8 ms·
I love this book so much (Labyrinths, by Borges). I once calculated the number of books in The Library of Bable, and had to try a number of numerical libraries
by schaefer 16d ago
I love this book so much (Labyrinths, by Borges).
I once calculated the number of books in The Library of Bable, and had to try a number of numerical libraries to do so. one after another they kept puking on the large integers.
I also think of "the secret miracle" often.
- hcs 16d agoI recently picked up this recently, it uses The Library as a way of discussing a few different mathematical topics. I can't strongly recommend it but it's interesting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unimaginable_Mathematics_of_Borges%27_Library_of_Babel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unimaginable_Mathematics_o...
- crabmusket 16d agoHere is someone's attempt at calculating the volume of the library: https://canterburybookstore.com/new-content/2024/11/22/how-big-is-jorge-louis-borgess-library-of-babel https://canterburybookstore.com/new-content/2024/11/22/how-b... Spoilers: it's big. Vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big. You might think it's a long way across the diameter of the observable universe but that's just peanuts compared to the library. Also, a fun website: https://libraryofbabel.info/ https://libraryofbabel.info/
- hunter-gatherer 15d agoSomewhat shameless shout out about this... My friends father is Steve Peck, the author of "A short stay in hell". It's a short story about a guy who ends up in hell that is this library. Fun weekend read.
- schaefer 14d agoThat’s awesome. I’ve seen the book around, but didn’t know the connection to the works of Borges.