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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
What I read of this book was fascinating, but it's on hold now because I've misplaced it during the move. I think it's in a box somewhere...
Thanks Doug, I am now convinced that mathematics is self aware.
This book is indescribably amazing. All of the concepts are tangled together in a complicated hierarchy (much like the tangled hierarchies that are an integral concept in the book), that loops back on itself in strange and unexpected ways (much like the strange loops that are also an integral concept) yet at the same time flows smoothly from one concept to the other around and around from beginning to the end (in a way similar to the harmonious flow of a canon or fugue by Bach). The structure of the book mirrors the concepts it explores (mirroring is also an important concept (the book mirrors mirroring by mirroring itself)) giving a much more in-depth look at all of their aspects.
Pinning down what this book is about isn't easy. It begins by introducing specific concepts: strange loops, formal systems, isomorphisms, tangled hierarchies, and recursion, to name a few, and then expands and fleshes out the web of relationships between them and everything else, notably Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem, intelligence and consciousness. This is merely scratching the surface, as it also runs into a myriad of other concepts including paradoxes, Zen Buddhism, ant colonies, translation, computer science, artificial intelligence, DNA, proteins, genetics, creativity, art and music, geometry, and psychology. To paraphrase the author's explanation, GEB explores consciousness, meaning and self awareness and how such things can result from a combination of things that are completely lacking all of these aspects. This hardly does the book justice, though. Reading it is an experience that can't be found in any other book. It takes some dedication, but is overwhelmingly worth the effort.
Pinning down what this book is about isn't easy. It begins by introducing specific concepts: strange loops, formal systems, isomorphisms, tangled hierarchies, and recursion, to name a few, and then expands and fleshes out the web of relationships between them and everything else, notably Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem, intelligence and consciousness. This is merely scratching the surface, as it also runs into a myriad of other concepts including paradoxes, Zen Buddhism, ant colonies, translation, computer science, artificial intelligence, DNA, proteins, genetics, creativity, art and music, geometry, and psychology. To paraphrase the author's explanation, GEB explores consciousness, meaning and self awareness and how such things can result from a combination of things that are completely lacking all of these aspects. This hardly does the book justice, though. Reading it is an experience that can't be found in any other book. It takes some dedication, but is overwhelmingly worth the effort.
challenging
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
The most entertaining, educational, and inspiring book I've ever read. It's almost impossible to recommend because of its sheer length and breadth, and its elusive subject matter - music, art, physics, biology, cognitive science, AI, eastern and western philosophy, and lots of math - doesn't help. You'll just have to take my word for it.
Lovely book to marinate in. Wish I'd read it a decade ago - I'm pretty comfortable with most of the concepts these days so didn't need the length. It's like 1000 pages O_o
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
This is one of those books I wanted to read for a long long time. It was not an easy read for me. I liked parts of this book. Some chapters and topics I liked more than others. At times I was bored and other times entertained, interested, and focused. I like the variety but some topics did not interest me. I also don't think I have the background knowledge to really appreciate the book but I still liked it.