A really charming and informative look at the history, development and meaning of fonts and typefaces – how and why they were designed, the larger than life characters behind them, why we respond in different ways to different fonts. It’s full of stories and diversions, fascinating facts and bizarre incidents. We learn about the importance of a well-tuned ampersand, the controversy around IKEA’s change from Futura to Verdana, the history of the London Underground’s design of Johnston Sans, the impact of computers and Microsoft on type design and much more. Simon Garfield is probably best known for Mauve; and writes his historical investigations with great fluidity and informality. Even if you have little interest in the subject, the book will fascinate.