Some things in this world are just so weird we cannot help but admire them. There is something about strange writings and drawings that inspires creativity in the consumer. When we call something weird, we are acknowledging its uniquness. This creation occupies a space in the mind that we cannot fully grasp. In appreciation of big thinks article, “5 Strangest Books Ever Written” I decided to pay tribute to the books mentioned.
For those who thrive off creativity, finding something incomprehensible is often a great joy. Take the Codex Seraphinus for example. The images in this book are truly creative masterpieces. Artist and designer Luigi Serafini, commented that he was trying to channel his inner child when creating this book. Reaching into the depths of a child’s innocent creativity, he pulled out some truly bizarre, yet remarkable, art.
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Another, more mysterious, book is called the Voynich Manuscript. This book is written in an undecipherable language, by an unknown author, at an unknown time. Within it lies elegant handwriting surrounded by drawings of plants, astrological symbols, medical equipment, and pregnant women.
The title of the book comes simply from the first known owner. Wilfrid M. Voynich bought in 1912 from an antique bookseller. The lore suggests a long history of ownership dating back to 16 century Emperor Rudolph II of Germany. You can find the original text at the Beinecke Library collection at Yale or buy the scanned version at Amazon.
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Perhaps the most odd, and particularly disturbing, book I was able to find is the occult text The Book of Soyga. This 16th century text is a DIY on how to summon demons, predict astrological phenomenon, and cast spells. Unfortunately almost no images are included in the book, but there is a hidden code that is threaded throughout the text. The author promises enlightnemnt upon discovery of the riddle, some say however, if you are successful you will die within two and a half years. Perhaps this book is what inspired all those chain-emails that we hate.
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