I received my copy of The Smashing Book (from SmashingMagazine.com) last week and haven’t had a change to post about it until now. I haven’t gotten all the way through the book but the chapters I have read are written very well. The Smashing Book looks at “Web design rules of thumb, color theory, usability guidelines, user interface design, best coding and optimization practices, as well as typography, marketing, branding and exclusive insights from top designers across the globe.” I’ve read the first four chapters and skimmed around the optimization chapter so far and my only issue with the book, which isn’t a huge issue, is that I feel the margins are too close to the spine of the book. But the book is the perfect size to read on the bus or train like I do.

The contents of the book are:

• The Art and Science of CSS Layouts
• User Interface Design in Modern Applications
• Web Typography: Rules, Guidelines and Common Mistakes
• Usability Principles for Modern Websites
• The Guide to Fantastic Color Usage in Web Design and Usability
• Performance Optimization for Websites
• Design to Sell: Increase Conversion Rates
• How to Turn a Site Into a Remarkable Brand
• Learning From Experts: Interviews and Insights
• The Smashing Story

The book is 313 pages, is only $29.90 and can be previewed and bought here. You can download the first chapter, as a pdf, to get a taste of what the book offers.