Nutshell review - This is a beautiful resource on presenting information in a myriad of ways with many examples of good and bad design. Beautifully illustrated.

Every time I go back to this book I get something more out of it. Over the past 10 years I've been through my copy a couple of dozen times. If communicating information is important to you, you should take a look at this classic.

This is my 3rd favorite of Tufte's books after Visual Display and Visual Explanations, but it would be a good addition for any Tufte collection and still contains useful info.

I admit. I do not have natural tendencies for developing web sites, color maps, charts, schedules, power points, diagrams or GUIs. Anything as such comes out in complete discord until I came across Edward Tufte's name in a seminar brochure.

Edward Tufte scrutinizes design strategies all they way back in time from the Renaissance period into the 20th century. Initially I wondered, how on earth are these prestigious techniques presented in ancient times similarly applied today? They are not common today. Computer programs and marketing propaganda have limited our visual expectations to only broad and small pieces of information, limiting our learning space about the world we live in. Beyond contemporary appeals, Edward sheds out underlying utility out of these relics into everyday use. His prime example is a 1735 London figure of two dancers. The drawing describes their dance in time, motion, and sound without common resort to animation.

Chapters in this book: Escaping Flatland, Micro/Macro Readings, Layering and Separation, Small Multiples, Color and Information, and Narratives of Space and Time.

This book is about telling a story. Tufte has selected a collection of the most beautiful charts. He then presents each chart design and argues the qualities and defects in each and how sometimes small differences can be used to distort the numbers. If you were to buy a single Tufte book then I'd recommend his other book "Visual Display of Quantitative Information". But if you have a few bucks to spare then this is certainly a nice plus.

This is the second book in Ed Tufte's trilogy on graphical displays. It is a sequel to "The Visual Display of Quantitative Information". In this book Tufte shows how color, multiple pictures from different perspectives, graphs, charts and even newspaper text can be used to convey on a flat piece of paper information for high-dimesional data.

Most important is the ability of two-dimensional pictures to display the information of the three dimensional world that the human mind can comprehend through sight. This is the reason for the title to the first chapter "Escaping Flatland".

However, as interesting as the pictures are themselves it is necessary to read the text and look back and forth between pictures to fully appreciate the points of the text. As with his earlier work, Tufte demonstrates the principles of good graphics through effective demonstration of ideas conveyed by good and bad examples. The difference is a broader coverage of techniques and greater emphasis on the good examples.

This book is a nice lead in for the third book, "Visual Explanations", which deals with examples where Tufte believes the graphical displays actually lead to good inferences about a problem under study.

As a student of Information Science and an admitted non-designer I decided to study "Envisioning Information" after looking at Mr. Tufte's biography and well-crafted website. I was hoping to gain some insight on the rules of design especially when it came to presenting information clearly in an aesthetically-pleasing way, in teaching me these skills Tufte's book does an admirable job.

From the beginning I was drawn in by the quality of the book itself; flipping through it for a quick skim, one cannot be left unimpressed by the vivid graphics, which serve as examples for the text; it is easy to stop, read-a-little and move on. Another integral part of the presentation is the layout of the pages; the eye is able to capture the main text, the annotations, and give the examples the attention the deserve without feeling a certain pressure to continue. This is in opposition to most instructional books, in which side-bars and special sections pull my eyes away from the main text, serving as distractions rather than additions. Tufte's design makes sure everything on the page is related - meaning the text relates to the image, relates to the annotation. Plus, the main text is set in Bembo, which is a nice loose font; easy to read closely, as well as skim quickly.

"Envisioning Information" is broken up into five main chapters (not counting the Introduction and short Epilogue), each chapter has a main idea that is elucidated primarily by the examples Tufte presents. A criticism of the book is its relative lack of conceptual density (aside from the chapter 'Color and Information,' which, for me, required several close readings) - Tufte has his main ideas and briefly clarifies them, but does not go much beyond that, in fact, much of the text is used to describe the examples which [the description] is only pertinent to the concepts in a passing way. The reliance on visual examples can give the reader more an experience of viewing a slideshow than reading a text. It is these images that have the most potential to teach the reader; while the text can reasonably be understood with a quick reading, a close examination of the visuals is required to truly benefit from "Envisioning Information."

