It is not often that you hold in your hands a book that opens up new worlds, that combines depth of thought and brilliant language play; a book that manages to combine complex areas of knowledge that are seemingly unrelated at first glance. An outstanding American scientist invents witty dialogues, addresses the famous paradoxes of space and time, finds parallels between Escher’s paintings, Bach’s music and such different disciplines as physics, mathematics, logic, biology, neurophysiology, psychology and Zen Buddhism. The author reflects on one of the greatest mysteries of modern science: how the human mind tries to comprehend itself. Hofstadter invites into the world of the human spirit and “thinking” machines. This journey is closely connected with classical paradoxes, with the revolutionary discoveries of the mathematician Kurt Gödel, as well as with the ability of language, mathematical systems, computer programs and the objective world to talk about themselves with the help of endless reflections. Once you start reading this book, you will find yourself in magical worlds, go on a journey replete with exciting adventures, a journey after which you will look at the world and yourself differently. Translated into 17 languages, the book shocked the world intellectual community and immediately became a bestseller. Now the Russian reader has gained access to one of the cult books of the 20th century.