"This book will truly be a helpful guide to all curious readers, but especially to those who are new to publishing and want an all-inclusive resource that describes the design process from beginning to end"--Catherine Cooks "The H-Net Book Channel"
"This small-but-mighty volume beautifully illustrates author Berne's two decades of experience designing books. This guide is essential to anyone with a stake in the publishing world, but any bibliophile will be captivated by this work."--Judges' Citation "American Library Association's 2025 Dartmouth Prize (Honorable Mention)"
"With the clarity of someone who has spent countless hours explaining her decisions to those unversed in typographic jargon, Berne gives the meaning of every specialist term she uses as she elucidates each aspect of the process by which a manuscript becomes the bound object you take down from a shelf. . . Berne has produced a sorely needed guidebook that may particularly benefit authors and editors, who are rarely equipped to think about how design can--and should--work in concert with writing."-- "Times Literary Supplement"
"The Design of Books delves into the art and craft of book design. [Berne] sheds light on how book design plays a crucial role in achieving publishing success and elevating a reader's overall experience. Whether you're a self-publishing author with questions or a book editor looking to bond with your art director, [Berne's] accessible and insightful guide unveils the secrets behind creating visually stunning and functionally effective book designs."-- "I Need A Book Cover"
"Professional book designer Berne debuts with her first self-authored (and designed) title that seemingly anticipates every question people curious about book production might ask, as well as many they probably hadn't thought about. . . . This title illuminates all that goes into producing and designing a book. A must for authors, editors, designers, and curious readers."-- "Library Journal"
"A fascinating insight into the hidden world of book design. Invaluable for those who want to create beautiful books."--Joanna Penn, author, podcaster, and blogger at The Creative Penn
"Berne has an impressive ability to write for nondesigners, to explain and demonstrate concepts that might, in other hands, seem technical and boring. I love how this guide is both approachable and authoritative."--Jane Friedman, author of "The Business of Being a Writer"
"Catnip to booksellers, this is an introduction to how books are designed, both from aesthetic and commercial considerations. The author is a book designer herself and this is a practical guide for all involved in the production process, exploring how design can enhance the appeal and usefulness of books."-- "The Bookseller (UK)"
"Berne is an extremely engaging and approachable writer, and her book is valuable for the inviting, excellent, and unpretentious introduction it offers to the craft of book design. I learned a lot from The Design of Books, including some things I should have known but did not."--Gita Manaktala, executive editor at large, MIT Press
"From the printer's specifications--choices about size, binding, and other physical characteristics that dictate the look and feel of the finished product--through typography, layout, and cover design, Berne gives the reader an insider's look at how a manuscript becomes a book. . . . A must for aspiring authors, this accessible, even entertaining guide will also appeal to book nerds who read the 'About the Type' page when it appears at the end of a book."-- "Booklist starred review"
"Finally, a book that illuminates the most mysterious warren of publishing--design. For all those seeking to understand the visual language of books, here's your soup-to-nuts translator."
--Danielle Svetcov, agent, Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary