contour lines evoke a long-forgotten walk in the rain . . . a great book.and#8217;and#8212;Independent on Sunday (UK)
and#8220;A pub quizzerand#8217;s dream . . . Rather than over-romanticise the experience of map-reading, Garfield allows his varied, expertly researched stories to speak for themselves, and in so doing helps us see that there are fewer things in life more useful, rewarding and beautiful than a map that does what itand#8217;s supposed to. Perhaps if Apple had read the book a few months ago, todayand#8217;s iPhone users would have a much better idea of where theyand#8217;re going.and#8221; and#8212;Daily Telegraph (UK)
Review
"Mr. Garfield uses cartography as a springboard to similar explorations of how we have viewed not only the world around us, but ourselves." and#8212;
New York Journal of Books "His droll humor and infectious curiosity will keep readers engrossed as he uncovers surprising ways in which maps chart our imaginations as much as they do the ground underfoot." and#8212;Publishers Weekly
"A fine, fun presentation of the brand of cartography that continues to whet our imaginations." and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
and#8216;Completely enthralling.and#8217;and#160; and#8212;Daily Mail (UK)
and#8216;Garfield has a genius for being sparked to life by esoteric enthusiasm and charming readers with his delight.and#8217; and#8212;Times (UK)
and#8216;Simon Garfieldand#8217;s new book is a rollicking sweep through map history, packed with curiosities and written with verve . . . On the Map will inspire you to take a trip to somewhere new, buy an antique globe to chart the rise and fall of empires, or just dig out a tatty orange Ordnance Survey Explorer map and let its filigree of contour lines evoke a long-forgotten walk in the rain . . . a great book.and#8217;and#8212;Independent on Sunday (UK)
and#8220;A pub quizzerand#8217;s dream . . . Rather than over-romanticise the experience of map-reading, Garfield allows his varied, expertly researched stories to speak for themselves, and in so doing helps us see that there are fewer things in life more useful, rewarding and beautiful than a map that does what itand#8217;s supposed to. Perhaps if Apple had read the book a few months ago, todayand#8217;s iPhone users would have a much better idea of where theyand#8217;re going.and#8221; and#8212;Daily Telegraph (UK)
Review
Praise for On the Map
“Simon Garfield is charming company. His passion for the graphic carries the reader along […] On the Map offers a world of revelation.”
-USA Today
“Mr. Garfield's book serves an immense need, connecting the latest geocacher with both the ancient art and modern science of the cartographer. Each may benefit from learning how the other approaches maps. Mr. Garfield uniquely provides that bridge.”
-Pittsburgh Post Gazette
“There is a great deal that is good and charming and fun about this book.”
-Simon Winchester, The Washington Post
“Garfield has a knack for creating high-spirited, erudite and user-friendly books on subjects that may seem crashingly dull to all but a few fanatics. […] On the Map is a treasure: exhilarating, witty, compulsively readable and just plain fun.”
-Seattle Times
“A collection of marvelous anecdotes that explore the role maps have played in shaping human culture since ancient times.”
-NPR.org
“Garfields new book details the evolution of cartography and why maps play such a vital role in our lives. […] his reverence for the form shines through vividly.”
-Penthouse
“Garfields interest in the human side of mapmaking— the personalities, anecdotes, curiosities—is what makes On the Map such an enjoyable read. […] vastly entertaining.”
-BookPage
"Garfield is a wonderful writer who deploys suspense to excellent effect, making each chapter read like a delightful short story or mini-mystery; his book speaks of vast, hidden depths."
-Smithsonian Magazine
“A vivid foray into the romance of maps. [...] A fine, fun presentation of the brand of cartography that continues to whet our imaginations.”
-Kirkus
“Engaging …full of little conversation pieces”
-Janet Maslin, New York Times
"Enlightening and impossible to put down [. . .] The length and breadth of his scholarship are staggering, while the witty tone makes for the most convivial of literary guides."
-Booklist
"Readers will enjoy this romp through 16,000 years of mapmaking."
-Library Journal, starred review
"Delightful... If maps be the fuel of wanderlust, read on."
-From the foreword by Dava Sobel, author of Longitudes
“There couldnt be anyone better to write about our love for maps than Simon Garfield, who is a master at unearthing strange facts and mixing them with a lively personal narrative...fascinating.”
-Giles Foden, Condé Nast Traveller (UK)
"Completely enthralling."
