Nathan's review
Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
by Douglas R. Hofstadter
Nathan's review
Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter
Nathan's review
rating:
bookshelves:
books-i-hope-die,
science-social-theory-etc-
recommended for: Dead braniacs.
Anyone who says they "get" this book is lying, I firmly believe that. There was next to nothing to get. Described as a "fugue", the book is more like a rambling, vague conversation with a confused brick. As fiction, it would have made a wonderful conceit in need of nothing more than a plot. Surely, there are smarter people who could appreciate this book. I am not one of those people, nor will I probably ever be. Too much math, too many leaps, way too much pretentious blathering and nowhere near enough English. It is entirely possible that I was too stupid for this book, so nobody should view this review as the definitive word on Godel, Escher, Bach. In truth, I was fascinated by the parts I could read and almost understand, and I wish I could have grasped it. Ultimately, in writing this review, I was faced with my own somewhat metaphysical fugue to ponder: Do I give this book a high rating based on the benefit of doubt and my acknowledgment that I don't think this b...more
