Gracepoint After Five

As exciting and wonderful as the Christmas season can be, we also know how long and boring it can get. Rather than sitting at home and doing nothing, here’s a book list from yours truly that will keep you busy. I’ve trimmed it down to one essential book for each category. If you’re just dying for more recommendations, just let me know.

For the Designer

Whether you are a web designer or a graphic designer (or a motion graphics guy), Thinking with Type is the essential book on typography. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve seen so many “type crimes” in the world of design; many a times, I, too, am a culprit. I refer to this book again and again; it’s one of the books closest to me (in proximity) at work. Any designer who has mastery over typography and text treatment will tell you that she has read this book from cover to cover — multiple times.

For the Filmmaker + Editor

Walter Murch is hailed as one of the best editors out there. Ever. With films such as The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, The English Patient, and many more under his belt, he has a thing or two (or six, actually) to share about the fine art of editing in The Blink of an Eye. It’s a short and fast read, as Walter blazes through the history of editing to — what’s more important to me — the basic principles.

For the Writer

Ok, I lied — I think everyone should read this book. It matters not whether you’re a coder, a designer, a moviemaker, a cook, or whatever — the written language is still the most basic form of communication. Originally written as a handbook for students at Cornell, The Elements of Style combines valuable tips and insights with humor and sarcasm. Engineers out there: read this book.

For Artists Everywhere

We live in a world steeped in relativism and subjectivity, and such worldviews are fiercest in the realm of the arts. How can we be objective about the arts while dealing with different styles and approaches? How can anyone say that one style is better than another? I think Francis Schaeffer, in Art and the Bible, does an excellent job in walking the tightrope in addressing these very issues. Rather than siding with the extremities, he gives proper guidance and principles when approaching art, and how all this relates back to a biblical worldview.

For the Coder + Programmer

No, this is no joke. If you thought I was going to recommend a Ruby on Rails book or something, then you don’t know me very well. Over break, step aside from the computer and read! King Lear (side by side) is often hailed as Shakespeare’s greatest work, and if anything, it will expand your imagination (if not vocabulary). The side-by-side series are great because half the time, I just don’t have a clue as to what Shakespeare is saying, nor do I have easy access to an English major.

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These books here are all rather short and fast reads. Hopefully, they will keep you busy over break. If I’m missing what you deem to be an essential book, let us know in the comments!

With that said, from all of us at Gracepoint After Five, Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!

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