One day Sophie comes home from school to find two questions in her mailbox: who are you and where do you come from? This is the start of Sophie's adventure in philosophy - from the Greeks to Descartes, from Spinoza to Hegel, Marx and Freud - with a mysterious mentor whose identity is unknown.
Sophie's World
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Wanting to understand the most fundamental questions of the universe isn't the province of ivory-tower intellectuals alone, as this book's enormous popularity has demonstrated. A young girl, Sophie, becomes embroiled in a discussion of philosophy with a faceless correspondent. At the same time, she must unravel a mystery involving another young girl, Hilde, by using everything she's learning. The truth is far more complicated than she could ever have imagined.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
This long, dense novel, a bestseller in the author's native Norway, offers a summary history of philosophy embedded in a philosophical mystery disguised as a children's book-but only sophisticated young adults would be remotely interested. Sophie Amundsen is about to turn 15 when she receives a letter from one Alberto Knox, a philosopher who undertakes to educate her in his craft. Sections in which we read the text of Knox's lessons to Sophie about the pre-Socratics, Plato and St. Augustine alternate with those in which we find out about Sophie's life with her well-meaning mother. Soon, though, Sophie begins receiving other, stranger missives addressed to one Hilde Moller Knag from her absent father, Albert. As Alberto Knox's lessons approach this century, he and Sophie come to suspect that they are merely characters in a novel written by Albert for his daughter. Teacher and pupil hatch a plot to understand and possibly escape from their situation; and from there, matters get only weirder. Norwegian philosophy professor Gaarder's notion of making a history of philosophy accessible is a good one. Unfortunately, it's occasionally undermined by the dry language he uses to describe the works of various thinkers and by an idiosyncratic bias that gives one paragraph to Nietzsche but dozens to Sartre, breezing right by Wittgenstein and the most influential philosophy of this century, logical positivism. Many readers, regardless of their age, may be tempted to skip over the lessons, which aren't well integrated with the more interesting and unusual metafictional story line. Author tour.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
By Eternal Decree
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Like the title of this review, 'Sophie's World' asks many of the questions that have been fundamental to philosophy for thousands of years. In seeking to answer those questions it leads you through a broad overview of the history of philosophy. Starting with the natural philosophers and ending with men whose philosophy still heavily influences present day thought, 'Sophie's World' shows how these questions have been asked and answered by centuries of philosophers who have built on the work of those who came before.
Intermingled with this overview of philosophy is the story of two young girls; Sophie and Hilde. How their stories overlap I will leave for you, the reader, to discover. But be warned: You will probably find the story quite odd and that occasionally the author's opinion on issues such as the UN, environmentalism, etc. come through strongly, but it is not without purpose.
'Sophie's World' is a great introduction to the history of philosophical thought and gives a clear picture of what many of the most significant philosophers are remembered for. It's not perfect, but what is perfection anyway?
Intermingled with this overview of philosophy is the story of two young girls; Sophie and Hilde. How their stories overlap I will leave for you, the reader, to discover. But be warned: You will probably find the story quite odd and that occasionally the author's opinion on issues such as the UN, environmentalism, etc. come through strongly, but it is not without purpose.
'Sophie's World' is a great introduction to the history of philosophical thought and gives a clear picture of what many of the most significant philosophers are remembered for. It's not perfect, but what is perfection anyway?
By Dom
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book was so informative in an amazing way. I have learned so much about what influence the world in a historical and family investigation.
D.
D.
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Sophie's World is a complete experience. I must admit I was not a constant reader. Nevertheless I have always been interested in Philosophy, and Gaarder's book is the best way to keep you interested in a great story along with all the knowledge you can acquire. Usually Philosophy History is hard to read and understand if you're not into philosophy itself. But Sophie rides with you into a very easy, understandable course on every important philosopher along human history. I really recomend this excelent work.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Need to understand philosophy: Read this
One of the best books I have ever read. Where was it when I was in school? Understanding the great thinkers, philosophers,itis written up as a novel and you go through the... Read more
Published 17 months ago by B. Ridley
3.0 out of 5 stars
Boring novel
If you are reading this as a novel, it's pretty boring. But I guess as it is trying to present the history of philosophy, from that perspective, it is trying hard to make it as... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Lamy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awakening!
I loved it! I'm so glad I found this book. Understanding the history of our human psyche answers many questions to our present day situations of religions, politics, science,... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Curious Puppy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent philosophy primer [SPOILER]
[SPOILER] I asked my friends for recommendations of books where the characters know they are in a book or story. Read more
Published 23 months ago by M. Little
3.0 out of 5 stars
Yes & No
This book attempts to do a lot and, in the end, it does at least a little. It introduces beginners to some of the fundamental ideas of the major philosophers from antiquity to the... Read more
Published on Feb 26 2011 by PhiloSophos
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read for everyone
If you think this book is for teenage girls in the middle of a life crisis, you should think again. Yes, Gaarder's book is about existentialism, but more than that, it is a great... Read more
Published on Dec 12 2010 by Adrian Bachmann
5.0 out of 5 stars
"The only thing we require to be good philosophers is the faculty of...
Sophie''s story, aside from being a scan through different Ages of Thought, very cleverly intertwines a mysterious intrigue that was part of the reason I managed to read through... Read more
Published on Dec 11 2010 by Sharry
5.0 out of 5 stars
A delightful introduction to philosophy with a mysterious twist.
Sophie Amundsen is a typical teenager in Norway. On the verge of her 15th birthday, Sophie begins a mysterious correspondence with a stranger who offers an unusual introduction to... Read more
Published on April 14 2010 by Princess Lucy
3.0 out of 5 stars
Sophie's World
Purchased this as a school text for an AP Philosophy course. It's dry and hard for students to get into - they actually perfer the textbook! Read more
Published on Feb 6 2009 by Librarian at Large
5.0 out of 5 stars
Philosophy made easy
A wonderful book that introduces the reader to the wonderful world of philosophy. The reader along with Sophie - the main character of the book - will start making up his/her mind... Read more
Published on Jan 4 2009 by Esfandiar Aghaei
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