Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy

Philosophy explained in a fun way

When I read this book I gained great knowledge about philosophy and it's history. This book is a must read to all who want to gain knowledge of philosophy and/or if they themselves want to be philosophers. The sypnosis of this book is very easy and straight to the point.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Skip it

I had to read this book for my Advanced World History class. I thought it was horrible. Well, at least the story part was. The philosophy part was pretty interesting. The story was just really simple and undeveloped and just became weird about 2/3's of the way through the book. If you're looking for something to read for leisure, skip it. If you're looking for information on philosophy, skip it- you would be better off just reading a textbook- once you take away the story, that's all this book is.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Philosophy can be Fun

This book is the best history and summary of philosophy I have read! It should be read by every student in High Schools, so they would have a better grounding and understanding of the history of philosophy. I highly recommend this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

An Interesting Book

This is a good book about philosophy and it is confusing one.We thanks to Yrd.Doc.Dr.Nilgun Ariturk who makes us read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I read this book back in junior high and it has stuck with me ev

I read this book back in junior high and it has stuck with me ever since. Even over a decade later, I still remember the effect it had on me. Any book that you can recall a dozen years after you read it, is a good book.

A reviewer

It has a good plotline, and a great read for history geeks. Near the end of the book, it became much harder to comprehend, and the chapter, 'Garden Party' was entirely disturbing to me. But as a read for pleasure, I absolutely recommend it.

Read in high school and it stuck.

I read this book in high school my senior year and the ideas presented in the book stuck. I'm a junior in college now and just the other day I though about something from the book when I was just observing a young child in amazement as she stared at some fishes in a fish tank. This book helps you see things from different perspectives. It is a very exciting read and I highly recommend it.

Awesome novel!

This book is an awesome novel to read for insight into philosophy and introduction to philosophy. From the moment I started reading this book I never wanted to put it down. From Socrates to Plato the author explains how and what the philosophers believed in. It was both insightful and intellectual to me and will be to the reader.

odd

I'm giving this book three stars because it wasn't bad but it wasn't good either.I enjoyed Sophie and Alberto in the first half of the book, but when Hilde was introduced things went a little crazy. It felt like the author gave up on telling a well developed story about half way through. I enjoyed Sophie's puzzling over the philospical questions more than I did Alberto's. I've always been interested in history, but this was just dry and I skipped through Alberto's letters. Perhaps it's as Hilde says, 'she would have to read the story again one or two more times'. But I must say, this book got me writing again if only because the tone it was written in is one where the reader is drawn in and lulled into a kind of trance.

Wonderful book

This is a very good book to introduce you to philosophy. In studying philosophy, it's imperative to learn the history and the basic beliefs of well-known past philosophers, and this book provides that. Once you've read Sophie's World, if you want to read more on the subject, find philosophers mentioned in the book who interest you and read their works. If you already know a lot about the basics, I suggest finding a different book, because this barely begins to scratch the surface. The story with Sophie and Alberto, though it did attempt to tie in with the philosophy within the chapter, was often Gaarder's interpretation of the philosophy, and while I was reading the book for the second time, I often found personal opinion regarding the philosophies. If you're just getting into philosophy, this book may help you sort out what your personal philosophy may be, but take care that Gaarder's interpretation doesn't influence you too much.

The Fresh Perspective of a Teenage Girl

In the novel Sophie¿s World, by Jostein Gaarder, a teenage girl named Sophie discovers that there is more to life in Norway than pet animals and the latest history test. She soon recieves a blessing in the form of mysterious letters from an unknown man who wishes to teach her philosophy. As she begins her journey through the course, Sophie discovers the way to find herself and the completely new ways to look at life. This fascinating novel by Gaarder is an excellent way to make your first dive into the thought-provoking subject that is philosophy, or a superb way to refresh your memory on the subject. Gaarder combines the narrative of an easy-going teenage girl easily with the history and major points in the time line of philosophy to make this novel an excellent read. The courses in philosophy are easy to understand because of the division of the materials into small segments that are just the right length to get your brain moving. The materials covered in the novel make you stop and think What if the world was this way, or how would life be like.... In reading this book, you also find yourself thinking more of others and the community, for that matter, because you know have several different ways to look at life. Some people might be worried about reading this novel because of conflicts between their religion and the concepts of philosophy. However, I believe that in reading this novel, you can better understand the views of some non-religious and some religious philosophers and better understand the views from which other people stand today. However, I feel as if I must warn you: This novel is not for the light reader. This 500-something page book, while incredible in writing and content, takes more time and effort to read than the latest mystery novel or romantic epic. However, I still enthusiastically suggest this novel to anyone who has considered and I also highly suggest that you recommend it to you intellectual you happen to meet.