Repetition (Tufte does not shy away from repeating his concepts when examples illustrate similar ideas as previously discussed) and conceptual density issues aside, I found "Envisioning Information" to be what I was looking for. The positive impression this book left on me is not solely because it taught me useful design/presentation ideas as I went through it, but because I know I will be able to enjoy it at length upon future forays into the subject.

All of the above is simply to say, in long-form: it is recommended.

I am the type of person who dabbles in all kinds of design, and I think of the ideal designer as one who knows a little about everything. Designers design ways of output, whether it be lemon juice from a lemon or ways to fit all vital components in a laptop in the most efficient way. This book is about the output of information from our multidimensional world to the flat paper space, and he does it brilliantly.
It's even worth mentioning the book itself as a good piece of design. All the images are vivid, the pages feel crisp and durable, even the color of the pages I bet was an attention of detail (it's slightly offwhite, but in an extremely good way). It's like good ol' fashioned timeless design.
He covers the subject wide and far, dips into everything from visual illusions to hardcore information displays. Sometimes you wonder where the heck he gets all these wonderful images, they span from the stoneage till today and show the vast variety of ways to display information, both simple and complex.
It is a beautiful book and an absolute must for people interested in the design of information. Actually, I'd say it's a must for anyone interested in information at all, be it for powerpoint or for magazine layout. This will be one of the most intelligent books on my shelf.

This is a short book, 126 pages. An interesting cursory exploration of the subject. However, it feels like it predates information technology (1990 predates the web by 5 years), and seems to have more in common with how to communicate elements of a hand-drawn map atlas if you were living in the 1700s than it has with using Adobe Illustrator to convey an idea for the web. I bought this book to see if it would help me as a web developer, and instead when it arrived I realized I got a weird coffee table book that feels like it was written in the 1960s, at the latest, to summarize that you can use different icons or pictographs of small size to communicate important ideas without words. (Sorry, I already gave away the story of the book.)

I know this review isn't going to get very popular marks, but, put simply, this book is probably good for professional or student pure designers, but it's useless for me. I honestly don't think the book targets web designers, but somebody here reviewed that it was "great" for web designers, so because of that remark I bought it. Sorry, but I don't see the applicability. But then, I only skimmed over the book before I put it back on Amazon Marketplace.

While one should normally never judge a book by its cover, in this case I think you should.

this is part of a series from tufte. he uses examples to describe techniques of visualization. if you do presentations to others or write reports that present complex data, several of his books should be in your library.

this is part of a series from tufte. he uses examples to describe techniques of visualization. if you do presentations to others or write reports that present complex data, several of his books should be in your library.

No designer should be without this book. I especially enjoy the historical accounts of information design. Of course hind sight is 20/20 so his redesigns seem obvious from our perspective.

An outstanding addition to my library, Edward systematically explores the presentation of data showing the value of data rich content when it is properly displayed. After reading half the book, I couldn't sit through a presentation without coming up with at least 3 ways to improve it. The illustrations in the book are beautifully rendered and cover a diverse set of subject matter each as interesting as the next. The only topic concerning this book that I struggled with is whether or not to mark it up. In the end, as I do with all of my books I intend to refer back to, I did.

An outstanding addition to my library, Edward systematically explores the presentation of data showing the value of data rich content when it is properly displayed. After reading half the book, I couldn't sit through a presentation without coming up with at least 3 ways to improve it. The illustrations in the book are beautifully rendered and cover a diverse set of subject matter each as interesting as the next. The only topic concerning this book that I struggled with is whether or not to mark it up. In the end, as I do with all of my books I intend to refer back to, I did.

I recieved this book along with the most excellent (almost a companion book) Visual Display of Quantitative Information, from my CEO. Since I work a lot with numbers and he had been stressing the importance of presenting data clearly and concisely.

I feel that, this book, more than being a guide to envisioning information is a book to appreciate charts.

