Mathematics · Philosophy · Popular science
Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
Douglas Hofstadter weaves together Godel's incompleteness theorem, Escher's drawings and Bach's music to explore how self-reference and meaning might give rise to minds. Dialogues between fictional characters alternate with chapters of explanation.
Facts last checked 2026-10-17
- First published
- 1979
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 314
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you enjoy playful puzzles and want to think hard about logic, mind and pattern.
Skip this if you want a quick, straightforward read or dislike abstract formal ideas.
The feel
Content warnings
None noted yet.
Quick answers about Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
- What is Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid about?
- Douglas Hofstadter weaves together Godel's incompleteness theorem, Escher's drawings and Bach's music to explore how self-reference and meaning might give rise to minds. Dialogues between fictional characters alternate with chapters of explanation.
- Who should read Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid?
- Read it if you enjoy playful puzzles and want to think hard about logic, mind and pattern. Skip it if you want a quick, straightforward read or dislike abstract formal ideas.
- How long and how fast is Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid?
- It is a slow-paced, medium read of about 314 pages, first published in 1979.
- Does Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid have content warnings?
- We have not noted any content warnings for this book yet.
- Can I borrow Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid; the borrow button above searches it for you.
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