We look forward to seeing you on your next visit to the library. Find a location near you.

I Am a Strange Loop
(Adobe EPUB eBook, Kindle Book, OverDrive Read)

Book Cover
Average Rating
Author:
Hofstadter, Douglas R
Published:
Basic Books 2007
Status:
Available from OverDrive
Description
One of our greatest philosophers and scientists of the mind asks, where does the self come from — and how our selves can exist in the minds of others. 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.
Also in This Series
Formats
Adobe EPUB eBook
Works on all eReaders (except Kindles), desktop computers and mobile devices with reading apps installed.
Sample Sample 
Kindle Book
Works on Kindles and devices with a Kindle app installed.
Sample Sample 
OverDrive Read
Sample Sample 
Need Help?
If you are having problem transferring a title to your device, please fill out this support form or visit the library so we can help you to use our eBooks and eAudio Books.
More Like This
Other Editions and Formats
Choose a Format
Book
      Show Edition
Checked Out
  Quick Copy View
Place Hold
OverDrive eBook
      Show Edition
Available Online
Online OverDrive Collection
Check Out OverDrive
More Copies In LINK+
Loading LINK+ Copies...
Subjects
Subjects
Computer Technology
Philosophy
Science
Nonfiction
More Details
Format:
Adobe EPUB eBook, Kindle Book, OverDrive Read
Street Date:
08/01/2007
Language:
English
ISBN:
9780465008377
ASIN:
B004PYDBS0
Librarian Reviews
Published Reviews
Reviews from GoodReads
Loading GoodReads Reviews.
Citations
APA Citation (style guide)

Douglas R Hofstadter. (2007). I Am a Strange Loop. Basic Books.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide)

Douglas R Hofstadter. 2007. I Am a Strange Loop. Basic Books.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide)

Douglas R Hofstadter, I Am a Strange Loop. Basic Books, 2007.

MLA Citation (style guide)

Douglas R Hofstadter. I Am a Strange Loop. Basic Books, 2007.

Note! Citation formats are based on standards as of July 2022. Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy.
Copy Details
LibraryOwnedAvailable
Shared Digital Collection11
Staff View
Grouped Work ID:
f39620b5-cba7-fa6f-3901-5431439ff650
Go To Grouped Work
Needs Update?:
No
Date Added:
Jun 12, 2018 15:27:11
Date Updated:
Mar 11, 2022 19:04:19
Last Metadata Check:
Apr 21, 2024 06:47:31
Last Metadata Change:
Mar 17, 2024 06:26:55
Last Availability Check:
Apr 21, 2024 06:47:35
Last Availability Change:
Apr 01, 2024 05:54:13
Last Grouped Work Modification Time:
Apr 26, 2024 02:10:38

OverDrive Product Record

images
    • cover:
        • href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-100/0017-1/{1EC5B27A-38F8-46C7-A33F-B2CBDE331158}Img100.jpg
        • type: image/jpeg
    • thumbnail:
        • href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-200/0017-1/{1EC5B27A-38F8-46C7-A33F-B2CBDE331158}Img200.jpg
        • type: image/jpeg
    • cover150Wide:
        • href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-150/0017-1/1EC/5B2/7A/{1EC5B27A-38F8-46C7-A33F-B2CBDE331158}Img150.jpg
        • type: image/jpeg
    • cover300Wide:
        • href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-400/0017-1/1EC/5B2/7A/{1EC5B27A-38F8-46C7-A33F-B2CBDE331158}Img400.jpg
        • type: image/jpeg
formats
      • identifiers:
            • type: ISBN
            • value: 9780465008377
      • name: Adobe EPUB eBook
      • id: ebook-epub-adobe
      • identifiers:
            • type: ISBN
            • value: 9780465008377
      • name: OverDrive Read
      • id: ebook-overdrive
otherFormatIdentifiers
      • type: ISBN
      • value: 9780465030798
mediaType
eBook
primaryCreator
    • role: Author
    • name: Douglas R Hofstadter
title
I Am a Strange Loop
dateAdded
2015-07-13T16:35:00Z
contentDetails
      • href: https://link.overdrive.com/?websiteID=141&titleID=555255
      • type: text/html
      • account:
          • name: Sacramento Public Library (CA)
          • id: 1151
sortTitle
I Am a Strange Loop
crossRefId
555255
id
1EC5B27A-38F8-46C7-A33F-B2CBDE331158
starRating
3.9

