The Best Book Cover of All Time
By Michael Doornbos
- 2 minutes read - 238 wordsI recently snagged a copy of what might just be the most gloriously absurd book cover ever created, and I’m here to share the joy. Behold FORTH on the Atari, a guide to the Forth programming language for the Atari 8-bit computers—a system I adore, even if Forth itself feels like a language I’m supposed to admire but secretly can’t stand.
Let’s take a moment to bask in the sheer chaos of this cover.
Where do we even start? Our two heroes are striking poses on a surreal keyboard landscape, bathed in dramatic spotlights that scream “epic sci-fi showdown”—but for what? Programming?
The guy’s rocking a helmet and visor that conveniently leaves his mouth exposed, because who needs full head protection when you’re lifting a giant “FORTH” monolith? And let’s not ignore the mysterious bulge in his shorts—perhaps he’s just really excited about coding. Meanwhile, his companion is serving underboob realness with a tiny head, proving that in this bizarre world, bras are optional but gravity is negotiable. Speaking of gravity, there’s a planet looming suspiciously close in the background. Shouldn’t they be floating—or at least a little concerned?
This cover is a masterpiece of unintentional comedy, and I’m obsessed. The book itself might be a slog, but every glance at this artwork sends me into fits of laughter. It’s the kind of bad that’s so good, it deserves a spot on every shelf—just for the cover alone.