Metamagical Themas: Questing for the Essence of Mind and Pattern
Douglas R. Hofstadter
📚 Genre
Non-Fiction - Popular Science, Computer Science, Philosophy, Mathematics
🏢 Publisher
Basic Books
📅 Publication Year
1985
🔢 ISBN
0465045405
About This Book
A collection of essays by Douglas Hofstadter written for his Scientific American column, 'Metamagical Themas'. The book explores themes of consciousness, artificial intelligence, self-reference, paradoxes, number theory, symmetry, and the nature of thought. The cover features a light blue dust jacket with bold red and dark blue typography, alongside a line drawing illustrating complex network patterns.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
852
Edition
First Edition, Hardcover
Series
Standalone collection, though conceptually follows 'Gödel, Escher, Bach'
Target Audience
Adult, Academic, General Audience with interest in science and philosophy
Collector Information
Condition
Good. The dust jacket shows noticeable foxing spots, edge wear, surface scuffing, and mild fading along the edges, but remains intact.
Estimated Value
$15-$35
Rarity
Common. Widely printed and easy to find on the secondhand market, though first edition copies with intact dust jackets in pristine condition are becoming moderately scarce.
Historical Significance
Highly influential in the fields of cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and popular science writing, bridging complex academic concepts with accessible prose for the general public.
Collector Notes
Store away from direct sunlight to prevent further fading of the light blue dust jacket. Inspect for foxing on the page edges and interior paper block. First editions in pristine condition command a slight premium, but reading copies are readily available.
Similar Books
Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas R. Hofstadter, The Emperor's New Mind by Roger Penrose, The Mind's I by Douglas R. Hofstadter and Daniel C. Dennett, Chaos: Making a New Science by James Gleick
Notable Features
First edition hardcover containing numerous illustrations, diagrams, and a comprehensive index.