The most compact book on design is only 46 pages, called "Notes on Graphic Design And Visual Communication." It's IMHO the best book on design even though it's a compact overview of the concepts and terminology... It's handwritten and probably the only handwritten book you'll ever read. It's worth buying just to own it.

I have met AIGA award designers and Internet design celebrities who don't know some of the basics laid out in this short book.

http://www.amazon.com/Crisp-Graphic-Design-Visual-Communicat....