Best Web Design Books

A well-written look at responsive web design and all it entails, although you should already have some knowledge of basic web design before wading into it.

334 pages. Topics covered include Sass, HTML5, and CSS3. Learn how to design for a multitude of devices, particularly mobile. Good step-by-step walkthrough, written in a conversational style. Very detailed, with coded examples and links.

Web Design - Start Here: A No-Nonsense, Jargon Free Guide to the Fundamentals of Web Design

This book is for those who already have a basic knowledge of web development; not for complete beginners.

Best Bang for the Buck

Stefan Mischook

An engaging entry-level book on web design fundamentals, although some readers felt that it did not get into enough detail.

Good introduction to web design. Everything from learning how to plan and develop your site to search engine optimization and promotion. 224 pages. Clear and understandable. Well laid out with a lot of examples. Inexpensive.

Web Design with HTML, CSS, JavaScript and jQuery Set

Some felt that it was a little too bare bones, and that it didn't get very deep into the various topics.

Jon Duckett

While this 2-volume set covers a lot of web design areas, those who already have some knowledge here may not get a lot out of them.

2-book set includes "HTML & CSS: Designing and Building Web Sites" and "JavaScript & jQuery: Interactive Front-End Development." 1152 pages total. Good, clear coverage of the basics. Helps you become proficient in HTML and CSS before moving on to more challenging topics. Well organized, and easy to read. Good for beginners.

Learning Web Design: A Beginner's Guide to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Graphics

The bindings of these books are of poor quality. Some found the pace of these to be slow, and the illustrations and diagrams to be unhelpful.

Jennifer Robbins

A good introductory web design book that covers everything from HTML and CSS to Javascript and graphics optimization.

A beginners guided to web design basics. Topics include HTML, CSS, and responsive web design. Easy to read and use. 624 pages. Well designed, with a nice layout. Written in a friendly style. Includes helpful exercises and free online companion resources.

Web Design All-in-One For Dummies

The ebook version is strangely formatted and hard to use (i.e. no page numbers). A good coverage of the basics, but lacking in depth.

Sue Jenkins

A well-written intermediate-level reference book that deals with all aspects of creating, hosting, and maintaining a web site.

5 sections take you from "Getting Started" to "Publishing and Site Maintenance." Covers HTML5, CSS3, and other core web design topics. 688 pages. Well written and useful, particularly as a reference book. Intermediate level.