Read log: Emperors new mind

This book was on my reading plan for couple of years already. Then few months ago I bought it, it was on sale in Powells. It was quite difficult to start reading it: on week days I wanted to read something easier and on weekends there was always something more fun to do.

So recent vacation was a perfect timing: 20 hours in airplanes, guesthouse room where there was no TV, short tropical rains, relaxing on a beach after swimming.

My expectations for the book were probably too high. I thought I will find a reasonably strict proof that strong AI approach is wrong. I support strong AI hypothesis, and some of Penrose's arguments against it seemed quite artificial for me. Instead of a proof I found that 3/4 of the book were just a good introduction to some of mathematical and physical concepts of 20th century and last quarter was some vague reasoning about unproven possibilities of quantum effects in our brains.

However the book is great, and I wish I could read it in 1998! Then I would probably have higher marks on physics exams in Uni.

Next book to read:
"Diplomacy" by Kissinger.