If you are about to go on holiday or even just looking for a great read, the August issue of CR is the one for you with our pick of some of our favourite writing plus a Marion Deuchars profile.

For our August issue we have put together what we think is a great selection of writing on advertising, graphic design and illustration. Each piece is illustrated. Some is new, some are old favourites but, altogether, we think it'll give you plenty of food for thought.

We begin with Crispin Porter + Bogusky co-founder Alex Bogusky on when it is the right time to fire a client (illustrated by David Sparshott) plus a classic piece on copywriting by Richard Foster (originally published in the D&AD Copy Book, illustrated here by the marvellous Laura Liggins).

Then we have an exclusive extract from Andrzej Klimowski's new book On Illustration (illustrated by the man himself)

Next, Michael Bierut's brilliant piece on the inevitable use of a little creative extemporisation in presentations (illustration by Karolin Schnoor).

And Rick Poynor on the implications of hybridization in our visual culture (illustrated by Jan Kallwejt)

Goodby Silverstein's Gareth Kay discusses the importance of thinking small in advertising today (Illustrator: Federico Yankelevich)

And finally we reprint Michael Rock's superb 1994 essay on design and professionalism, which is particularly pertinent given the recent CSD-led debate on certification. (Illustrator: Mike Lemanski)

If you want a break from all that reading, take a look at our profile of illsutrator Marion Deuchars (who also did our cover this month)

In Crit, Mark SInclair reviews the Tate's Vorticists show

Ben Bos, in an extract from Unit's new book, reveals the studio philosophy at Total Design

Jeremy Leslie discusses the importance of naming for magazines

Andy Cameron argues that LA Noire doesn't quite deliver as either a film, a game, or a mixture of both, while Michael Evamy's Logo Log column looks at a new mark for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans' Association

And Dominik Imseng reveals the story of perhaps the greatest ad ever made

For subscribers, our Monograph this month is a real treat, with a selection from Craig Oldham's Hand.Written.Letter.Project in which he asked notable designers and creative figures to send him an old-fashioned letter

If you would like to buy this issue and are based in the UK, you can search for your nearest stockist here. Based outside the UK? Simply call +44(0)207 292 3703 to find your nearest stockist. Better yet, subscribe to CR for a year here and save yourself almost 30% on the printed magazine and get Monograph.