Very beatifully produced, and a book which must reside on the bookshelf of any person working with numbers and information

"Envisioning Information" by Edward Tufte further fleshes out and expands the work he has done on presenting information. This volume is best suited for designers of complex information such as maps or schedules. As with his other books, it is richly illustrated with many colorful examples of well and poorly designed information displays.
This is a good book to get one thinking about information displays, but putting them into practice is more challenging. Although much of what Tufte criticizes in displays could be considered "nitpicking," his points do have merit, albeit very difficult to put into practice with one's own work that does not model his examples. Personally, I do not agree with all of his criticisms as what is considered ideal, is to an extent, subjective.

There are also some personal opinions that he could have left out of the book. For example, the author uses the example of Digton rock to show how people viewing the rock had various perceptions (p. 73). Wonderful. However, from there he throws in his mockery by dismissing its origin as being anything other than Native-American. He goes on to state, "such logic places the Vikings far inland, deep into what is now West Virginia and Ohio" and this is a "scholarship of wishful thinking." Personally, I think it is more a scholarship of wishful thinking to pick one idea and rule out any other possibility. Again, this opinion has nothing to do with information displays, and does not help the reader learn about presenting material.

I keep this book close by in my office. I find it a very useful reference book for visually showing students HOW TO and how NOT TO DO information design. The examples in this book are well selected and organized.

I keep this book close by in my office. I find it a very useful reference book for visually showing students HOW TO and how NOT TO DO information design. The examples in this book are well selected and organized.

This wasn't the easiest book to read. Tufte spends a bit too much energy attempting to make the tone of the book academic, rather than getting to the point. The concepts are pretty simplistic though, once you do absorb the information. There are some interesting illustrations. All in all, I wouldn't reccomend this for casual rading.

In "The Visual Display of Quantitative Information", Edward Tufte put forth a theory of graphical excellence which taught his disciples how to present complex data crisply, clearly, and concisely while preserving data integrity.

With "Envisioning Information", Tufte tackles a bolder objective: displaying multi-dimensional data effectively within the two-dimensional space of paper or screen.

To do this, Tufte employs his successful formula from "Visual Display"---outlining the general concepts of his theory and illustrating these principles with many and varied examples.

Tufte's approach to "escaping Flatland" (as he calls it) is simple but richly-illustrated:

- Employing the concept of micro/macro readings to add resolution to data displays, conveying more information in a smaller space

- Using layering and separation to foster comprehension of multivariate data

- Utilizing small multiples to convey change over time

- Leveraging color to convey information

- Weaving narratives of space and time

The effect upon the reader is staggering and transformative. Tufte has revised and extended his theory of graphical excellence with a handful of simple yet powerful techniques for improving our presentation graphics.

Anyone involved in graphics design or in the communication of complex information should have this book on his shelf---it is simply too valuable to keep having to borrow it from your public library.

I know that I am a contrarian here but... I didn't like the book at all - I was initially so excited to see the book, but when I finally did see it, I was very disappointed. I recommend that you actually see the book before buying it. You may be disappointed too.

As in all Tufte books, this is beautifully presented and wonderfully content-filled. In particular, you'll learn:
- All about the tasteful use of color in the design of interfaces
- How to maximize data visibility in interfaces, as opposed to the widgets, frames, and borders around the data

The only bad side is that some of the chapters end just when you feel like they're about to wrap up in a statement of a best practice, leaving you to sit around and solve the puzzle yourself. While I'm all in favor of mental exercise, I would've liked to at least have a solution to double-check against.

i worked in bookstores for years, i am an avowed bibliophile and here is the one that got away - until now!. yes this is part of a set of three...but you can figure that out yourself. this is an essential edition fo anyone who loves cartography (a la How to Lie with Maps /Monmonier kind of cartography), statistics, art, complexity, symbolism, cognitive science etc - you name it this book has it. It does require that you revel in the concept and manifestation of representation. I believe that it is possibly one of the most beautiful science books around - and it often transcends any definition of a "text" book.

the entire book offers endless brain-fodder for the meaning and impact of the word "vision". The complexity of the subject(s) is given justice in this book - with both beauty and fun!! I was delighted to have been a late comer to this title but now i have to go fully read Tufte's Political Control of the Economy (1980)....if only i had known ten years ago that Tufte was so fantastic, engaging, diverse, and accessible!!

