Book review : The Zen of CSS Design

Almost every Web Developer knows the famous CSS Zen Garden, a project created by Web Designer Dave Shea aimed to encourage the use of standards-compliant CSS for a better web. Raw HTML was available to Web Designers who had to create some CSS that can completely change the layout of the website, thus underlying the power of semantical XHTML and best use of CSS. This full-color book, released following the CSS Zen Garden project success, is divided into 7 chapters : View Source, Design, Layout, Imagery, Typography, Special Effects and Reconstruction. Each of these ones teaches you best practices to CSS development (including cross-browser concerns in the details) but also to good Web Design in general.

Pros

• Awesome book, very instructive
• A very interesting approach, based on the best submissions (Zen Garden project) to teach best practices and tricks of expert Web Designers
• Cross-browser concerns are explained very well, into the details and an overview of the alternatives to cope with ‘em is given.
• A very instructive course about Web Design (imagery, typography, layout, …)
• All chapters based on real world projects and not on academical examples
• The best and more complete book about Web Design I’ve read to date

Cons

• Not really a con, but this book is “medium to advanced” level, so good understanding of CSS is required before starting. Basics of CSS aren’t covered as the book immediately digs into the details, exceptions and advanced use of CSS

Conclusion

An instant-classic, awesome and very instructive book that every Web Designer must have on his/her bookshelf ! Finally note that you should have a good understanding of CSS prior to reading this book and have an interest in Web Design as some chapters such as “imagery” and “typography” are purely dedicated to this field.