-Daily Mail (UK) "Garfield has a genius for being sparked to life by esoteric enthusiasm and charming readers with his delight." -Times (UK) "Simon Garfields new book is a rollicking sweep through map history, packed with curiosities and written with verve . . . On the Map will inspire you to take a trip to somewhere new, buy an antique globe to chart the rise and fall of empires, or just dig out a tatty orange Ordnance Survey Explorer map and let its filigree of contour lines evoke a long-forgotten walk in the rain . . . a great book." -Independent on Sunday (UK)
“A pub quizzers dream . . . Rather than over-romanticise the experience of map-reading, Garfield allows his varied, expertly researched stories to speak for themselves, and in so doing helps us see that there are fewer things in life more useful, rewarding and beautiful than a map that does what its supposed to. Perhaps if Apple had read the book a few months ago, todays iPhone users would have a much better idea of where theyre going.”
-Daily Telegraph (UK)
Review
Praise for Just My Type:
“This is a smart, funny, accessible book that does for typography what Lynne Trusss best-selling Eats, Shoots and Leaves did for punctuation: made it noticeable for people who had no idea they were interested in such things.”
—Janet Maslin, The New York Times
"An engaging look at the world of fonts. […] Just My Type urges us to put on the brakes and take in the scenery as far as typography goes. Whether you're a graphic designer or a layperson with no background in this area, reading what Garfield has to say will change the way you perceive the written word forever."
—The Los Angeles Times
“Reading Simon Garfields Just My Type can transform your daily life into an endless quest for knowledge of the typefaces in which signs, books, magazines, newspapers, etc. are set.”
—The Washington Post
“Highly entertaining … Garfield takes readers on a rollicking tour of the world of typography, from book jackets to road signs, TV shows to computers.”
—USA Today
“A deliriously clever and entertaining book”
—The Boston Globe
“Informative, delightful — and essential reading for word geeks everywhere.”
—The Seattle Times
“Lively […] intriguing […] a cheeky book about the human side and our reaction to fonts.”
—Seattle Post Intelligencer
“This is a book for typography lovers who just can't get enough of their favorite fonts. In this well-researched book, Garfield takes a look back at the history of typefaces and how they've influenced consumers throughout the years. Using specific examples, Garfield shows just how powerful different fonts can be.”
—Philadelphia Intelligencer
“For typomaniacs […] who can't rest until they've identified a font, Garfield's engaging history of letter design will be eye candy.”
—NPR.org
"Irresistable."
—The Huffington Post
“Garfields romping history (with multitype text) is zestfully informative.”
—Booklist
“Garfield dances across 560 years of typographic history, sprinkled with fascinating anecdotes and vignettes, to infect you with his own inability to walk past a sign without identifying the typeface and some curious factoid about it. Funny and fascinating, irreverent and playful yet endlessly illuminating, the book is an absolute treat for the type-nerd, design history geek, and general lover of intelligent writing with humor.”
—The Atlantic
“A thoroughly entertaining, well-informed tour of typefaces”
—Kirkus
A “lively romp through the history of fonts. Garfields evocative prose entices us to see letters instead of just reading them.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Whether youre a hardcore typophile or a type-tyro, theres something here for you: be it the eye-opening revelations of Eric Gills utter and complete perversity, or the creation of the typeface that helped Mr. Obama gain entrance to the White House.”
—Chip Kidd
"Just My Type is an entertaining romp through the world of type design. Mr. Garfield explains the angst and the joy of typography; this is a great book for design geeks to press into the hands of the uninitiated in hopes of conversions, like missionaries with a religious tract."
—Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife
“With wit, grace and intelligence, Simon Garfield tells the fascinating stories behind the letters that we encounter every day on our street corners, our bookstore shelves, and our computer screens. As someone who's worked with typography for over three decades, I kept finding lots of surprises. So will anyone who cares about the culture of reading and writing and this most ubiquitous of design forms.”
—Michael Bierut, Partner, Pentagram Design, New York
"There is even a photograph of a quick brown fox literally jumping over a lazy dog. What a clever, clever book."
—Lynne Truss
“Did I love this book? My daughter's middle name is Bodoni. Enough said.”
—Maira Kalman
"Mapping out the historical intricacies of the ampersand and the short-lived interrobang, the serif and the sans serif, Simon Garfield reveals an invisible world behind the printed word. From Trajan's Column to the ubiquitous Helvetica to the latest typefaces, like Dirtyfax, the lives of the designers and the letters they've created have never been more clearly detailed with so much flair."
—Jessica Kerwin Jenkins, author of Encyclopedia of the Exquisite
Synopsis
A delightfully inquisitive tour that explores the rich history and the subtle powers of fonts.
Fonts surround us every day, on street signs and buildings, on movie posters and books, and on just about every product that we buy. But where do fonts come from and why do we need so many? Who is behind the businesslike subtlety of Times New Roman, the cool detachment of Arial, or the maddening lightness of Comic Sans (and the movement to ban it)? Simon Garfield embarks on a mission to answer these questions and more, and reveal what may be the very best and worst fonts in the world.