OverDrive MetaData

isPublicDomain
False
images
    • cover:
        • href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-100/0017-1/{1EC5B27A-38F8-46C7-A33F-B2CBDE331158}Img100.jpg
        • type: image/jpeg
    • thumbnail:
        • href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-200/0017-1/{1EC5B27A-38F8-46C7-A33F-B2CBDE331158}Img200.jpg
        • type: image/jpeg
    • cover150Wide:
        • href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-150/0017-1/1EC/5B2/7A/{1EC5B27A-38F8-46C7-A33F-B2CBDE331158}Img150.jpg
        • type: image/jpeg
    • cover300Wide:
        • href: https://img1.od-cdn.com/ImageType-400/0017-1/1EC/5B2/7A/{1EC5B27A-38F8-46C7-A33F-B2CBDE331158}Img400.jpg
        • type: image/jpeg
isPublicPerformanceAllowed
False
formats
      • fileName: IAmaStrangeLoop_9780465008377_555255
      • partCount: 0
      • fileSize: 2214719
      • identifiers:
            • type: ISBN
            • value: 9780465008377
      • rights:
            • type: Copying
            • value: 0
            • type: Printing
            • value: 0
            • type: Lending
            • value: 0
            • type: ReadAloud
            • value: 0
            • type: ExpirationRights
            • value: 0
      • name: Adobe EPUB eBook
      • isReadAlong: False
      • id: ebook-epub-adobe
      • onSaleDate: 8/1/2007
      • samples:
            • source: From the book
            • formatType: ebook-epub-adobe
            • url: https://excerpts.cdn.overdrive.com/FormatType-410/1486-1/1EC/5B2/7A/IAmaStrangeLoop9780465008377.epub
            • source: From the book
            • formatType: ebook-overdrive
            • url: https://samples.overdrive.com/?crid=1EC5B27A-38F8-46C7-A33F-B2CBDE331158&.epub-sample.overdrive.com
      • fileName: IAmaStrangeLoop_555255
      • partCount: 0
      • fileSize: 0
      • identifiers:
            • type: ASIN
            • value: B004PYDBS0
      • name: Kindle Book
      • isReadAlong: False
      • id: ebook-kindle
      • onSaleDate: 8/1/2007
      • samples:
            • source: From the book
            • formatType: ebook-epub-adobe
            • url: https://excerpts.cdn.overdrive.com/FormatType-410/1486-1/1EC/5B2/7A/IAmaStrangeLoop9780465008377.epub
            • source: From the book
            • formatType: ebook-overdrive
            • url: https://samples.overdrive.com/?crid=1EC5B27A-38F8-46C7-A33F-B2CBDE331158&.epub-sample.overdrive.com
      • fileName: IAmaStrangeLoop_9780465008377_555255
      • partCount: 0
      • fileSize: 0
      • identifiers:
            • type: ISBN
            • value: 9780465008377
      • name: OverDrive Read
      • isReadAlong: False
      • id: ebook-overdrive
      • onSaleDate: 8/1/2007
      • samples:
            • source: From the book
            • formatType: ebook-epub-adobe
            • url: https://excerpts.cdn.overdrive.com/FormatType-410/1486-1/1EC/5B2/7A/IAmaStrangeLoop9780465008377.epub
            • source: From the book
            • formatType: ebook-overdrive
            • url: https://samples.overdrive.com/?crid=1EC5B27A-38F8-46C7-A33F-B2CBDE331158&.epub-sample.overdrive.com
languages
      • code: en
      • name: English
creators
      • role: Author
      • fileAs: Hofstadter, Douglas R
      • name: Douglas R Hofstadter
subjects
      • value: Computer Technology
      • value: Philosophy
      • value: Science
      • value: Nonfiction
publishDate
2007-08-01T00:00:00-04:00
publishDateText
08/01/2007
otherFormatIdentifiers
      • type: ISBN
      • value: 9780465030781
mediaType
eBook
shortDescription
One of our greatest philosophers and scientists of the mind asks, where does the self come from — and how our selves can exist in the minds of others. 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,...
isOwnedByCollections
True
title
I Am a Strange Loop
fullDescription
One of our greatest philosophers and scientists of the mind asks, where does the self come from — and how our selves can exist in the minds of others. 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.
sortTitle
I Am a Strange Loop
crossRefId
555255
reviews
      • premium: True
      • source: Publisher's Weekly
      • content:

