From Seeing to Making

A beginner-friendly path across art, design, architecture, and writing. Start with seeing, end with creating. Seven books that build on each other.

7 books

Art / beginner

Ways of Seeing

John Berger

Begin by learning how to see — Berger opens your eyes.

Art / beginner

The Story of Art

E.H. Gombrich

Place what you see in the long story of human creativity.

Art / beginner

The Design of Everyday Things

Don Norman

Turn your attention to the designed objects around you.

Art / beginner

Thinking with Type

Ellen Lupton

Learn the fundamentals of visual communication through type.

Architecture / beginner

The Image of the City

Kevin Lynch

Expand your view to the city itself as a designed environment.

Philosophy / beginner

On Writing Well

William Zinsser

Now make something of your own — start by writing clearly.

Philosophy / beginner

The Elements of Style

William Strunk Jr.

Refine your voice with the most concise writing guide ever made.