The Fundamentals of Typography Perfected
The Elements of Typographic Style: Vol.3.1 by Robert Bringhurst is a seminal best-practice reference for any designer, digital or otherwise. If you haven't got it yet, read about it here and then arm yourself!
Already a classic for many designers, this book does much more than list and describe the latest wave of font fashions. In this book, Mr. Bringhurst discards encyclopedic directories and instead explores the history of typography: When did it begin? How did typographers employ it and adapt it to new methods and technologies? What science has grown up around these practices? What can modern typographers do to hone their skills and design effecttively?
His most valuable discussions revolve around seeing typogrpahy and layout as both science and art where the practicioner must concern him or herself with aesthetic, rhythm, balance and purpose. Not easy, but worth the extra intellectual effort.
The second half of the book showcases some of the major font families as they have evolved over the last centuries and decades. This book belongs on every digital designers desk and should remain in print for years to come. To get a copy shipped your way for a competitive price, click here.