{"title":"Douglas Hofstadter","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the intriguing world of Douglas Hofstadter's works, where the boundaries of science, art, and philosophy blur. Renowned for his ability to seamlessly weave complex concepts from diverse fields, Hofstadter invites readers on a journey of intellectual exploration and discovery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong his celebrated works, \u003cem\u003eAmbigrammia\u003c\/em\u003e stands out as a fascinating exploration of visual and linguistic art, offering readers a blend of creativity and symmetry that challenges the perception of language and design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eI Am a Strange Loop\u003c\/em\u003e, Hofstadter delves into the nature of consciousness and self-reference. This thought-provoking book examines how self-awareness emerges from the intricacies of the human brain, weaving together psychology, philosophy, and cognitive science to offer a profound look at the essence of identity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMeanwhile, \u003cem\u003eSurfaces and Essences\u003c\/em\u003e co-authored with Emmanuel Sander, investigates the role of analogy in human thought. This work illuminates how analogies form the backbone of our understanding, offering a unique perspective on how we interpret the world and make sense of new ideas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're an aficionado of Arts \u0026amp; Culture or Philosophy \u0026amp; Psychology, Douglas Hofstadter's collection offers a treasure trove of insights that will stimulate your intellectual curiosity and expand your understanding of the world.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"i-am-a-strange-loop","title":"I Am a Strange Loop","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI Am a Strange Loop\u003c\/em\u003e by Douglas Hofstadter is an enthralling philosophical exploration that delves into the enigmatic nature of human consciousness and the concept of self. Through this work, Hofstadter investigates the profound question: Can thought, self, and consciousness arise from mere matter? If not, then how does our very existence come to be?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt the heart of this thought-provoking book is the notion of the \"strange loop,\" a unique form of abstract feedback loop residing within our brains. According to Hofstadter, the most intricate and pivotal symbol within our minds is the one labelled \"I.\" This \"I\" serves as a central nexus, an intricate structure among the myriad symbols in our brain, seemingly imbued with its own free will and the paradoxical capacity to influence the very particles it is composed of, rather than being solely governed by physical laws.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eI Am a Strange Loop\u003c\/em\u003e, Hofstadter tackles the perplexing and provocative question of whether this abstraction of \"I\" possesses genuine power or is merely a convenient fiction. Does the \"I\" truly exert control over the particles in our brain, or is it merely a passive entity pushed around by the inexorable laws of physics? This query forms the core of Hofstadter's engaging narrative as he embarks on his first philosophical expedition since the acclaimed \u003cem\u003eGödel, Escher, Bach\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHofstadter's writing is a captivating blend of compelling readability and endless intellectual stimulation. The book is a deeply moving and insightful investigation into the essence of the mind, challenging readers to ponder the very fabric of their consciousness. Through its masterful integration of philosophy, cognitive science, and introspective inquiry, \u003cem\u003eI Am a Strange Loop\u003c\/em\u003e offers an illuminating and profound perspective on what it means to be human.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45712183460076,"sku":"9780465030798","price":56.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780465030798.jpg?v=1725982090"},{"product_id":"surfaces-and-essences-by-emmanuel-sander-9780465018475","title":"Surfaces and Essences","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIs there one central mechanism upon which all human thinking rests? Cognitive scientists Douglas Hofstadter and Emmanuel Sander argue that there is. At this core is our incessant proclivity to take what we perceive, to abstract it, and to find resemblances to prior experiences—in other words, our ability to make analogies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eSurfaces and Essences\u003c\/em\u003e, Hofstadter and Sander show how analogy-making pervades our thought at all levels—indeed, that we make analogies not once a day or once an hour, but many times per second. Thus, analogy is the mechanism that, silently and hiddenly, chooses our words and phrases for us when we speak, frames how we understand the most banal everyday situation, guides us in unfamiliar situations, and gives rise to great acts of imagination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe categorise because of analogies that range from simple to subtle, and thus our categories, throughout our lives, expand and grow ever more fluid. Through examples galore and lively prose peppered, needless to say, with analogies large and small, Hofstadter and Sander offer us a new way of thinking about thinking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47000757141740,"sku":"9780465018475","price":87.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/15120883482353.jpg?v=1763302316"},{"product_id":"ambigrammia-by-douglas-hofstadter-9780300275438","title":"Ambigrammia","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOn the history and creation of ambigrams, by a pioneer of the practice\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1960s and 1970s, a trio of imaginative individuals independently discovered that ordinary words and phrases could be given double readings by playfully distorting the letters composing them. These doubly readable words and phrases, if designed by an artistic eye and hand, could possess great visual beauty. Douglas Hofstadter named such calligraphic creations \"ambigrams,\" and over the decades he has designed thousands of them, as have his friends Scott Kim and John Langdon, the other main pioneers of the subtle art form he calls ambigrammia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eABCD\u003c\/em\u003e (Hofstadter's informal title for this book) offers a sampler of hundreds of Hofstadter's ambigrams, along with a few dozen by Kim, Langdon, and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith deep links to cognitive science, \u003cem\u003eABCD\u003c\/em\u003e exhibits ambigrams of many types and shows how ambigrammia can be extended in surprising directions. All along the way, Hofstadter discusses creativity and its alter ego, \"discoverativity,\" revealing how the \"pocket-sized creativity puzzles\" that constitute the art form are pervaded by these complementary qualities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eABCD\u003c\/em\u003e is also notably autobiographical: Hofstadter vividly recounts how his life has been intimately intertwined with the creation\/discovery of ambigrams in many countries and in many languages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47075881287916,"sku":"9780300275438","price":71.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/24752123482294.jpg?v=1765188522"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/douglas-hofstadter.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}