Wordplay: The Philosophy, Art, and Science of Ambigrams

by John Langdon

Take a second look at the cover of this book—this time, turn it upside down. The title, Wordplay , is an ambigram, which means you will be able to read it both right side up and upside down.You may be familiar with the John Langdon’s ambigrams from Dan Brown’s bestseller Angels & Demons (see pages 186 and 188 of Wordplay ), but if this is your first experience with the art of the ambigram, prepare to be dazzled! This lovely updated edition of the classic collection of ambigrams features a section of full-color ambigrams and dozens of stunning, mind-bending examples of this cryptic art form. Each strikingly beautiful and arresting illustration is accompanied by a short essay—sometimes serious, sometimes witty—to delight your brain as much as your eyes. Taken together, the art and the essays show how the very shape of letters can change our idea of words and their meanings. As Dan Brown says in the Foreword of this revised edition, John Langdon brilliantly rearranges the familiar, casting it in a new light.Both playful and profound, Wordplay will challenge you to take a second look at your world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Design, Art, Language, Reference

Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

Reviews

[Caleb]

A fun book. I only put it down to turn it upside down

[Anoop Pai B]

This book is the bible to the ambigram artists as it gives an insight into the mind of John Langdon, the co-creator of ambigrams. For those who donot what ambigrams are, they are those words that look the same when looked at from different angles(for eg, the word SWIMS reads the same when turned upside down).
This book will not teach you, how an ambigram is to be drawn or can be drawn. Instead it only gives an ambigram and the thoughts of the author on that word.
I wish an edition to be released which gave a separate section to the ambigrams, he drew for Dan Brown; the creations which inspired Dan to name his protagonist at Robert LANGDON!

[Amanda E]

makes you think and play with words yourself although I wouldn't recommend reading while drinking.

[Trike]

I bought this on a whim when it was first published in 1992 because I’d never seen anything like it, and it instantly became one of my all-time favorite books. It’s not just art and design, but also touches on science and philosophy, which gives the book some heft beyond its cool artwork.

Ever since then I regularly bring it out to show someone who is unfamiliar with ambigrams, and I always make sure to have plenty of paper and pencils at the ready because, just as I did upon first encountering this art form, everyone wants to try their hand at it. It is incredibly difficult but tons of fun, and Langdon is a true artist.

Go look at his work: http://www.johnlangdon.net