Does anybody know whether these are charts or written out? I’m terrified of charts for some reason, which I know is STOOPID, but I hate to spend the money for these until I’ve used charts at least a little.:whoosh:
Instructions and pictures - knittingdaily.com has been running extracts from all three books for a while - go have a look
Knitting Daily only puts one stitch pattern a day and then it goes away forever back into the book. So far none have had a chart.
I do suggest you see if you can get them from your library to check them out before buying. I order my books online and they draw them from all over the county so I don’t have to go running from library to library… maybe you can do that, too. 
I credit my Harmony Guide (1992) for essentially teaching me how to knit. Each stitch (cables, lace, colors, ribbing, etc.) has a photo and written directions. The front of the book has all kinds of general instructions, including how to read charts. I highly recommend getting one!
Mine has text only no charts.