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captainblastido t1_jdfb22g wrote

Reply to comment by BinstonBirchill in As a newbie to sci-fi, reading complicated sci-fi is making my brain hurt, but it's also really enjoyable. by justkeepbreathing94

That’s been on my list forever. But are you saying it’s literary fiction or that literary fiction will lead you to this text? Or both?

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boxer_dogs_dance t1_jdffpzr wrote

Godel Escher Bach defeated me. I'm not willing to work that hard. I love Name of the Rose though. I tried G E B, based on Name of the Rose and it's different.

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captainblastido t1_jdfhtad wrote

It just defeated you? I’ve had books that’ve beat me and I’m not ashamed to say it. It’s just GED has been on my list for so long I do t want to give it up before I started, you know?

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boxer_dogs_dance t1_jdfi6m6 wrote

Go for it. I found it much harder than I expected or was ready for. It might be different now, but my to read list is long enough.

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captainblastido t1_jdfkv29 wrote

If you’re willing, hard how? If not, thanks for the heads up😁

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boxer_dogs_dance t1_jdflcd4 wrote

It's very philosophical in the strict sense of the word, not the casual sense that just means thought provoking.

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captainblastido t1_jdfm7lz wrote

So you can’t just fuck around thinking you know stuff, got it. 😁 Thank you!

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FlyingPasta t1_jdi80so wrote

It builds up a lot of contexts. Like the beginning is dedicated to learning math stuff for example. It can often feel like a textbook, but it’s good if you like to learn

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baddspellar t1_jdi9sbr wrote

GEB isn't literary fiction. I'd call it a "popular science" book, in which big scientific ideas are introduced in a creative and accessible manner. I had already taken a course in theoretical computer science class before I read it, so I was very familiar with the ideas in the book. I enjoyed the presentation. It was very creative

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BinstonBirchill t1_jdfdxh3 wrote

It’s primarily a mathematical theory book. Just the desire for something more and more brain crunching is what will inevitably lead you there lol. I’ve heard Hegel (I think it’s Hegel) might be the most impenetrable philosopher out there so maybe that’s the endgame lol.

It alternates chapters between Achilles and The Tortoise and mathematical theory, the former serving as your guide and it really helps make the book tolerable for the layman 😂 definitely worth reading but not easy by any means.

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captainblastido t1_jdffkmc wrote

Do I need to be mathematically advanced to understand/enjoy it?

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BinstonBirchill t1_jdfm1zr wrote

I’m definitely not and I enjoyed it. There’s a lot of Escher drawings that are fascinating and the concept linking the three is real interesting. And the alternating chapters should make it alright. There will be some chapters where it’s just over your head most likely but that’ll happen with most anyone I think. Still worth reading in my opinion.

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