Suggested Reading About Graphic Design...

Here is a list of books that I think are very beneficial for a person new to graphic design:

The Education of a Graphic Designer, by Steven Heller

Design Literacy: Understanding Graphic Design, by Steven Heller

(Actually anything by Steven Heller will be interesting for someone with a genuine interest in graphic design. He is one of the leading critical writers in the field.)

Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students (Design Briefs), by Ellen Lupton

Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works, by Erik Spiekermann, E.M. Ginger

Meggs' History of Graphic Design, by Philip B. Meggs and Alston W. Purvis

Creativity for Graphic Designers, by Mark Oldach

Creative Whack Pack, by Roger Von Oech
(This is a card deck that gives you tons of different brainstorming exercises and offers different ways of looking at a problem.)