Rating: 
Summary: it's a design reader, it's a history lesson...
Review: ...that challenges and inspires the reader. This book is completely engaging -you won't put it down. It is a book of essays on graphic designs and illustrations (in varied mediums and medias) that have made an impact on our culture and our world for better or worse. I now must read every other Steven Heller book in print!
Rating: 
Summary: More of a history book
Review: A very nice book indeed, but the whole book goes much more into history in the pieces itself than into the design process of a particular work. Good if you want to read and learn a lot about how design was used in advertisements/cultural movements through the years (the majority of the work displayed are really old/historic), but not very useful besides that.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent As Introduction
Review: Design Literacy and Design Literacy (continued) is an excellent introduction to graphic design under the surface. I use Phil Meggs' history book for facts and these books for inspiration.
Rating:
Summary: Makes Me Want to Read More
Review: Design Literacy and its sequel, Design Literacy (continued) explain the inner workings (and spirit) of graphic design and some of the best designers. Its been very valuable for my education as a graphic designer.
Rating:
Summary: Certainly worthy reading material
Review: Good reading material particularly for serious graphic designers interested in expanding the role of graphic design in today's market place. Heller's accesible prose works for me again
Rating: 
Summary: Get the Meggs book instead...
Review: I agree with poster who stated that these entries were superficial. Personally, I think Steven Heller is ruining graphic design. These entries are incredibly anti-intellectual and not very well researched. It doesn't elevate Graphic Design at all above the cool, hip and commercial. Surely this field is worth a little more than that? Don't buy it.
Rating:
Summary: This book is a must-read for any serious student of design.
Review: I attend a school with a lackluster offering in the area of graphic design history. This book closed many gaps in my seeming self-education. Every chapter was well thought out, well designed and an thoroughly enjoyable read. Kudos to the authors.
Rating:
Summary: interesting but slanted.
Review: I like this book a lot but found it to be full of very subjective opinions. It's not that I disagree with the opinions, for the most part i don't, but I'd prefer if it was more of a critique than a platform for the authors views on the world. I found that they would tend to defend one body of work (Brody) while slamming another (the Joe Camel complain) without fully explaining why. But then I guess that would be the point of writing a book in the first place, to voice you opinions.And while I feel that one or two pages just is not enough space to dedicate to many of the designs discussed in this book, I was very surprised and grateful to see many of them at all. When was the last time you read about the history of the swastika? Let alone one that dared to go deeper that the obvious nazi reference. [lookup Manwoman the artist for more unbiased info on it's history.] I would have loved to read more on each of these topics though.
Rating:
Summary: I'm no super idiot, but...
Review: I use this book as a catch me up for everyone one of my students who are interested in graphic design, but don't know anything about it. This book and the sequel "Design Literacy Continued" are easy to read, wide in scope and plow through touchy subjects like Racist Websites and the garbage all over contemporary magazines. It's the best education I ever got sitting in the bathroom.
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended reading for graphic design students.
Review: Steven Heller's Design Literacy Continued is an ongoing survey of graphic design concepts, and examines how graphic design works and impacts the broader culture. Objects which serve as the focus on graphic design concepts and changes are grouped into collective themes and rang from Zap comics to art deco and typographic examples.
| 
