Leatrice Eiseman has put together a beautiful guide to color usage that is useful to designers and non-designers alike. While it discusses color theory and the connotations of specific colors, I find its strength lies in the color combinations and the way they are categorized.
Many projects requires a solid color set, to convey a specific tone (subdued, traditional, unique…) - a daunting task while staring at a blank screen. Yet, easily solved by flipping through the book and choosing a few color sets for application within a layout.
For non-designers, this book is just as useful in other areas, including paint choices (why stick with boring wall colors?), and I would assume, fashion.
While this book has much in common with Color Index, I think of them as complimentary to each other, as opposed to redundant.
Ive actually bought this book and i have to say it is a very good read… Im a huge pantone fan and there is alot of information in there you wouldnt expect or even have known… not sure its for a wide audience but a great read all the same