alt Hacker NewsI read GEB cover to cover and haven’t stopped thinking about it for years. Not a brag, a nudge that it’s not impenetrable and more people should read it.
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GEB is not a difficult read. It is delightful!
It is a popular science book which catches the vibe of mathematical logic in an excellent way. It is not a textbook, nor a piece of research. It's all vibes, but high-quality vibes. If you are in the right headspace it can be really inspiring!
I read it cover to cove back in the day and enjoyed it. But I'm not sure more people should read it today.
If they do and enjoy it, good for them! But many parts haven't aged all that well.
However, I can still very warmly recommend 'The Pleasures of Counting' to this very day.
I had my copy signed by Prof Hofstadter; a treasure to this day. Led to a maths degree, years of organ playing classes, a career in software, and a Zen practice going on 20 years. And I'm pescatarian. I even wrote a few haiku when my babies were little. Hmm, time for another listen to a Tocatta and Fugue.
I read it on my honeymoon 25 years ago. That book sticks with you.
It's been years since I cracked open a copy, maybe I should give it another shot.
I’m working on it every day during lunch break. Good old hardcopy.