Sophies world is an outline of western philosophy that is beautifully set in a fictional story. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. I read this book over the course of a month, while reading other books in parallel, and sometimes taking a break from it on purpose. Gaarder, through alberto knox, was an enthralling teacher. This page contains details about the fiction book sophie s world. Sophies world a novel about the history of philosophy. Here, we come to the central twist of the bookthe strong possibility that sophie and alberto are just fictions, creature who only exist as words on a printed page. Its worth a read for anybody interested in philosophy, and could easily be a collegelevel philosophy textbook.
A summary of the natural philosophers, democritus, and fate in jostein gaarders sophies world. The defining theme of sophies world is, pretty clearly, philosophy. Jostein gaarder s sophie s world provides a child like introduction to the world of philosophy. Sofies verden is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. One day when sophie comes home from school, she finds two questions in her mail. Eventually, through the philosophy of george berkeley, sophie and alberto figure out that their entire world is a. The author of the world wide bestseller, small is beautiful, now tackles the subject of man, the world, and the meaning of living. We sense more of the unfathomable mystery in a butterfly that flutters from a twigor in a goldfish swimming in a bowl.
The different philosophers from sophie s world learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. Schumacher writes about mans relation to the world. Thus begins jostein gaarder s unique novel, which is not only a mystery, but also a complete and entertaining history of philosophy. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. An alternative cover for this isbn can be found hereone day fo. Sophie s world quotes will surely be loved by people with brains and a taste for literature. A novel about the history of philosophy by jostein gaarder at indigo. As the book moves along, sophie amundsen, a teenaged girl, learns important lessons in the history of western philosophy from her teacher, alberto knox. Jostein gaarder the protagonists are sophie amundsen, a 14yearold girl, and alberto knox, her philosophy teacher. 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. More praise for the international bestseller that has become europes oddball literary sensation of the decade new york newsday a pageturner.
The different philosophers from sophies world learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. The physical world through which sophie and alberto are moving may be real, or it may be nothing more than paper and writing, the product of hildes fathers imagination. Alberto, an intelligent man, guides sophie through the ancient greeks, the medieval thinkers, and enlightenment and. This book is the 765th greatest fiction book of all time as determined by. Thinking of sophie s world as a mystery novel, what other clues did you encounter over the course of the book. The natural philosophers believed that there was one substance that all things were made of. Sophie amundsen is fourteen years old when the book begins, living in norway. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics kindle edition by gaarder, jostein, moller, paulette. There is a great deal of similarity between sophie and hilde. The age of the latter was determined more by the fact that sophie is 15 and. The author ingeniously walks the reader through the entire history of philosophy while telling a story.
Norway is the original publication place of the book. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics jostein gaarder, paulette moller on. Sofies verden is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein. Gaarder here reading to schoolchildren tapped into. Mar 25, 2012 all things associated with sophie amundsen in sophie s world by jostein gaarder. She begins a strange correspondence course in philosophy. A novel about the history of philosophy by jostein gaarder published in 1991. Berkeley s philosophy, which sophie has just studied, assures sophie that sensual perceptions only exist in the mind of the perceiver. The book simplifies the complex world of philosophy. If i had written sophies world today, is there something important i would have added. A novel about the history of philosophy jostein gaarder.
The books most interesting facet is its detailed take into the history of philosophy. I wasnt particularly interested in the story as such. It follows the events of sophie amundsen, a teenage girl living in norway, and alberto knox, a middleaged philosopher who introduces her to philosophical thinking and the history of philosophy. Sophies world combines history, mythology, philosophy, and a comingofage tale. Before she knows it she is enrolled in a correspondence course with a mysterious philosopher. Start a free trial of quizlet plus by thanksgiving lock in 50% off all year try it free ends in 00d 08h 20m 43s. He taught highschool philosophy for several years before publishing a collection of short stories in 1986 and, shortly thereafter, his first two novels, the solitaire mystery and sophies world, and several others since then.
I believe there is something of the divine mystery in everything that exists. Sophies world is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. A novel about the history of philosophy paperback mar 20 2007 by jostein gaarder author 4. Sections in which we read the text of knoxs lessons. It goes from presocratic philosophy all the way to sartre. Both girls are angered by the opinions of many of the philosophers about women.
Sophie loses interest in school while she is taking the philosophy course and hilde skips school on her birthday to read the book. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of sophies world and what it means. Sophie s world a novel is the book i recommend the most because it so eloquently captures the wonder of philosophy, the giddiness you feel when you realise you are floating in space. The meat of the book its account of western philosophical.
Mar 12, 2017 a pageturning 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. Listen to this audiobook excerpt from jostein gaarder s novel sophie s world. Do philosophical questions remain the same for all time. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary. Some of the greatest thinkers in world history have lived within the field of philosophy. But the history of philosophy is very well done and informative. A pageturning novel that is also an exploration of the great philosophical concepts of western thought, sophies world has fired the imagination of readers all over the world, with more than. While sophie s world might be a little too advanced, there are other great books for answering childrens questions about the world wed 2 jan. The ways we think and behave are heavily influenced by the culture we are born into. