Graphic Design Cookbook: Mix and Match Recipes for Faster, Better Layouts

I almost didn't buy this book because of the mixed reviews. After flipping through it in the bookstore, I purchased it. I'm so glad I did!

Seems to me the negative reviewers here are not rating it well because they expected it to go beyond it's intended scope. The book clearly states up front that it provides various layout options, to be used as-is or to mix and match. It's purpose is to jump-start your creativity when your in a rut, not tell you exactly what to do with your content or cover layout theory. It is a reference of visual layout ideas. There are no lengthy explanations.

Overall, great buy. I love it!

There is nothing to read (well, except for the introduction), just thousands of "mix & match" line drawings for layout ideas. This recipe book has been around for a while, but you'd never know it. All the ideas are both classic yet fresh. The least amount of money you'll ever spend for gazillions of ideas.

A must have in every design library.

It's 10:00 at night, and you still have several hours of design ahead of you. How do you keep your designs creative and original? The first book I grab is The Graphic Design Cookbook. It's not a book of canned designs, but a catalog of design concepts and structures to hang your own artwork on. I wouldn't go into my studio without it.

A quick way to jump start ideas at the beginning of a new layout. The book assembles a variety of sample layouts in categories such as: page borders, page partitioning, visual entry points, word relationships, text layout systems, ordering, and pictorial treatments. To inexpensive not to own!

If you know what to expect you will not be disappointed with this book, unlike some of the other reviewers. Graphic Design Cookbook is an extremely useful tool for graphic designers looking for layout ideas. Rather than sorting through dozens of graphic design books to get ideas, this book has sections for every aspect of page layout placement including: page numbers, paragraph placement, titles, and MUCH MORE!!
This book has virtually NO writing or explanations in it. This reference should be used only for visual layout placement ideas, and not for concrete explanations. I use this book whenever I need to make flyers, print ads, or any other print materials. EXTREMELY HELPFUL source and for this cheap cheap price, you can't beat the resourcefulness of this little book.
Another great resource that is very similiar to this book is Jim Krause's "Layout Index."