Edward R. Tufte
Graphics Press, 1990
Edward R. Tufte
Graphics Press, 1990
ISBN 0961392118 (boards)
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Like all Tufte's books, this is a beautifully-produced volume, thought through in every detail, from the page layout down to the design of each image. The book itself is an exemplar of what it is trying to teach: making everything work together to convey your message. The examples themselves are interesting -- there is no mock-latin filler text of The Quick Brown Fox Jumped type here: Tufte is quite as much at home criticising NASA's incompetence (as he sees it) as showing how to present information readably and attractively. Indeed, Tufte would say that you can hardly distinguish between readability and attractiveness; he almost argues that a well-run organization cannot present information badly, by definition. Look at the book and see whether you agree with him.
© Ian Alexander 2005