Labyrinths of Reason: Paradox, Puzzles, and the Frailty of Knowledge by William Poundstone

Synopsis

This sharply intelligent, consistently provocative book takes the reader on an astonishing, thought-provoking voyage into the realm of delightful uncertainty—a world of paradox in which logical argument leads to contradiction and common sense is seemingly rendered irrelevant.

Annotation

The author of Big Secrets and Bigger Secrets takes the reader on an astonishing, thought-provoking voyage into the realm of delightful uncertainty--a world of paradox in which logical argument leads to contradiction and common sense is seemingly rendered irrelevant.

Publishers Weekly

``In a dazzling tour de force, Poundstone leads us through a series of paradoxes that move from Sherlock Holmes's puzzles to time travel, from dismembered brains in vats to multiple worlds, from the libraries of Atlantis to black holes. Eminently accessible, this delightful rapid-fire entertainment will appeal to readers of Douglas Hofstadter's G odel, Escher, Bach ,'' remarked PW . Illustrated. (Jan.)