        Starred review from January 29, 2007
        Hofstadter—who won a Pulitzer for his 1979 book, Gödel, Escher, Bach
        —blends a surprising array of disciplines and styles in his continuing rumination on the nature of consciousness. Eschewing the study of biological processes as inadequate to the task, he argues that the phenomenon of self-awareness is best explained by an abstract model based on symbols and self-referential "loops," which, as they accumulate experiences, create high-level consciousness. Theories aside, it's impossible not to experience this book as a tender, remarkably personal and poignant effort to understand the death of his wife from cancer in 1993—and to grasp how consciousness mediates our otherwise ineffable relationships. In the end, Hofstadter's view is deeply philosophical rather than scientific. It's hopeful and romantic as well, as his model allows one consciousness to create and maintain within itself true representations of the essence of another. The book is all Hofstadter—part theory, some of it difficult; part affecting memoir; part inventive thought experiment—presented for the most part with an incorrigible playfulness. And whatever readers' reaction to the underlying arguments for this unique view of consciousness, they will find the model provocative and heroically humane.

      • premium: True
      • source: Library Journal
      • content:

        January 1, 2007
        What do we mean when we say "I"? What is it like to be a strange loop? In his new excursion into the nature of consciousness and selfhood, Hofstadter (cognitive & computer science, Indiana Univ., Bloomington) returns to the themes of his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, "Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid"those of "strange loops," or "tangled hierarchies," that give rise to our sense of identity. Besides updating the central thesis of strange loops from his previous books, Hofstadter introduces new ideas about the self-referential structure of consciousness and offers a multifaceted examination of what an "I" is. He conveys abstract, complicated ideas in a relaxed, conversational manner and uses many first-person stories and personal examples as well as two Platonic dialogs. Though Hofstadter admits he writes for the general educated public, he also hopes to reach professional philosophers interested in the epistemological implications of selfhood. Recommended primarily for public and undergraduate university libraries.Victoria Shelton, George Mason Univ. Libs., Manassas, VA

        Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

      • premium: True
      • source: Booklist
      • content:

        Starred review from February 1, 2007
        For more than 25 years, Hofstadter has been explaining the mystery of human consciousness through a bold fusion of mathematical logic and cognitive science. Yet for all of the acclaim his fusion has garnered (including the Pulitzer for his " Godel, Escher, Bach," 1979), this pioneer admits that few readers have really grasped its meaning. To dispel the lingering incomprehension, Hofstadter here amplifies his revolutionary conception of the mind. A repudiation of traditional dualism--in which a spirit or soul inhabits the body--this revolutionary conception defines the mind as the emergence of a neural feedback loop within the brain. It is this peculiar loop that allows a stream of cognitive symbols to twist back on itself, so creating the self-awareness and self-integration that constitute an "I." Hofstadter explains the dynamics of this reflective self in refreshingly lucid language, enlivened with personal anecdotes that translate arcane formulas into the wagging tail on a golden retriever or the smile on Hopalong Cassidy. Nonspecialists are thus able to assess the divide between human and animal minds, and even to plumb the mental links binding the living to the dead. Hofstadter's analysis will not convince all skeptics. But even skeptics will appreciate the way he forces us to think deeper thoughts about thought.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)

popularity
147
publisher
Basic Books
links
    • self:
        • href: https://api.overdrive.com/v1/collections/v1L1BWwAAAA2I/products/1ec5b27a-38f8-46c7-a33f-b2cbde331158/metadata
        • type: application/vnd.overdrive.api+json
id
1ec5b27a-38f8-46c7-a33f-b2cbde331158
starRating
4.2
bisacCodes
      • code: COM004000
      • description: Computers / Intelligence (AI) & Semantics
      • code: PHI015000
      • description: Philosophy / Mind & Body
      • code: SCI075000
      • description: Science / Philosophy & Social Aspects