ENVISIONING INFORMATION represents one volume within a set of three. The primary objective of Edward R. Tufte is to demonstrate the importance of graphic illustrations in understanding the world around us.

In this volume, the central focus is to demonstrate how one can use static and a two-dimensional surface (i.e. a piece of paper) to show a world that is complex, dynamic and multidimensional. The illustrations that he selects and his explanation of the impact of the illustrations is nothing less than magnificent. Tufte is brilliant! Unlike the other two volumes, the centerpiece of this work is mapping. He addresses various artistic principles that offer a great clarity in guiding a scholar to reproduce distance and shapes. I draw your attention to page 37. Here, we see a small piece of an "Isometric Map of Midtown Manhattan." The author gives us an opportunity to purchase the entire map. I purchased the map for a close friend who calls Midtown Manhattan "home." It isn't merely a map; it is a beautiful piece of art. According to the author, these mapping principles can be generalized to serve other functions. For example, such techniques can be used to provide dance notations (see page 114-119). That is, Tufte shows us how we can employ illustrations to teach people how to dance.

All of Tufte's three volumes are pieces of artwork. All are awe-inspiring. ENVISIONING INFORMATION is slightly different than the other two volumes. I like to use Tufte's work as an example of how graphics can be employed to illustrate qantitative information to students.

Every academic library should own a copy of these three volumes.

Edward Tufte sees things most of us do not initially, then manages to render his vision in exquisitely illustrated, well-written texts. He identifies the attributes of effective communication of information and then illustrates what works and why in very understandable terms.

For instance, in his chapter "Layering and Separation," Tufte dissects the problems with array of marshaling signals then reworks the presentation and provides a step-by-step explanation of his process. His coining of the wonderful notion of an "information prison" shows that his cleverness extends from the visual to the written.

As Tufte writes in his introduction, "The principles of information design are universal-like mathematics-and are not tied to unique features of a particular language or culture." He proves this point amply by drawing on myriad sources and examples.

His comments and insights of the power of color are especially enlightening, and if you have ever been subjected to a particularly hideous PowerPoint slide show where the presenter got more than a bit carried away with the technology, you will be agreeing more than disagreeing with the ideas here.

Finally, I acknowledge there is bound to be some sticker shock associated with Edward Tufte's books. But if you consider the amount and quality of color (which requires special press runs), the quality of the paper, the amount of press time (Tufte oversees and approves the printing), and the vast scope of timeless information contained in each book, then these books are a deal.

This is the second book in Ed Tufte's trilogy on graphical displays. It is a sequel to "The Visual Display of Quantitative Information". In this book Tufte shows how color, multiple pictures from different perspectives, graphs, charts and even newspaper text can be used to convey on a flat piece of paper information for high-dimesional data. Most important is the ability of two-dimensional pictures to display the information of the three dimensional world that the human mind can comprehend through sight. This is the reason for the title to the first chapter "Escaping Flatland".

However, as interesting as the pictures are themselves it is necessary to read the text and look back and forth between pictures to fully appreciate the points of the text. As with his earlier work, Tufte demonstrates the principles of good graphics through effective demonstartaion of ideas conveyed by good and bad examples. The difference is a broader coverage of techniques and greater emphasis on the good examples.

This book is a nice lead in for the third book, "Visual Explanations", which deals with examples where Tufte believes the graphical displays actually lead to good inferences about a problem under study.

I'm a big fan of Tufte's work and so was, at first, sort of disappointed the first time through this book. But each time I reread it I find found more and more I can use. The text runs from subversive to straightforward, but it's the wonderful illustrations you'll love!
I find places to apply Tufte's few basic guidelines every single time I transmit information. The worst I can say is this book is super instead of stupendous. I'm happy I own it, and I'm never, ever gonna give it away.

If you're a graphic designer looking for practical content on how to better present your infographics - look elsewhere. The book was filled with beautiful, but useless information. If you're after information theory, the book hits the mark - but for almost $50, it's hardly worth it.

