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Jim Krause is by far my most favorite design information author. I just can not get enough of his books! So today I give you..

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What I love about Jim’s index books includes a list of 7 check points.

1) They are built to take a beating! The covers of his books are made of vinyl so no matter how many times you open the book (and you will open it A LOT) the book will remain in tact. The pages are thick and strong too so they can withstand meny a furious flipping.

2) They are small in size! Most of the index books are about 8 inches tall by 4.5 inches wide and just over an inch thick. This size makes it so easy to cart around, toss in a bag, hold in one hand, stuff in a stocking… Hear that last part mom? *hint hint*

3) They are PACKED with good info! Jim really knows his stuff. I’ve never seen a more comprehensive collection of design related material (outside of Scott Kelby). If you are running into a design problem or just starting out, chances are, these books can answer any question you may have.

4) They come with exercises! Have you ever had the dreaded "Designer’s Block" where you just sort of stall out on ideas and don’t know what to do about it? Well now you will. Each chapter in every index book is followed by 1-4 exercises for you to mimic so that you walk away with a better understanding of each lesson. Also, they act as sort of a "kick" in the head. Before you know it, ideas will be flying at you at top speed!

5) They’re not boring! This is probably one of the main reasons why I love these books. I have a really short attention span and if I am reading an instructional book it usually only takes seconds before my eyes glaze over and I tune out. But Jim’s books are laid out to encourage visual stimulation. Bright colors, funky layouts, tons of graphics, and each page looks different from the last but still maintains a overall harmony of design. How many books do you know that do that?

6) They are easy to browse! Not a single one of Jim’s books is set up to where you have to read from start to finish. The day you pick it up you can start in the middle and not be lost. Skim, skip, and surf till your heart’s content – it’s all good.

7) They cover almost every major topic! Although you see only four books above in the images, the Index series covers a wide variety of topics including (but not limited to): color, type, layout, photos, idea generation, and overall design. So pretty much, everything you need to know about design are in these books.

Honestly, I’m sure could go on and add more points, but I think you’re starting to get the idea. These books rock!! So if you want one (and you really should get one, if not, more!) then you know what to do! Click the pic!