I Am a Strange Loop
Delightful
Cerebral
Visionary

I Am a Strange Loop

Can thought arise out of matter? Can self, soul, consciousness, “I” arise out of mere matter? If it cannot, then how can you or I be here? I Am a Strange Loop argues that the key to understanding selves and consciousness is the “strange loop”—a special kind of abstract feedback loop inhabiting our brains. The most central and complex symbol in your brain is the one called “I.” The “I” is the nexus in our brain, one of many symbols seeming to have free will and to have gained the paradoxical ability to push particles around, rather than the reverse. How can a mysterious abstraction be real—or is our “I” merely a convenient fiction? Does an “I” exert genuine power over the particles in our brain, or is it helplessly pushed around by the laws of physics? These are the mysteries tackled in I Am a Strange Loop, Douglas Hofstadter's first book-length journey into philosophy since Gödel, Escher, Bach. Compulsively readable and endlessly thought-provoking, this is a moving and profound inquiry into the nature of mind.
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Reviews

Photo of Cal Desmond‐Pearson
Cal Desmond‐Pearson@social-hermit
4 stars
Sep 24, 2022

Like his other books this is a vast, sprawling exploration of philosophy, psychology, the natural sciences, art, and so much more. All his books have had a profound and lasting effect on me. I've read them all at least twice in their entirity and frequenly pick them to reread certain passages.

+8
Photo of Hans Gerwitz
Hans Gerwitz@gerwitz
4 stars
Aug 20, 2022

This was a fun read, as Hofstadter ties in personal experiences and generally rambles on sharing his understanding of self. The rambling can get on your nerves, but this is a more casual read than, say, a Daniel Dennett piece.

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Bram Bogaerts@bram
4 stars
Sep 18, 2021
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anjali@anjalislibrary
5 stars
Jul 8, 2024
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Shreya Rai @shreyoo
4 stars
Sep 19, 2023
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Claire Matthews @clairefm
4 stars
Aug 2, 2023
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David McDonagh@toastisme
1 star
Apr 3, 2023
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Laura@lauragh
4 stars
Nov 1, 2022
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Benjamin Snipes@bengsnipes
5 stars
Oct 11, 2022
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Daniel Lauzon@daneroo
3 stars
Sep 5, 2022
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Danté@dantenel
4 stars
Aug 31, 2022
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Mundy Otto Reimer@mundyreimer
5 stars
Aug 16, 2022
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Jon Noronha@thatsjonsense
5 stars
Aug 12, 2022
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Dave Walker@bibliosaurusrex
5 stars
Aug 4, 2022
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Dan Govier@waving
4 stars
Jan 24, 2022
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Ben Barry@benbarry
4 stars
Jan 13, 2022
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Joshua Line@fictionjunky
4 stars
Sep 30, 2021
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Rachel Prudden@stubborncurias
3 stars
Sep 14, 2021
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John Philpin@johnphilpin
4 stars
Sep 12, 2021
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mersenne twister@mersenne
4 stars
Sep 1, 2021
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Danu Poyner@danupoyner
3 stars
Jul 30, 2021
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Jack Baty@jackbaty
4 stars
Jul 16, 2021