Jan Middendorp has compiled a very useful new guide to the world of fonts, beginning with a brief overview of fonts (typeset oddly in all red Times New Roman) and some of the large companies that produce and distribute them. However, the vast majority of the book is devoted to detailed profiles of over 50 independent foundries, showing some of their better-known font designs in full showings, including type-color samples in a range of weights and point sizes. The choice of foundries is based on the author's own judgment about the 'interestingness' of these foundries. There is an Index listing these and approximately 230 other independent font studios, which, while not a complete list of independent foundries, is a very useful resource showing web site URL and a brief description of the font output.
For anyone seriously interested in fonts and where they come from, this book will get a lot of use, and probably introduce you to many new designers, and fonts you will want to get for your own use.