The Elements of Typographic Style

Part manual, part philosophy, Bringhurst's book treats typesetting as a craft with a long history and real rules. Its chapters on choosing and combining typefaces, setting measure and leading, and shaping the page are the standard against which all other typography writing is measured.

It is denser than Lupton and best read with a project in mind. Designers return to it for decades — its aphorisms, like 'typography exists to honor content,' have entered the profession's bloodstream.