Issue Number 21 - March 2000

NAOMI BARON'S new book explores the relationship between writing and technology. She traces the development of both - from the invention of writing, through the Renaissance, to its present-day use in digital form. En route, she covers such interesting topics such as copyright and plagiarism, the rise of 'Standard English', and even the invention of the typewriter and its effect on prose style. Anyone who is interested in writing and its history will want to engage with this text. It's without doubt a major contribution to the subject.

http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/baron.htm

Practical Information Policies
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE - or 'arranging data' to you and me - is often presented in an abstract, theoretical manner. Elizabeth Orna's guide to the practice is based on practical examples. In fact the book shows both the theory and the working commissions on which the theory is based. This is a heavy-duty statement of policy which will be of interest to information professionals and those responsible for what she calls 'the management of knowledge'.

http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/orna-2.htm

David Carson: 2nd Sight
DAVID CARSON is an avant-garde typographist and graphic designer working in California. We reviewed the first volume of his portfolio publication in Newsletter 19. David Carson: 2nd Sight is the follow-up volume. It is full of whacky graphics and type which tests the limits of legibility. There's a full review by Tracy Pickle, who is a graphic designer herself. Details at -

http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/carson-2.htm

Web Page Design
THERE ARE DOZENS of books on web page design. What's different about this? Well, for a start, it doesn't bother with any HTML coding. Brian Austin leaves that to others and concentrates instead on the basic principles of good page layout and sound navigation through a site. The Computer Step series offers one topic to a page; maximum illustration, minimum writing; plus lots of hints and tips. They are ideal for beginners.

http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/austin-2.htm

Student Writing in Higher Education
ACADEMIC WRITING standards - are they falling, or not? That's one of the many questions addressed in this new collection of research papers. Other topics considered include the problems of writing in new subject disciplines, such as computer conferencing and dance studies; and new types of writing such as 'Learning Journals' and 'empathetic writing'. There are also chapters which analyse the surprisingly wide differences in tutor feedback to students, and the special new requirements of online learning. Review and full details at --

http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/lea.htm

Books and their Enemies
When Ann Veronica, by H.G. Wells, was banned by the Manchester Public Libraries in 1909, the unorthodox economist J.A. Hobson famously remarked: 'If the sun ever shone in Manchester, the Watch Committee would probably prosecute it for indecent exposure!'

Highly Recommended
We've created a new feature at our site which lists those books which are most highly rated by you, the visitors. These are the pages which get most hits, and which sell most copies at Amazon. Most of the titles have become classics in their field - but there are some surprises. Categories covered include writing skills, design, typography, web design, and IT and Society. Have a look for yourself at -

http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/biblios/art-rec.htm