In Books
  • All Departments
  • In Books
  • In Bargain Books
  • In eReading
  • In Kids' Books
  • In Teens' Books
  • In Toys & Games
  • In Video Games
  • In Lifestyle & Paper
  • In Movies & TV
  • In Music
  • In Used & Rare Books
  • In Used & Rare Movies & TV
  • In Used & Rare Music
Advanced Search
Sophies World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy

Average rating: 4/5

Based on 30 ratings

Rate this

Sophies World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy

by Jostein Gaarder
Translated by: Paulette Moller

March 22, 2007 | Trade Paperback

A page-turning novel that is also an exploration of the great philosophical concepts of Western thought, "Sophie' s World "has fired the imagination of readers all over the world, with more than twenty million copies in print.
One day fourteen-year-old Sophie Amundsen comes home from school to find in her mailbox two notes, with one question on each: " Who are you?" and " Where does the world come from?" From that irresistible beginning, Sophie becomes obsessed with questions that take her far beyond what she knows of her Norwegian village. Through those letters, she enrolls in a kind of correspondence course, covering Socrates to Sartre, with a mysterious philosopher, while receiving letters addressed to another girl. Who is Hilde? And why does her mail keep turning up? To unravel this riddle, Sophie must use the philosophy she is learning- but the truth turns out to be far more complicated than she could have imagined.

Save 5 %

$13.00
$12.35
$11.73

In Stock

All Editions Online Member
Kobo Edition (eBook) $10.99 n/a
Audio Book (CD) $43.52 $41.34

This item is found in: Religion and Spirituality

  • Eligible for FREE Shipping on orders over $25. + Details.

Reviews

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    Rating: 5/5

    Why I loved this book

    Étienne Paquette

    2 years ago

    I’m about to finish the book Sophie’s world and I really think it’s a book that everyone should read. It’s amazing how Jostein Gaarder can resume the history of philosophy in such a clear way. Even if it’s full of very complex concepts and theories, it’s so easy to read and to understand. A very good book that will makes you think about yourself and about the world.

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    I just finished reading Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy by Jostein Gaarder.

    This book is sooooo insightful and so amazing it will blow your mind away.

    It's like Philosophy for dummies, gives you the ideas behind each school of thought and explains it quite well.

    It's starts with the Garden of Eden, the natural philosophers, Fate, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and keeps going until it reaches Marx , Darwin, Freud and finally ending with the big bang.

    What I loved about the book is that it tells philosophy in novel format, mixing the story of a 14 year old, Sophie, who starts receiving mysterious letters in the mail asking her very hard questions like: What is Philosophy? Who are you? And Where does the world come from?

    The sender of these letters is an old man called Alberto Knox. With his letters Alberto and Sophie start exploring the intriguing world of Philosophy.

    This Novel is fantasy colliding with reality where you are forced to think about Religion, Science the Universe , God and way more important things than what you usually think about, unless of course, you are a philosopher.

    A page turner, didn't want to put it down. Might be difficult in some spots but definitely an extraordinary book to read.

    I rarely read a book twice but I will definitely read this one again because its going on the list of my favorite books of all time. It even might be number one.

    Go read it.

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?

    Rating: 5/5

    What a World!

    BK Social Psych.

    3 years ago

    I kid you not, this is an amazing introduction to the history of ideas. Philosophy has a reputation of being abstract and irrelevant to everyday life. Through out the book Gaarder makes philosophy exciting and relevant to the protagonist, and in doing so the reader is caught up in the excitement. You cant put this book down as you anticipate how the author will weave thinkers like Kant or Sartre through out the plot. It makes you wonder why there are not more books of this genre. Imagine the ideas and thinkers of economics, politics, psychology and sociology coming alive in fictional stories for young adults. Don't be fooled, this book has something for the wise sage too.

    • Was this review
      helpful to you?
    Michelle

    Rating: 5/5

    Sophie's World

    Michelle

    13 years ago

    An intriguing novel with a side helping of beginner's philosophy. Within the first few pages you are thrust in to Sophie's world, and find yourself just as eager as Sophie to discover the answers to life's most influential philosophers. This book is for anyone who has a passion for philosophy, and wants to unlock the abswers to some of life's great questions.

see more

Details

From the Publisher

A page-turning novel that is also an exploration of the great philosophical concepts of Western thought, "Sophie' s World "has fired the imagination of readers all over the world, with more than twenty million copies in print.
One day fourteen-year-old Sophie Amundsen comes home from school to find in her mailbox two notes, with one question on each: " Who are you?" and " Where does the world come from?" From that irresistible beginning, Sophie becomes obsessed with questions that take her far beyond what she knows of her Norwegian village. Through those letters, she enrolls in a kind of correspondence course, covering Socrates to Sartre, with a mysterious philosopher, while receiving letters addressed to another girl. Who is Hilde? And why does her mail keep turning up? To unravel this riddle, Sophie must use the philosophy she is learning- but the truth turns out to be far more complicated than she could have imagined.

About the Author

Jostein Gaarder was born in Olso, Norway on August 8, 1952. A former high school philosophy teacher, he now writes numerous novels for children and adults. His best known work is Sophie's World. He has received numerous awards including the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 1994 for Sophie's World, the Buxtehude Bulle in 1997, and the Willy-Brandt-Award in 2004.

Trade Paperback

544 Pages, 5.63 x 8.38 x 0.94 in

March 22, 2007

English


0374530718
9780374530716

From the Critics

" First, think a beginner' s guide to philosophy . . . Next, imagine a fantasy novel- something like a modern-day version of "Through the Looking Glass," Meld these disparate genres, and what do you get? Well, what you get is an improbable international bestseller . . . [A] tour de force." - "Time"

< close and return to chapters.indigo.ca
kobo
  • Take your library with you wherever you go
  • Use the device you want to use… smartphone, desktop and many of today’s most popular eReaders
  • Use Indigo gift cards to buy eBooks and subscriptions

WHY KOBO?

We love the Kobo eReading service… and we know you will too. We’ve partnered with them to bring you the most flexible, enjoyable eReading experience in Canada.

SHOPPING ON KOBO

You’ll be asked to sign in or create a new account with Kobo. Once you do, you’ll immediately get access to millions of titles and be ready to start eReading. Anytime. Anyplace.

continue to kobo

Protected by Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Legal Notices and Terms of Use | Privacy Policy  

Portions of content provided by Rovi Corporation © 2010

Powered by EndecaVeriSign SecuredEssential Accessibility 

As Canada’s purveyor of ideas and inspiration, Indigo is the largest book, gift and specialty toy retailer in Canada. Indigo operates in all provinces under different banners including Indigo Books & Music; Indigo Books, Gifts, Kids; IndigoSpirit; Chapters; The World's Biggest Bookstore; and Coles. The online channel, www.indigo.ca, features books, eBooks, toys and gifts and hosts the award winning Indigo Online Community.

111