Very well produced and interesting work. However, I don't think it sums up to a book. A profusion of illustrations, though interesting, is at times gratuitous and barely related to anything in text, and after reading this book (in one sitting) I can say, this all could be said on 10 pages (including illustrations.)

Tufte is a genius, and this, the first of his series (of three), is an exquisite testimony to visual design. Wonderful for brainstorming or just feasting the eyes. No designer should be without these books.

I wrote the following review here on Amazon back on June 4, 1997. I still stand by this review!

Ed Tufte has created an essential resource for every software designer and developer that imparts the religion of good design, while avoiding the typical lists of "do's" and "don'ts" that are so pervasive in design texts. Tufte offers incredible examples of his design concepts and the publication itself is a tangible example of extraordinary design.

This book is a must have for anyone into design. It is very inspiring, and the concept and the thought behind the book could actually lead to creation of good design. It is very well written in a simple language easy to comprehend. As a designer I feel it covers the most important aspect of design, which is to blow life into the product one is designing!

This book as a "must-have" for any usability design engineer. While it is not a book that focuses specifically on usability design per se, all of the concepts covered in this insightful volume are extremely useful in designing human-computer interfaces. Moreover, since this is a book on information design, it is also a treasure trove of knowledge critical when designing in many other visual mediums such as those found in the world of print media. Throughout the engaging narrative, Tufte draws on many interesting historical examples of successful and unsuccessful attempts at visual communication including everything from astronomical charts to train schedules.

A masterpiece in visual communication itself, the reams of useful knowledge in this book are brought together in a remarkably concise and coherent package, interspersed with beautifully illustrated examples and narratives. The physical book itself is of notable quality, a hallmark of any of Tufte's publications. My only criticism is that the format of this book (0.89 x 10.81 x 8.90) make it a little unwieldy - a pretty moot point, however.

In the first book in this series "The Visual Display of Quantitative Information" we were introduced to some pretty clever ideas for presenting numbers using different types of graphs. This time, Mr. Tufte takes us on a journey through time and information space: Using carefully selected examples on graphic communication from all parts of the world, the reader is introduced to essential concepts as: Layering techniques; The use of colour to convey information; Multidimensionality in two dimensions; etc. It is amazing that just about 100 pages is all it takes to deliver a clear and strong message. But, as usual, Mr. Tufte do not waste his words on chit chat, but instead chooses his words carefully with loads of understated humour. Thereby the words themselves are a manifest of the message in this book and at the same time they become the invisible glue that connects the superbly chosen and superbly rendered illustrations which set the standard for the rest of us.

If you can afford only one of the three books by Edward Tufte, then chose this one. The other books in the trilogy, being masterpieces themselves, could be considered being complementary reading.

If you communicate through visualization, this book is essential. Well-written, beautifully designed, lavishly illustrated, copiously exampled -- it's all here. I've been developing visual communications for nearly 25 years, and this book caused me to completely rethink how I do it.

To me, this is Tufte's best book, although they are all really good. Although its visually gorgeous, its not a coffee table book to just flip through. You have to be willing to spend time with it, and if you do the rewards are tremendous.

Tufte presents a collection of some the best examples of information design ever invented, and some of the worst examples. And then he goes into the underlying principles that make the great ones sing out.

This book will be really helpful to any web page designer, UI designers, statisticians, cartographers, scientists, or anyone concerned with presenting dense information in a clear way.

There is a chapter on presenting multiple dimensional data on a flat, 2D paper that all by itself is worth the price of the book. Then there's the chapter on "Small Multiples" which presents wonderful examples of how to show patterns and changes. But then there's the chapter on layering of information, so the key pieces of data appear first, and the less relevant ones reveal themselves later. And on and on and on. Its just a great book.

To add to it, Tufte is obsessed with quality like nobody else I can think of in the book business. Its printed on 100% rag paper using real lead type because he thinks that all other methods are inferior. Which means the book is costly to make, but its of heirloom quality.

Tufte's book was recommended to me recently because I create and design maps for my travel guide, "PassPorter Walt Disney World." What a delight it was to find a book that *explains* why it is important to present information clearly, succinctly, and responsibly. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and could only have hoped for more information and examples on maps. You can bet the next edition of my travel guide will have enhanced maps based on Tufte's principles. "Envisioning Information" will have a proud place on my bookshelf for many years to come.

