Godawful Enormous Book
By jacobo, on 2008-10-20 at 16:35, under General
Am I the only person who couldn’t stand reading Gödel, Escher, Bach? I am reading so much praise about it, I sometimes wonder if they sold me the wrong book…
You’re a bit outside its intended age bracket, I think.
Indeed, when I read it when I was young I hated it because it tought me so many wrong things. I was told that when you already know what all of it is about and have some sense of humour it might be funny. Perhaps I should try to read it again, but as painfull as I remember trying to read is absurd analogies I think I simply have the wrong sort of humour for it…
You’re not alone. I enjoyed it at the beginning, but once he starts trying to tie all of the disparate subjects into a coherent whole he just falls flat on his face. I didn’t bother to finish it.
Read it when I was quite a bit younger. My mild scepticism increased throughout until I read the last section “just to have finished it". I’ve since done most of a maths degree, and have learnt that some of what he said is actually reporting really incredible stuff (when put slightly differently, and with lots of background knowledge). However, as Rory said, lots of it is bollocks. And frankly a real maths or logic textbook would do it better.
P.S. ..and enough about sodding Achilles and the turtle already.
you should read this book.
it takes some effort but it changes your mind.
every mind bending book requires effort on your part.
there is no free lunch.
this is a great book.
marco