This Book Has No Words

Xu Bing's "Book from the Ground: from point to point" is written entirely with pictograms. This copy is actually my wife's book -- she owned it before we met. When I first saw it, I was amazed by how easy it was to read and by how much your imagination had to get involved! I wonder how different the story is to different minds... In researching the book, I learned about Xu Bing's other art works, including "Book From The Sky." I also reccomend looking up "Introduction to Square-Word Calligraphy" and "Dragonfly Eyes."

[BalroomBlitz]

You also need to understand the significance of an arrow sign. I know it’s basic knowledge, but think about how many things an arrow represents.

[亾]

“Words without meaning and meaning without words” is a great line

[kevin_dasilva]

Honestly, I wouldn't have minded if he had just continued to read the book until the end. I was already hooked.

[SamLabbato]

the fact that he went as far as to include sheet music so you can sight read the melody in your head is amazing attention to detail and a whole new level of storytelling in written format

[jfs]

love how he used sky to represent mythological tellings of receiving prophecies or messages that are completely indecipherable

and then followed up with earth as extremely simplistic human language and information

can’t wait to see “soul/spirit” i want to see how he represents the language of feelings, emotions, and memory

[Lamentable]

one of your best analysis so far: words without meaning and meaning without words.

[frostycircle]

I can't imagine how much effort it took to create over 4000 original characters without any repeats

[ffthelegend_was_taken_smh]

This is the kind of things that deserve to be called modern art. Not the paintings of a single line selling for millions.

[hunts]

This is actually one of the coolest things I've seen in the past 6 months 20 days 2 hours and 13 minutes, thank you mr.sauce

[oot]

Y’know when he said “🧏🧥🦧🛷” I really felt that

[Halfgay_boi]

Omg Xu Bing mentioned!!!! Book from the sky (天书in Chinese) means something that’s so complex that the human mind cannot comprehend (hence it’s from the sky written by higher beings). Xu Bing has also developed a new writing system that uses Chinese writing techniques but reconstructed using the English alphabet. Rly cool artist that plays w writing so glad to see him on vsauce

[ButtonStudiosAnimation]

“Words without meaning, meaning without words” would actually be a pretty good band name

[alptugraakan]

The part where it said ✈️✈️🏢🏢 was just... wonderful

[lorenzodamico]

"Hello I am Wing Gaster, the royal scientist!"

[Mrsteam]

"Why don't you react to the emojis I send you?"

The emojis bro sends me:

[TheDiabeticGameMaster]

This is the exact sort of thing that i expect Michael to be reading in his freetime for fun! ; D

[Blairskirock]

I adore insane, ambitious avant garde art so much. It gives me faith in this species.

[youtubefan]

All this is amazing, but think about how amazing of a business idea is to create a product that is so innovative, interesting and versatile. Genius.

[Greystorm]

Man some artists just are out here pushing the boundaries and I absolutely love it

[manimanii]

I love how every short he gets crazier and crazier