Jennifer Watson, Co-Author of PassPorter Walt Disney World: The unique travel guide, planner, organizer, journal, and keepsake!

This is now the third and last of Tuftes trilogy of design books I read and I still love to read them. I love the enspirement. It needs a peaceful pace and as the author states "it pays you back". I learned a lot, I will read it again in a couple of years, and I Want another one of his books.

I have all three and they are an indispensable resource for graphic designers, and web developers.

the examples are incredible. this book is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read both for its content and execution. The advice Tufte gives with regard to the presentation of information will only become more important in the future. Whether reading the newspaper or writing a technical report, the proper display of quantitative information is an invaluable skill. this book helps you to think clearly and concisely. one of the best books of all time.

The text is disjointed and dense, but the pictures are terrific. It's almost a coffee table book. Nice to look at, but little content to read.

This book will forever change the way you look at how information is presented. In addition to showing how good information design works, Tufte takes to task those who deceive or confuse using charts and graphs. There is no better book on this subject. Plus, besides providing useful information, the book itself is a fantastic example of good design.

I put his work to use. I make a lot of charts and tables, and I am more satisfied now that I put his advise to work on a project I'm on. But beyond that, I'm looking for every opportunity to use this advise. The stuff I used to produce looks like it needs a revision.

The whole book was interesting. Very interesting.There were a few items that will forever change the way I create forms and charts, which is a constant in my job. Beyond that, the book imparted a convincing, (almost personal) concept of substance vs. packaging that I probably wouldn't have learned otherwise, and which has already begun to affect the way I view myself.Thanks Ed.

E. Tufte's "Envisioning Information" and its two companion volumes are a powerful antidote to the visual junk-heap that the internet has become. Although written about all kinds of information design, this book is incredibly relevant to web design because it educates the reader on vital aspects of data perception and process. If you prepare information IN ANY MEDIA to be visually consumed, this book is a must.

Designers, if you're looking for a way to describe to your mother what you do for a living, let her read Tufte. He uses inspired diagrammatics and superbly interesting stories to help us understand the bridge between data and knowledge--information and insights. Tufte helps everyone--from health insurance salesmen to fine artists--understand the powerful role that design plays in presenting mankind's insights. Those who give less than five stars need to read again.

I will preface this review by saying that you should be reading this book to either learn, or enjoy design -- But I will also say that the presentation of any form of material, either in business, science, or even on the Internet will benefit from the lessons held within this book.

Beautifully laid out, easy to read, Tufte's book is full of images that play on the eyes, and remain etched in your head. A book you'll be proud to have in your library or on your coffee table.

Envisioning Information is Tufte's best work. It is a catalog of world class information design examples, culled by the author. He has collected examples from sources as diverse as Gallileo's observations of Saturn, a 3D map of a Japanese shrine, a visual "proof" of Pythagoras' theorem, color studies by the artist Joseph Albers, and a New York train schedule.

This is not a "how to" book, but rather a group of inspiring examples showing any would be information designer the concepts behind the execution of these superb examples.The concepts are painstakingly argued and illustrated. Tufte is obsessed with quality - the book is printed on 100% rag paper using old fashioned lead type because he believes this yields the highest quality results. One of the best books I have ever read when it comes to visual design!

... though there are plenty others in the book that are fascinating.

I flipped open the book just now and arrived at a discussion of whether Maya Ying Lin's Vietnam Memorial should have had the names ordered by date of death or alphabetically. As there were over 600 Smiths who died in Vietnam and 16 James Joneses, an alphabetical listing would have given the memorial the flavor of a telephone directory.

Tufte persuasively argues and demonstrates how graphic design and information presentation affects thinking, decision-making, and emotion.

This is the third of Edward Tufte's brilliant trilogy on how information should be displayed. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information is about pictures of numbers. Envisioning Information is about picturing nouns. Visual Explanations is about picturing verbs. All three are beautiful artefacts in their own right, encapsulating the author's ideas in the actual production of the book. Each is crammed with examples of good and bad practice over the past centuries.