This week was World Book Day, and I want to share with you what is currently on my pile of bedside reading… I am currently working my way through Happy: Secrets to Happiness from the cultures of the world by Lonely Planet, which brings together snippets of cultures from around the globe and their practises to achieve happiness. A beautiful, well illustrated coffee table browsing book it’s a brilliant gift for someone who needs cheering up. Also on the list is Michael Bierut’s 79 Short Essays on Design, which I wrote about for Graphic Design.com here. Bierut is a Pentagram partner and emminant designer and design writer; the book is a series of short, easily digestable essays which are great to dip in and out of. Like a lot of academic stuff I find the writing loses it’s way on occasion (too many ways to explain a simple concept), but as thought fodder for designers, it’s a great one to have on coffee breaks. Next up is one currently on my wishlist; Type Matters is a lovely book by University graphics lecturer Jim Williams’ who created an A4 booklet, originally created to hand to his students, which is now re-purposed and set to be published in April as a 160 page, faux leather covered note book (via Creative Review).