This book has three parts. In the first two, basic principles in the theory and practice of book design are discussed. The third part then shows how the ideas of the first and second parts have been applied in particular examples.

'Book design as a school of thought' was originally delivered (in German) as a lecture and published as a pamphlet, in 1991. This is its first publication in English. 'Designing books' was published as a separate booklet by Agfa (Wilmington, Mass.) in 1989, in German. Translation into several other languages followed, including an English edition (1990): all long out of print. The version published here has been revised and considerably augmented with new illustrations.

The third part, 'Books designed by Jost Hochuli', is completely new. Here Robin Kinross comments on 27 of Hochuli's works. Both authors are internationally known, Kinross more as critic and historian, Hochuli above all as a practitioner. In this book they offer a serious introduction to book design, free of ideological dogma. Short and concise, it contains a rich, painstakingly selected fund of illustrations.