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The Technocrat's Intellectual Review:

Godel, Escher and Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid

by Dougles R. Hofstadter

Starting with the basics of propositional algebra (Don't panic, it is explained simply and it isn't nearly as scary as it sounds) this marvellous book takes you through the subject of mathematical theory, music and art into the universe of Philosophy.

To provide a brief summary, Godel was an early 20th century mathematician, who provided the phillosophical underpinings for most of the scientific advances made this century. And if you don't understand how mathematics can provide a pholosophical underpining, well then you will once you've read this book.

Escher is one of the greatest artists of this century, and you have probably seen many of his works, even if you don't recognize his name.

And Bach? Johann Sebastion Bach is a classical composer, renowned for his organ music.

Just what is the connection between all of these geniuses? Well I could explain that, but then I'd just be trying to summarise this book, and that is not the purpose of a review. No. The purpose of a review is to tell you about the book. So I will content myself with saying that they do all tie together, and segue into a discussion on artificial intelligence.

AI? How did that get in there? Well that is Hofstadter's actual field of expertise, and when you are dealing with understanding the mind, it is obvious that art, music and philosophy are going to be very important.

The only problem with GEB is that it is heavy going. There is a lot of thinking required to get through the concepts in this book. Let alone to understand all the jokes and sly mathematical tricks that are hidden throughout the writing. If you want something to sit down with and really expand your mind, then order Godel, Escher and Bach. However, if that all sounds a little too hard and you'd like something ligher, then you need to try Le Tomb Beau de Marot which is much easier going, especially if you don't have a mathematical background.

Le Ton Beau De Marot : In Praise of the Music of Language

This is a very different book from GEB, and yet it is obviously written by Hofstadter. It has the same sort of implicit and explicit humour and joking built into the text, the same way of introducing the reader to new intellectual fields of endeavour, and ultimately it is also about thought and the functioning of the mind. But in other respects it is nearly the opposite to GEB.

If you found GEB to be one of the greatest books ever written (which some people claim it is) then TBM will be disappointing. It is a much more lightweight piece, with far more emotion and written from a much more personal perspective.

On the other hand, if you thought that GEB was far too heavy and couldn't be bothered concentrating on the maths and logic stucture, then TBM will be like a breath of fresh air.

I certainly found it to be a much easier book to read, and it still stretched the boundaries of my intellect. Within minutes of starting the book I found myself translating renaisance French poetry, something I never thought I would do.

So what is this work about? It is about translating a poem. A short poem. This book is 832 pages long and it is about translating a poem that is 28 lines long with 3 syllables per line. The poem was originally written by Clement Marot in archaic French, but here is an English translation, by me. (See, I told you that I did some translating.)

If you want any more you'll have to read the book.

So in summary: If you loved GEB then you will really like TBM. And if you liked GEB then you will love TBM. Order Le Ton Beau De Marot

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