I Am a Strange Loop

Hofstadter, Douglas R.

  • 3.95 out of 5 stars
    8,541 ratings by Goodreads
ISBN 10: 0465030785 ISBN 13: 9780465030781
Published by Basic Books, 2007
Used Hardcover

From Aspen Book Co., Denver, CO, U.S.A. Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

AbeBooks Seller since January 29, 2025

This specific item is no longer available.

About this Item

Description:

A well-loved companion. Corners and cover might show a little wear, and you could find some notes or highlights. The dust jacket might be MIA, it might have been a library book and extras aren't guaranteedâ but the story's all there! Seller Inventory # PKV.0465030785.G

  • 3.95 out of 5 stars
    8,541 ratings by Goodreads

Report this item

Synopsis:

What do we mean when we say "I"? Can thought arise out of matter? Can a self, a soul, a consciousness, an "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. Deep down, a human brain is a chaotic seething soup of particles, on a higher level it is a jungle of neurons, and on a yet higher level it is a network of abstractions that we call "symbols." The most central and complex symbol in your brain or mine is the one we both call "I." The "I" is the nexus in our brain where the levels feed back into each other and flip causality upside down, with symbols seeming to have free will and to have gained the paradoxical ability to push particles around, rather than the reverse. For each human being, this "I" seems to be the realest thing in the world. But how can such 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 all-powerful laws of physics? These are the mysteries tackled in I Am a Strange Loop, Douglas R. Hofstadter's first book-length journey into philosophy since Godel, Escher, Bach. Compulsively readable and endlessly thought-provoking, this is the book Hofstadter's many readers have long been waiting for.

About the Author:

Douglas R. Hofstadter is College Professor of Cognitive Science and Computer Science at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. His previous books are the Pulitzer Prizewinning Gödel, Escher, Bach; Metamagical Themas, The Mind's I, Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies, Le Ton Beau de Marot, and Eugene Onegin.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Bibliographic Details

Title: I Am a Strange Loop
Publisher: Basic Books
Publication Date: 2007
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: good

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Stock Image

Douglas R. Hofstadter
Published by Basic Books, 2007
ISBN 10: 0465030785 ISBN 13: 9780465030781
Used Hardcover

Seller: The Maryland Book Bank, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.

Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars 4-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Used - Very Good. Seller Inventory # 4-J-1-0539

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 4.75
Convert currency
Shipping: US$ 4.69
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Seller Image

Hofstadter, Douglas R.
Published by Basic Books, 2007
ISBN 10: 0465030785 ISBN 13: 9780465030781
Used Hardcover

Seller: Goodwill Books, Hillsboro, OR, U.S.A.

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Condition: acceptable. Fairly worn, but readable and intact. If applicable: Dust jacket, disc or access code may not be included. Seller Inventory # 3IIK3O005KY4_ns

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 4.81
Convert currency
Shipping: US$ 3.99
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Seller Image

Hofstadter, Douglas R.
Published by Basic Books, 2007
ISBN 10: 0465030785 ISBN 13: 9780465030781
Used Hardcover

Seller: Zoom Books East, Glendale Heights, IL, U.S.A.

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Condition: good. Book is in good condition and may include underlining highlighting and minimal wear. The book can also include "From the library of" labels. May not contain miscellaneous items toys, dvds, etc. . We offer 100% money back guarantee and 24 7 customer service. Seller Inventory # ZEV.0465030785.G

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 5.55
Convert currency
Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Stock Image

Hofstadter, Douglas R.
Published by Basic Books, 2007
ISBN 10: 0465030785 ISBN 13: 9780465030781
Used Hardcover

Seller: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Condition: Acceptable. Item in acceptable condition! Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00085961139

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 5.63
Convert currency
Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Stock Image

Hofstadter, Douglas R.
Published by Basic Books, 2007
ISBN 10: 0465030785 ISBN 13: 9780465030781
Used Hardcover

Seller: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00087122478

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 5.63
Convert currency
Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 8 available

Add to basket

Stock Image

Douglas R. Hofstadter
Published by Basic Books, 2007
ISBN 10: 0465030785 ISBN 13: 9780465030781
Used Hardcover

Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0465030785I3N00

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 6.49
Convert currency
Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Seller Image

Hofstadter, Douglas R.
Published by Basic Books, 2007
ISBN 10: 0465030785 ISBN 13: 9780465030781
Used Hardcover

Seller: -OnTimeBooks-, Phoenix, AZ, U.S.A.

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Condition: very_good. Gently read. May have name of previous ownership, or ex-library edition. Binding tight; spine straight and smooth, with no creasing; covers clean and crisp. Minimal signs of handling or shelving. 100% GUARANTEE! Shipped with delivery confirmation, if you're not satisfied with purchase please return item for full refund. Ships USPS Media Mail. Seller Inventory # OTV.0465030785.VG

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 7.73
Convert currency
Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Stock Image

Hofstadter, Douglas R.
Published by Basic Books, 2007
ISBN 10: 0465030785 ISBN 13: 9780465030781
Used Hardcover

Seller: tttkelly1, Fresno, TX, U.S.A.

Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars 4-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Hardcover Book, Seller Inventory # 2509120047

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 8.31
Convert currency
Shipping: US$ 4.49
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Stock Image

Hofstadter, Douglas R.
Published by Basic Books, 2007
ISBN 10: 0465030785 ISBN 13: 9780465030781
Used Hardcover

Seller: HPB Inc., Dallas, TX, U.S.A.

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_432758292

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 8.77
Convert currency
Shipping: US$ 3.75
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Stock Image

Hofstadter, Douglas R.
Published by Basic Books (edition ), 2007
ISBN 10: 0465030785 ISBN 13: 9780465030781
Used Hardcover

Seller: BooksRun, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Hardcover. Condition: Good. With dust jacket. It's a preowned item in good condition and includes all the pages. It may have some general signs of wear and tear, such as markings, highlighting, slight damage to the cover, minimal wear to the binding, etc., but they will not affect the overall reading experience. Seller Inventory # 0465030785-11-1-29

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 9.08
Convert currency
Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

There are 16 more copies of this book

View all search results for this book