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

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.

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.

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.

A good synopsis of all things philsophical -- from Socrates to today's sceptics and everything in between. Easy to read and understand. Although there is a LOT of subject matter -- it was more enjoyable than a text book while imparting great information.

this book gives a great overlook of the history of philosophy. i'm 16 years old and this book really got me inspired to learn more about philosophy. also i loved how the book kept me guessing, whenever i thought i knew what wud happen next, i was usually totally wrong and a new adventure would be born!

Sophie's World is a philosophical novel. Sophie is fourteen finds a note in her mail box with two question: "who are you" and "where does the world come from?" She begins to think and explain her ideas on paper. This book is really good, and makes you few everything in a new light. This is the perfect philosophical book for teens.

Jostein Gaarder is the master of bringing concepts and theories to life in this adventure/science fiction book on philosophy! Complex, famous philosophers are thoroughly explained and demystified as this book is ingeniously written through the eyes of a young girl, Sophie. The lecture material is exemplified in her thought processes and more abstract implications of the theories are inferred through her experiences. An absolute must for anyone interested in philosophy.

Sophie's World is a fantastic book about philosophy through the ages. The storyline moves at a fast enough pace for those who find the lessons a little hard to get through and the philosophy is explained in a concise and very readable manner. For those interested in philosophy, the book is a wonderful refresher of the highlights of western philosophy. For those new to it, the book is a wonderful way to be introduced to philosophy and the core ideas of some of the discipline's greatest thinkers. I can't say enough good things about this book. Let yourself enter Sophie's World!

This book has brought so many nights of being curled up in a ball relaxing into whole new worlds of thought and imagination. Wonderfully written and extremly well presentation. This book is a must read.

A delightful and educational book which turns the history of philosophy into a game! If you're an avid philosophy buff, this book will satisfy to the utmost; and if you're moderately interested in philosophy, you will most definitely enjoy the unpredictable and unique storyline.
It makes you question everything you were certain of, and possibly see many aspects of life in a new light. Enjoy!

I love it! It makes you think about who you are and lets you answer the questions it asks.

When I first read this book, I had no idea of philosophy what so ever, and it so amazingly covered everything I needed to know for start, that I've been totally into philosophy ever since!! The book is very well-written and it takes you on a journey into the history of not only philsophy but the world. And the significance is that it lets you get involed in the proccess, as though as you feel you're a completely different person after you finish the book. I specially loved the way the author took examples from real life and even cartoon caracters to explain each part better. I enjoyed reading the sophie's world a lot and I think it opens your eyes to many thing that you would ignor by everyday habits. It makes you see the world through a thoughful pair of glasses! And I can never stop thinking that I'm just another character in a very thick and old book!!!!

I finished reading this book about a year ago, one of my teachers gave it to me as a present. It completely changed my life and the way I view the world. It took me four days to read it, I couldn't put it down. Sophie's world will make you see the universe in a totally different manner.
From Aristotle to Kierkegaard to Marx, this novel takes you on a philosophical journey through Ancient Greece and the Middle Ages to the Renaissance and the dawn of the Enlightenment. You will find yourself actually feeling like you live in the age of Socrates and Plato. Your mind will do a complete 360 by the end of this novel.
After reading this novel, I enrolled in a philosophy course to learn more, and am planning a trip to Greece to see where it all began. This novel will leave you yearning for more knowledge while also satisfying your need for a good book. I rate this book a definate 5 and guarantee all who read it will do the same.

This book in a very interesting novel format gives a minimum knoledge of philosophy one must have.

A mystery novel about the history of philosophy and thus the history of us makes for a unique and inspirational read. It is a rare gem in modern literature that is sure to be treasured for generations to come by people of all ages. You will be delighted at the way the story unfolds, with simplicity, ingenuity and irony. It’s ability to be both humorous and thought provoking, along with a sprinkle of fantasy makes it addicting and hard to put down. One can easily become lost in this book especially when the characters in the novel find themselves lost in the story as well. Whether an ardent student of philosophy, a newcomer to the great philosophers, or simply interested in history and life, you will come away from this introduction to philosophy refreshed and with more than you opened it with. This is a book that everyone nestled deep into “rabbit’s fur” of the universe needs to read.

This is a marvelous story of intrigue and mind blowing writing, that leaves you in a maize of wonder. You do not know anything for sure. I strongly reccomend this novel to anyone who loves to be teased by the written word. Every philosophy student and every philosophy professor should read Sophie'S world.

This is a book about the history of philosophy. Not in a “he was this and that” manner, but in a Story mode taking us into the life of a 15 year old girl who is becoming conscious about the world around her as she struggles for identity and meaning in life. One thing leads to another, this book was honestly not what one would expect of a history of philosophy book. A twist of fiction and reality confuses the reader in a fun way. Mind games played during the course of the book only to find out you have been deceiving yourself. A good book and very amusing. Don’t be discouraged by the titled!

An amzing novel that outlines the history of human wonder from it's beginnings right up into our local bookstores. Not only is this "Hisory of philosophy" in-depth and simple to grasp, but it is expertly woven into a complex and involved plot.

Recommended to anyone who has ever wondered where we are and how we got here.
Enjoy!

i'll keep it short....this book was the best book i ever read...i loved it!

i heard of this book by picking up the A-Z by accident and i was thrilled with all the information that would fit in its 500 someodd pgs. the novel itself was pretty decent for the knowledge in it. leaves you asking yourself, "did i actually read the novel?"