# Codex Seraphinianus by Luigi Serafini

7 Hacker News commenters recommended Codex Seraphinianus by Luigi Serafini and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 2 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** People recommend this strange, illustrated book for its gorgeous, haunting artwork that is fun to look at and always draws reactions from people who flip through it. Copies can be found relatively cheap.

## Why people recommend it

- Gorgeous, haunting, fun illustrations (3 comments): "The book itself is beautiful and haunting." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47175567)) "The art is well done and fun to look at" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47182432)) "The illustrations are gorgeous" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47181645))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [The Way Things Work by David Macaulay](https://hackerapproved.com/p/way-things-work.md): 14 recommend
- [Castle by David Macaulay](https://hackerapproved.com/p/castle.md): 4 recommend
- [Tool book of a Nuremberg knight from 1505](https://hackerapproved.com/p/tool-book-of-a-nuremberg-knight-from-1505.md): 4 recommend
- [Underground by David Macaulay](https://hackerapproved.com/p/underground.md): 3 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0847842134?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780847842131) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Codex Seraphinianus by Luigi Serafini", https://hackerapproved.com/p/codex-seraphinianus/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).