Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid

Oaksearch recommended this 2 months, 2 weeks ago

A useful examination of the role of math and philosophy.

ruggles9876 recommended this 11 months, 2 weeks ago

worth re- reading.

Emiurgo recommended this 1 year, 1 month ago

Wonderful book. Read it if you want to be amazed and understand, among other things, what theoretical computer science is about (hint: it's not about computers).

peter-mcloughlin recommended this 1 year, 4 months ago

Excellent book about computation and minds. Done in a playful manner.

pablogb recommended this 1 year, 7 months ago

This is one of the best books I've read.

rohanjain recommended this 1 year, 7 months ago

One of the most amazing books ever written. Every chapter is an intellectual delight.

njonsson recommended this 1 year, 8 months ago

A symphony of a book about intelligence. An intellectual romp.

kessam71 recommended this 1 year, 9 months ago

One of the best, thought provoking books I have read.

P13tr0 recommended this 1 year, 10 months ago

One of the most fascinating books I've ever read

dsequera recommended this 2 years ago

It's now dated. I first read it 20 years ago. But it's still a rewarding read. I've since read evey subsequent publication Hofstadter has put out. Recursiveness is the antidote to entropy. Self-referential patterns is what life is all about. It leads to the intelligence to recognize those patterns (in itself recursive). Deeply fulfilling.

johnpena recommended this 2 years, 6 months ago

Tremendously thought provoking, a wonderful introduction to artificial intelligence, philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and the like.
Cons: It will take you forever to get through this book.

kow_van recommended this 2 years, 9 months ago

Deeply Intelectual but written in a light easy to read manner
Cons: so many topics it is misunderstood by many

caterina recommended this 2 years, 9 months ago

Great book about thinking, ideas, complexity, invention. Mind-blowing even. But my favorite Hofstadter is Metamagical Themas.

jbalt recommended this 2 years, 9 months ago

Beautiful, complex and mystical book which will open your mind.
Cons: Prepare to do some serious thinking, not a light read, especially if you do everything he tells you.

sure recommended this 3 years, 11 months ago

Connects the dots of human thought by examining the same ideas from very different human disciplines
Cons: Examples may be outdated, not an easy "novice" read

chris recommended this 3 years, 11 months ago

Makes mathematical logic sexy!
Cons: The dialogs are a bit tedious.