Hofstadters collection of quirky essays is unified by its primary concern: to examine the way people perceive and think..
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About the Author
Douglas R. Hofstadter directs the Center for Research on Concepts and Cognition at Indiana University, and is the College of Arts and Sciences professor of cognitive science and computer science. He is the author of several highly regarded books, including "Godel, Escher, Bach" and "Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies."
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First Sentence
I never expected to be writing a column for Scientific American. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
I never expected to be writing a column for Scientific American. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Bibliomaniac
Format:Paperback
I've owned this book for years, and every time I return to it I still find something fresh to think about. It's crammed with ideas both playful and serious, all woven around the general theme of "what is mind, what is consciousness?" No-one will love every single chapter, and the ones I find dull might be the ones you love most, but you'll find something to ponder and play with on every page. Whether you start by designing your own alphabet or fooling around with recursion and self-reference, you'll be stimulated.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
In this collection of articles from his days as a regular with "Scientific American," Hoftstadter covers everything from self-referential statements (like this one), the Rubik's Cube, nuclear proliferation, the prisoner's dilemma, sexist language, fonts, and more.
Surprisingly, most of these topics become intertwined throughout the work (in fact, one of Hofstadter's goals). It's amazing as he runs the gamut, and you see the connections being built!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Having been turned onto this amazing author by 'GEB', I approached it with some caution. GEB was like going to the cinema to see Arnie Schwartzenegger and wandering into a complex foriegn language movie without subtitles instead. Fascinating and deep. Metamagical themas is more accesible and fun, containing a series of short articles on a vast array of subjects. I have long regretted the fact that the 'renaissance man' cannot exist anymore, there is too much to know. After reading this book, DH comes close.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
The usual
This is a good offering from the author, and if you're looking for some light reading, you will be sorely disappointed. Read more
Published on 28 Nov 2009 by remaurian
5.0 out of 5 stars
A dazzling excursion through science, art and the mind
When Hofstadter took over Scientific American's "Mathematical Games" column, he not only rearranged the letters of its title but used it to write about anything that attracted his... Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2008 by Dr. M. L. Poulter
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best non-fiction books I have read
This is a great book by Hofstadter.It encompasses many topics ranging from viral sentences to nuclear annihilation.His explanations are second only to Asimov. Read more
Published on 24 Aug 1999
1.0 out of 5 stars
Like a Chinese meal, "Less than the sum of its parts"
This is a quote from the work under review.
Hofstadter's shrill, patronising and brash speculations have not withstood the lessons of history. Read more
Published on 14 Jun 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hofstadter did it again!
Even if you haven't read Godel, Escher, Bach, you should definitely read this book. As with GEB, there's something here for everyone: music, math, logic, and so much more. Read more
Published on 8 April 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a review of Metamagical Themas.
This is the first sentence in a review of Metamagical Themas. This is the second sentence, pointing out that in the context of a book review, the form of self-reference is almost... Read more
Published on 19 April 1997
5.0 out of 5 stars
Douglas delights again with this romp through reality.
In true Hofstaderian form, this book is a fascinating
journey through the world of self-reference. Read more
journey through the world of self-reference. Read more
Published on 5 Nov 1996
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