A small sampling of favorite books that have inspired me, in no particular order: Design-Related Books: Design Language, Tim McCreight A witty and wise little book which dissects 100 basic art-related terms, from aesthetics to synesthesia. Eileen Gray, Penelope Rowlands Eileen Gray, indomitable woman ahead of her time, rose to the challenge of becoming an architect at the age of forty-six. The Smithsonian Book of Books, Michael Olmert A celebration of the world of books. Rhyme & Reason: A Typographic Novel, Erik Spiekermann A concise yet quirky summary of what matters in typography Writing: The Story of Alphabets and Scripts, Georges Jean Chronicles the six thousand year evolution of writing. Colors: The Story of Dyes and Pigments, Françoise Delamare and Bernard Guineau A book which tells the fascinating story of the history and science of manufacturing pigments and dyes. Especially relished is the etymology of red. Web Style Guide, Patrick J. Lynch and Sarah Horton The only book on web design which I have read and not promptly fallen asleep. It provides concise, extremely practical, and fundamental concepts in web design. Sources of Inspiration: Karl Blossfeldt, Rolf Sachsse A collection of the photographic plates of Blossfeldt's work featuring flowers, buds, seed pods, and stems in stark detail. Leaves in Myth, Magic & Medicine, Alice Thoms Vitale A very beloved book. Ms. Thoms was 87 when she published this book. It is her life work of researching and recording over 110 specimens of leaves which are actual auto prints made from living leaves. The organic forms themselves are a delight to revisit again and again. Mary Colter: Architect of the Southwest, Arnold Berke A beautiful book in terms of the content and the design-Mary Colter's work continues to inspire. Mira Calligraphiae Monumenta, Lee Hendrix and Thea Vignau-Wilberg A sumptuous, tiny volume in slipcase, reproducing the sixteenth-century illuminated manuscript from the collection of The J. Paul Getty Museum illustrated by Joris Hoefnagel. In Praise of Shadows, Junichiro Tanizaki A book that stays with you for all time, this is a beautiful and lyric commentary on architecture, drama, food, beauty, and many other aspects of Japanese life. Gardening and Natural History: A Trail Through Leaves, Hannah Hinchman The epitome to strive for in keeping an illustrated natural history journal. This book is the best relief from computers I know of. Seasons in the Desert, Susan J. Tweit I never tire of reading selections in this book. It's a loving homage to the southwestern deserts. The chapter on the desert Tarantula is awesome. A Growing Gardener, Abbie Zabar A seasonal year through a Manhattan rooftop garden of the author-this book is full of great observations, beautiful illustrations, and wonderful quotes. The Potted Herb, Abbie Zabar Her first book which is equally as beloved as the latter book. return to home