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Summary: I am NOW a Believer...
Review: I purchased this book in November on the strength of the reviews I read then, and in part to see for myself what this book GEB was REALLY about. People back then were writing some pretty lofty reviews, and I must admit that I was somewhat skeptical... Because of my growing interest in the field of Artificial Intelligence and of human thought in general, I spent about 3 weeks this past December...in COMPLETE awe of the genius of Douglas Hofstadter! The author's ability to relate a meaning of a message in a format that demonstrates the theme of the message itself on so many lexical levels is unlike anything I've ever read before. Not only was I entertained and enlightened with the main topic of "how it is that animate beings can come out of inanimate matter", but also with Doug's temporary jaunts into Zen Buddhism, the nature of meaning and even DNA replication... and then finding out they weren't really extraneous, but all part of the same deep underlying message. BUY THIS BOOK! At minimum, you will enjoy it for the rich genius, and highly articulated vernacular of the author... and at its maximum, you will have found a life changing source of undeniably good literature.
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Summary: One of a kind.
Review: This book is so great, I think it's the best book that I've ever read.The red line throughout the whole story is Godel's theorem and it's wonderful proof. This main theme is mixed with nice dialogs between Achilles and the Toirtoise, Escher's works, Bach's music and more. The thing that makes this book exceptional is that Hofstadter connects all these diverse topics and shows you similarities. Zen bhuddism is even mentioned. I found myself constantly suprised. This book gave me a warm feeling for the beauty of mathematics and logic. I feel lucky I found the book.
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Summary: Babbleon
Review: Finally, a book to make people think. Hofstadter has created a text for those who are bored with the general complacency exhibited in the modern world. I encourage anyone who wants to be challenged in thought and perception to read this book. Enjoy.
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Summary: I AM AN ATHEIST
Review: . . . but this book is my bible. Never have i read something that connected art, philosophy, music, math, and science with such beauty and profundity. Any person of cultural literacy ought to read this - not to feed a social norm, but because this book cannot be read without inciting flames of passion for the subject and the content. I have bought this book for nearly a dozen people - people whom i love and whose intellects i respect. This is a book to bridge schizms and enlighten darkened hearts. This book is calisthenics for the brain. This book is the most fluid, passionate, searching, and moving piece of writing that i have ever read - fiction or non. Read it and enjoy!
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Summary: Godel's theorem, recursive music, art, AI!
Review: Before I start: this isn't a book, it's a commitment. I liked Bach's music, Escher, math and what I'd seen of computer science before I started reading, and even then it was a long, long read. Not out of boredom, but because my brain is finite and mortal and couldn't absorb more than a chapter in one sitting (if it even succeeded in that). More than being a commitment, GEB is a work of art. Not just the music and numerous Eschers, but the writing. The dialogues between Achilles and the Tortoise were a riot even as I reread every line, struggling to keep up with the pace Hofstadter demands. And be warned, it's no slow pace, either. But it's worth every page, whether or not you agree to the conclusions he leads you to. My only caveat is: find some nice quiet summer when you'll be able to give GEB the attention it deserves and requires, or you'll find yourself putting it away for half a year until you do have time, as I did!
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Summary: Thought, Art and Criticism an endless natural ACT.
Review: What marks a book as distinctive? What makes a book THE ONE, which you would never dream of lending, even to your mother? Leave aside that it deals with a very basic subject, something that is the very core of 'being human'. Leave aside that even if the content was not up to standard, the presentation itself would have succeeded in winning the day. Leave aside that every sentence brings out not only the power of the author's brain, but manages to bring out the power of the reader's brain too. What would still make it distinctive is the amount of passionate discussion it has, and to my continuing surprise, goes on generating. Whether you agree with the thoughts of the author or whether they make u rail in outrage, the fact remains that is one of the best thought-provoking books you can lay your hands on. Personally, i agree with DRH that 'full blown' AI is just a matter of time and computing efforts. But even those who are enraged by this thought and who think that Intelligence is 'God's gift' much as the early christians believed that the earth was the center of the universe cannot deny the value of this book in stirring up meaningful debate on that basic question. The way DRH moves the reader, with entertaining Achilles-Tortoise dialogues and mind-bending escherian prints, through an understanding of thought and current AI concepts and where in the future the twain would probably meet, is nothing short of masterful. The hidden loops and meta-loops add a delightful tang to the book and makes every re-read seem like a fresh one. To conclude, there are precious few books worth buying, reading completely, possessing jealously and re-reading. Without doubt, this is one of them.
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Summary: It would be a shame not to read this book.
Review: This book rewards you in proportion to your effort, the more carefully you read it, the more intriguing, entertaining, and enjoyable it becomes. It is a challenging read, but every section helps you understand every other section, so keep at it, you will find much enjoyment within its pages. And it will introduce a world of thought. Ignore the negative critics, the book would not win so many awards if it was a waste of time.
Rating: 
Summary: A real mind stretcher
Review: I'm in the middle of the book GEB, and I'm taking it kind of slowly, because my not-so-mathematical brain has to rest between exercises. This is an unusual and interesting book; I have never read anything quite like it. I quickly get lost during the sections of math and formal systems, but if I ever do follow a thought through, I feel very accomplished. If you think the book sounds interesting but you aren't sure you're going to like it, try it. There are many different sections and many of them don't rely on the previous sections to be coherent. I am especially amazed by the dialogues. Just when I am about to applaud myself for following along with the simple content of the discussion, I find that the external structure of the dialogue exactly parallels whatever topic the speakers have been talking about--amazing! Whenever I make a discovery like that, I feel dizzy with glee and pride. It's a great experience--try it ourself; read the dialogues! (And maybe the rest of the book too.)
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Summary: A truly memorable and thought-provoking book
Review: I'm surprised not to see more discussion of the chapter on translation and meaning. I thought it was one of the best parts of the book. The Japanese translation of the book also included a Japanese version of Jabberwocky. Though I read the book several years ago, it made a deep and lasting impression in many ways. What actually brought it to mind just now was the coming year of the dragon, which reminded me of Escher's amazing wannabe 3D dragon image used in the book. I don't think anyone can deal with this book in the few weeks a library would allow you to have it...
Rating: 
Summary: Godel Eternally Bandied Eventually Gets Boring
Review: If you're new to computer science, then this book introduces you to some interesting topics in decideability and recursion. These ideas have implications for people who contemplate the possibility of intelligent computers or the design of intelligent systems. Since most of the computer science theory is over 50 years old, none of it is new to anyone who is familiar with the subject. That said, the presentation is a rather weak play on Lewis Carroll combined with the cloying childishness of A. A. Milne. Most readers claim to find the book fascinating. They're either genuinely fascinated by the AI topics, which are great - just not the author's own ideas. Or they're faking it because you're supposed to say you like stuff that sounds clever. Or they're faking it.
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