Godel, escher, bach

I am starting to read this book, and I am wondering if there is any essential knowledge I need before hand. The main question is, do I need to understand Godel's theorem? Because I've barely looked at his theorem...

Other than that, can anyone tell me if there's any other stuff you recommend I look up before getting into this book?

thanks in advance!

Reply 1

Lucid Reality

OP

14

I am starting to read this book, and I am wondering if there is any essential knowledge I need before hand. The main question is, do I need to understand Godel's theorem? Because I've barely looked at his theorem...

Other than that, can anyone tell me if there's any other stuff you recommend I look up before getting into this book?

thanks in advance!

Reply 2

ian.slater

12

Original post by Dr Ben

I am starting to read this book, and I am wondering if there is any essential knowledge I need before hand. The main question is, do I need to understand Godel's theorem? Because I've barely looked at his theorem...

Other than that, can anyone tell me if there's any other stuff you recommend I look up before getting into this book?

thanks in advance!

Just read the book and enjoy it.

Reply 3

Lucid Reality

OP

14

Original post by ian.slater

Just read the book and enjoy it.

Very helpful. Thanks.

Reply 4

onlyskin

13

You don't need any previous knowledge, it explains everything you need to know pretty well! If there's something you come across that you don't understand, just Google it, good luck with getting all the way through it! :smile:

Reply 5

TheMagicMan

15

There is nothing you need to know really, but I recommend you read it much slower than you would an ordinary book as it does get quite complicated. It's a fantastic book though.

Reply 6

ian.slater

12

Original post by Dr Ben

Very helpful. Thanks.

One thing you do need to know. It's not a book. It's just some ink on some paper. Any idea that it's a book is entirely within your mind.

Reply 7

Lucid Reality

OP

14

ok thanks guys

I decided to buy a little 40 page book on godel's theorems anyway, just for the sake of my curiosity :smile:

Reply 8

tonyhawken

10

Original post by Dr Ben

I am starting to read this book, and I am wondering if there is any essential knowledge I need before hand. The main question is, do I need to understand Godel's theorem? Because I've barely looked at his theorem...

Other than that, can anyone tell me if there's any other stuff you recommend I look up before getting into this book?

thanks in advance!

I highly recommend this book. It was required reading for the machine learning component that I DID FOR AN MSc I completed 22 years ago.