I've been reading this one lately, it's not so much practical typography, but rather the history and backstories of types. I find it quite a fun read, and it can inspire your interests and appreciation for types, if you don't already know much about typography.

http://www.amazon.com/Just-My-Type-About-Fonts/dp/1592407463

Yup obstacle did forget his footnote which I was also interested in.

Making a guess that it is going to be a link to Amazon, let me steal that chance: http://www.amazon.com/Just-My-Type-About-Fonts/dp/1592407463...