I’ve got a regular issue of the newsletter brewing in the drafts, but today I’m sending out this short-ish and simple-ish edition to let you know that my book, Universal Principles of Typography, is out. Out out. Out, as in: you could walk into your favourite bookshop today and find it on their shelves. Potentially. Or at least order it from them. Actually, it came out in the US on Tuesday, but today is the UK pub date, which means that it’s now officially out everywhere.

(I realise, of course, that the US and UK in no way constitute ‘everywhere’, but I believe all other countries are getting their stock from these two official publication territories. Funnily enough, the very first customer to receive a pre-order, that I know of, was in Australia. Go figure.)

Anyway, I’ll be so grateful if you decide to buy a copy.

If you’re able to, please consider supporting your local bookshop by ordering it from them rather than Amazon. It not only helps independent retailers, but — and I’m going to be really honest here — my very small slice of each sale is ever so slightly less small if it’s from somwhere other than Amazon. If you’re stuck, Bookshop.org makes it very easy to support a shop local to you. If, like me, you’re in the UK, I find that Blackwells is usually around the same price as Amazon, so that’s where I buy most of my books from. (Parisian friends: you can get it from Shakespeare and Company, one of the best bookshops in the world!)

But yes, I know Amazon is the only option in a lot of places, and honestly I’m grateful for every purchase.

Need some more convincing? Well, Abduzeedo said some very nice things about the book, including:

This comprehensive guide isn’t merely an academic overview; it’s an illustrative beacon for professionals and enthusiasts eager to deepen their typographic proficiency. Ellen Lupton, a luminary in the design world, endorses this endeavor with a foreword, signaling the book’s caliber to both neophytes and seasoned practitioners. […] Stocks’ candid reflection on his writing and design process adds a human layer to the narrative, showcasing the iterative and sometimes chaotic journey of creative work.

And earlier this week, PRINT magazine interviewed me for their Type Tuesday feature about the book, and said:

The book’s 100 principles cover everything from the tactical to the compositional, sometimes pausing for the philosophical.

By the way, if you’re in or near Bristol this coming Tuesday, come and celebrate the book launch with me and the Letter Luvvers crew at bookhaus in Wapping Wharf. Tickets are £6, but include drinks and nibbles, as well as a £4 discount off the book. Grab yourself a ticket and, if you’re coming, please reply to this email to let me know!

Okay, I guess that’s all I need to say. Can I throw in one more prompt for you to go and buy the book? Great. Thanks for indulging me. Normal service resuming soon. Now… I need a beer!