14 amazing books whose design is much more interesting than what’s in them written (15 photos)

It turns out that books are not only fascinating stories that can immerse us in other worlds. Some writers and publishers are trying to show that book art can go beyond traditional formats and ideas.





It is interesting that such experiments were resorted to in ancient times, and not only by our contemporaries. We invite you to take a look at some of the fruits of their crazy creativity. These books invite the reader to try something completely new, to interact with the text and illustrations in a different way.

Round Miniature Book - Codex Rotundus



Bistum Hildesheim

This small round book called "Codex rotundus" was made in 1480. In terms of content, it is a liturgical book in Latin and French. It includes 266 pages, and its diameter is only 9 centimeters.

The Belt Book

National Library of Sweden

The belt book has a knot that is part of the cover. It allowed you to conveniently tuck the book into your belt and read it without taking it out, since it was hung upside down.

Double-sided book



Erik Kwakkel

This type of reverse binding was called "dozado". The "Siamese twins" books had 2 different covers, but the meaning of the publication complemented each other. For example, such a binding was typical for the Bible - the Old Testament on one side and the New on the other.

One of the smallest bibles in the world



The Guardian

The book measures 5 by 5 millimeters and is bound in leather. It is impossible to read it without additional magnifying devices.

The Horn Book



The Georgian House NTS

The children's book on a wooden leg was made in the 12th century. Its contents are the alphabet and short texts for children to read. You could drop such a book as often as you wanted - a thin horny layer protected it from any damage.

A book in the shape of a heart



Dr Lindsey Fitzharris

"The Book of the Heart" is a collection of 83 love ballads. This amazing and creative edition was written in the 1550s at the court of the Danish King Christian III.

Encyclopedia of Mechanics



publico

And this is what the forerunner of the first e-books looked like. This miracle book was patented in 1949. Spanish writer Angela Ruiz Robles equipped her invention with a mechanism that allows you to enlarge fragments of text and turn pages with compressed air without using your hands.

A Cookbook Called "Well Done" That Needs to Be Baked



bruketa-

In order for the text to appear and be readable, the book must be wrapped in foil, placed in the oven and baked at 100° for 25 minutes. If you do not strictly follow the instructions, the recipe book will simply burn. Here is a small test for all cooks.

Designer Books in the Shape of Guns



Robert The

Mirror Book



National Art Library

It was published by Circle Press in 1985. Accordingly, the book has no text. It consists entirely of mirrored pages made of foil. The book allows you to engage in self-knowledge, because you will not see anything in it except your own reflection. An interesting philosophical idea.

The largest book in the world, the height of which reaches almost 2 meters



Eye magazine

It was presented by the Amsterdam merchant Johannes Klenke to the English King Charles II after his restoration to the throne in 1660.

Face-Shaped Biographies



Gerschreven Portretten

360-Degree Books



Gottingham

Japanese graphic designer Yusuke Oono creates amazing "living" books that will be interesting to study for adults and children.

Heat-sensitive edition of Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451"



superterrain

To read the text of this book, you need to bring a sufficiently powerful heat source to it.