Typefaces are now 560 years old, but we barely knew their names until about twenty years ago, when the pull-down font menus on our first computers made us all the gods of type. Beginning in the early days of Gutenberg and ending with the most adventurous digital fonts, Garfield unravels our age old obsession with the way our words look. Just My Type investigates a range of modern mysteries, including how Helvetica took over the world, what inspires the seemingly ubiquitous use of Trajan on bad movie posters, and what makes a font look presidential, male or female, American, British, German, or Jewish. From the typeface of Beatlemania to the graphic vision of the Obama campaign, fonts can signal a musical revolution or the rise of an American president. This book is a must-read for the design conscious that will forever change the way you look at the printed word.
Synopsis
A delightfully inquisitive tour that explores the rich history and the subtle powers of fonts.
Fonts surround us every day, on street signs and buildings, on movie posters and books, and on just about every product that we buy. But where do fonts come from and why do we need so many? Who is behind the businesslike subtlety of Times New Roman, the cool detachment of Arial, or the maddening lightness of Comic Sans (and the movement to ban it)? Simon Garfield embarks on a mission to answer these questions and more, and reveal what may be the very best and worst fonts in the world.
Typefaces are now 560 years old, but we barely knew their names until about twenty years ago, when the pull-down font menus on our first computers made us all the gods of type. Beginning in the early days of Gutenberg and ending with the most adventurous digital fonts, Garfield unravels our age old obsession with the way our words look. Just My Type investigates a range of modern mysteries, including how Helvetica took over the world, what inspires the seemingly ubiquitous use of Trajan on bad movie posters, and what makes a font look presidential, male or female, American, British, German, or Jewish. From the typeface of Beatlemania to the graphic vision of the Obama campaign, fonts can signal a musical revolution or the rise of an American president. This book is a must-read for the design conscious that will forever change the way you look at the printed word.
Synopsis
Cartography enthusiasts rejoice: the bestselling author of Just My Type reveals the fascinating relationship between man and map. and#160; and#160; Simon Garfieldand#8217;s Just My Type illuminated the world of fonts and made everyone take a stand on Comic Sans and care about kerning. Now Garfield takes on a subject even dearer to our fanatical human hearts: maps. and#160; Imagine a world without maps. How would we travel? Could we own land? What would men and women argue about in cars? Scientists have even suggested that mappingand#151;not languageand#151;is what elevated our prehistoric ancestors from ape-dom. Follow the history of maps from the early explorersand#8217; maps and the awe-inspiring medieval Mappa Mundi to Google Maps and the satellite renderings on our smartphones, Garfield explores the unique way that maps relate and realign our historyand#151;and reflect the best and worst of what makes us human. and#160; Featuring a foreword by Dava Sobel and packed with fascinating tales of cartographic intrigue, outsize personalities, and amusing and#147;pocket mapsand#8221; on an array of subjects from how to fold a map to the strangest maps on the Internet, On the Map is a rich historical tapestry infused with Garfieldand#8217;s signature narrative flair. Map-obsessives and everyone who loved Just My Type will be lining up to join Garfield on his audacious journey through time and around the globe. and#160;
Synopsis
Cartography enthusiasts rejoice: the bestselling author of Just My Type reveals the fascinating relationship between man and map. and#160; and#160; Simon Garfieldand#8217;s Just My Type illuminated the world of fonts and made everyone take a stand on Comic Sans and care about kerning. Now Garfield takes on a subject even dearer to our fanatical human hearts: maps. and#160; Imagine a world without maps. How would we travel? Could we own land? What would men and women argue about in cars? Scientists have even suggested that mappingand#151;not languageand#151;is what elevated our prehistoric ancestors from ape-dom. Follow the history of maps from the early explorersand#8217; maps and the awe-inspiring medieval Mappa Mundi to Google Maps and the satellite renderings on our smartphones, Garfield explores the unique way that maps relate and realign our historyand#151;and reflect the best and worst of what makes us human. and#160; Featuring a foreword by Dava Sobel and packed with fascinating tales of cartographic intrigue, outsize personalities, and amusing and#147;pocket mapsand#8221; on an array of subjects from how to fold a map to the strangest maps on the Internet, On the Map is a rich historical tapestry infused with Garfieldand#8217;s signature narrative flair. Map-obsessives and everyone who loved Just My Type will be lining up to join Garfield on his audacious journey through time and around the globe. and#160;
About the Author
Simon Garfield is the author of twelve acclaimed books of nonfiction. He lives in London and St. Ives, Cornwall, and currently has a soft spot for Requiem Fine Roman and HT Galeria.