Excellent introduction to the history of philosophy

Anyone interested in reading about the journey of philosophy from the days of the natural philosophers and the magnificent trio of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle through the Middle Ages into the epochs of Renaissance, Baroque, Enlightenment and Romanticism till the present day must pick up a copy of this book by Jostein Gaarder. In this book, we make this journey through the history of philosophy with a young Norwegian girl named Sophie Amundsen and her mysterious philosophy teacher Alberto Knox. It is a hard to put down book where the evolution of philosophical thinking has been chronicled in a very simple and lucid manner. Through her teacher, Sophie learns about philosphers like Descartes (cogito ergo sum - I think therefore I am), and Kant ('It's a moral necessity to have faith in the existence of God') among others.

lissa tamez

This is one of the best bopoks I've ever read. Though I will admit he should have gone more in depth into certain philosophers, it was shortened by the plot. I really recomend for someone trying to read upon the basics of philosophy.

A Great Book to Read!

This book is so good. My aunt gave it to me and I couldn't put it down. Everyone should read this book because it teaches people A LOT about philosophy.

Brilliant Novel!

I was always interested in philosophy ever since I took the course in grade 11. Now, I am in my last year of high school, and I decided to read it. I read it, and I love this book. It made me question reality, and see the world in a new and a more interesting way. I really enjoyed the philosophy part of the book and it is much more interesting to read than a textbook; I especially liked the part about Plato and his idea-world. I also liked the story part of the novel. I know some people hated it, but it was so bizarre it actually worked for me. It was unpredictable! And I like how the author blends the story and the philosophy together. I suggest this book to anyone who has never questioned reality before.

The Mind Of A Schizophrenc

Sophie's World is a novel about the history of philosophy and how how it is overlooked by others. Who are you and where does the world come from are the two most important questions throughout this novel which grasps the mind of the reader taking them to a land of thoughts that has never been thought of. Sophie Amundsen, a 14-year old Norwegian girl, becomes caught in the knowledge of philosophy and her existence in the universe, in the novel, Sophie¿s World. This is due to the curiousity of being young and the lack of answers that the world provides. It all begins when she receives mysterious letters in the mail from an unknown teacher. He provides her with an understanding of the history of philosophy and how it affects the world. Before recieving these letters, Sophie was living a ordinary teenage life which includes accepting the world how it is, no questions asked.The information taught by the philosophy teacher leads Sophie into an confusing but adventurous mystery of her own. At around the same time she begins to receive postcards from a man named Albert Knag. Sophie becomes forced to put together a puzzle using the ideas of philosophy that will provide the answers to the unsolved clues in the real world and remain a key for the future. Though Sophie's World contains sophisticated language and a mass of confusing information, the storyline is adventurous to the thought filled minds. Readers will enjoy questioning the ordinary and the things that are just. This novel influences the readers to go search for answers in their own lives and to question the ordinary essentials of life. The only downfall of this novel is the organization of the historical information. Most of the information provided about philosophy is jammed between the story which confuses the reader a bit. I personally enjoyed reading Sophie's World due to my interest in expanding my knowledge of understanding the world and the thoughts of others. This book also influenced me to write pieces that question the simple things of life such as living and love. Sophie's World also allowed me to realize that all knowledge is impossible to obtain for answers to simple questions are unable to be found.

BRILLIANT!

Jostein Gaader¿s Sophie¿s World tells remarkable story about a young girl exploring the world of philosophy while unraveling a dazzling mystery. This international bestseller was able to capture millions of readers with its charming dialogue and imaginative plot. Sophie¿s World begins on a day like any other, with a regular girl named Sophie Amundsen who unexpectedly finds a letter in her mailbox. Enclosed are two questions that are the building blocks for philosophy. The reader soon finds out that these letters are sent by a man named Alberto Knox, who will act as Sophie¿s teacher and mentor. He teaches her all kinds of philosophy, like the ideas of Socrates and the theories of Freud. As her knowledge expands. There is an apparent growth in her character. Alberto is responsible for this change. He is a very thoughtful and humble person, representing wisdom and experience. He not only introduces philosophy to Sophie but also makes her doubt reality. Together, the pair set out to find the ¿truth¿ behind life and unravel the mystery of their existence. Jostein¿s language in this book is short, simple and straight to the point. The reader is able to learn philosophy while being entertained by the catchy story and humorous dialogue. This is not only a philosophy novel, but also a coming-of-age book. It traces the awkward and painful experiences of an adolescent, making the story even more enriching and extraordinary.

Sophie's World

The Best book I have read in a while. This book expands your mind and how you think. You will start to question things you never thought you would. I highly recommended this book, It's outstanding.

Sophie's World

I read this book while in High School, it was not assigned or anything I just happend to get it from my parents. This book was the one book that introduced me to philosophy and made me realize how closeminded and tunnelvisioned we becomes as we grow older. If for any reason you have felt that way, I strongly recommend reading this book. A+++++ Go Norway!!!!

A fantastic novel: compelling and beautiful

Sophie's World was read during the Easter holidays last year, and it was gripping. A beautiful and stimulating book: a book I wish I had read when younger. The narrative of the book is energetic and fluidic, especially the chapter in which the 'true' nature of Sophie's world becomes apparent to her. I had to reccomend this book to my friends, who also loved this book.