Rating: 
Summary: A good design principle book for beginners...
Review: This book is a good reference book for new web site designers and a good refresher for more experienced designers as well. The chapters flow very nicely and the authors give plenty of attention to the entire thought process of designing a web site without even mentioning HTML, Javascripts, etc. in the first half of the book. Exactly what I was looking for.What I didn't like, as one other reviewer mentioned, was the fact that almost all the web site examples used in the book were from Yale. My guess would be that if you looked at these sites now (2 years after print), they look different and are laid out differently than as mentioned in the book. I do like all of the basic design principles that are covered: uses of space, font styles, browser differences, use of graphics, importance of the "above the fold" area of a site, navigation (good section), etc. It was definatley worth the price (under $20) and I will probably read it again within a year after working on some sites. A good reference for us all.
Rating: 
Summary: A style guide with little style
Review: This book is not a design reference although it covers many areas of design and gives design advice. It misses the mark as a style guide too, but if you are looking for practical advice in how to create large Internet and Intranet Websites, then this book is for you. One of the negative aspects of the book is that nearly all of the examples provided come from Yale websites, which leaves you with the feeling that if you aren't doing it like they do at Yale, you are wrong. However, the book is valuable in that it breaks down step by step the creation of a website, and provides advice on how to do it. Its authors are both highly respected Ivy League educators and writers and perhaps as a result, this book offers very little in the way of conversationally. The authors have written this book from the standpoint that web surfers have changed and no longer want to be entertained. Lynch and Horton maintain that web users want clear and easy to find information and not the high impact visual sites they once did. While I agree that web users are more sophisticated that they used to be, and that all people want clear information, As a designer, I am a bit torn over the theory that people no longer want cutting edge design and interesting layout. Ironically a psychological study conducted in a university setting last year proved that students retain 30% more information when it is given in a humorous and entertaining way. It would stand to reason that Web sites that attract the eye of the user would also attract their mind and memory. However, the book is still a worthwhile read, as is the website. Despite its stogy feel, Lynch and Horton uses solid fundamentals to create an all-in-one volume of advice for Web professionals.
Rating:
Summary: What a Style Guide is. What a Style Guide is not.
Review: It's disappointing to read all the negative reviews of what I think is a very good book. I think many reviewers lack the understanding of just what constitutes a style guide, so I am going to give my best definition of what a style guide is. Style guides, such as the Chicago Manual of Style, are more concerned with good journalistic practices than graphic design, covering such topics as how to treat page titles, the proper attributing of an author, how to construct footnotes, the importance of dating articles, consistent nomenclature, the consistent use of language, and other important but admittedly dry topics. In almost all cases these things will influence graphic design, and some *very* basic, but in my opinion very good, graphic design information is covered. Also covered, to a fairly high level of detail, is information on graphic format and web color, navigation, and basic usability issues. What this book does not cover, and what one should not expect from a style guide, are examples of cutting-edge design, or information on current design trends (or what many of us think of when we thing of "style"). I think all graphic designers would do well to head the advice in this book, and think that most good graphic designers already do, and are probably already familiar with the information presented here. Obviously designers that know the rules usually break them with better results than those that don't. I think most designers will appreciate this book. If you are looking for an example of really cool, award-winning Websites, try the magazine Communication Arts, especially their Interactive Annual. If you are looking for a great book to introduce you to the basics, I haven't found a better book than this. To sum up: "Style" means "cool" to most of us. Try Communication Arts Interactive Annual for exaples of current, award-winning "style". A "Style Guide" is an explaination of common conventions for a given medium. For an example of a good "Style Guide", get this book.
Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking
Review: This book provides a concise introduction to principles of Website design. I found the first few chapters, about process, interface design, and site design extremely good. But towards the end of the chapter on page design, some of the advice started to get a little questionable. For example, they explain three ways of using tables to create gutters between parallel columns, but never note what a no-no parallel columns are for Web page design, since they require the reader to scroll down, then up, then down again. The graphics and multimedia chapters strayed a little from the concept of a Website design manual. Instead of presenting guidelines for effective use of graphics and other media, they presented detailed, somewhat technical information, about media formats and optimizing media for the Web (particularly in Photoshop). This was interesting information in its own right, but I would have liked to read more about using media effectively. One guideline they suggest is to use background images no bigger than 100 x 100 pixels, omitting advice about how to avoid the dreaded repeating border (use width = 1280). One aspect that makes this book very different from others on the market is that it draws on primarily academic or university-related Websites for examples rather than from commercial sites. The book includes a good list of references and an index.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Resource
Review: Whether you're new to web design, an old hand, putting together a personal or hobbyist site, or charged with developing a website out of thin are for an employer or organization, this book is an essential resource. (Of course, you can read all the chapters on the affiliated website, but if you want to have a book to hold in your hand, this one's a good choice.) The authors go through the basic elements of site design, weaving in design theory along the way (in a way anyone can understand) and providing examples for the web design conventions they refer to. As a writer and editor, I've relied heavily on Strunk & White. Moving from print design into web design, I've looked for a resource that would serve to help me make the transition. This book fits the bill.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for starters!
Review: I recommend this book to anyone who is a designer for the web or publishing industry. I bought this book to start as a class requirement. I didn't know what to expect at first, but as I was reading through the book I found this book to be very helpful. It really covers all areas of basic design and it's useful for all designers, especially for starters. The fundamentals of design is universal and in the book, it explains how design concepts have been around for a long time like in the publishing industry and how it's carried over to the web now. Learn the concepts so that you too can be a sophisticated designer.
Rating: 
Summary: A huge amount of energy and knowledge in less than 200 pages
Review: This book is not only dealing with Design principles. It deals with everything, including the biggest problem of almost 30% of all the websites in the world - fading away. Successful Web site is what the book has been kicking to, to its fullest success I believe.
The authors go around the problems reflecting several aspects and views, digging deep into the details in order to be clear to everyone. My boss reads it as a good source to understant things going around with our Web site :)
Great book, well done dear authors.
Rating:
Summary: Good coverage of design choices
Review: I would not have expected that a thin paperback would have such value inside. If you are thinking about putting a web site together this book and some page marks are all that are needed to communicate basic style to the person doing the site. It covers the important stuff and lots of things that I would not have thought of. For example which fonts are good for printing.
Rating:
Summary: The Bible of digital style
Review: I'm really amazed about this wonderful work. It's useful, it's complete, it's rational and it's thought and written with feeling. Serious planning and developing process are both covered with a great sense of design and functionality.
Rating:
Summary: Should be mandatory reading!
Review: This book is a great reference work that anyone who plays in HTML should have on their desk. This book is the missing link in most technical libraries. It addresses appealing, and legible layouts, as expected, but it does so much more. It discusses cross platform compatability issues, and helps you work around the differences, or to at least KNOW what your code will do in other browsers. It also addresses formatting content for the atypical setups, like the for the handicapped, WebTV or even for PDA's and phones!
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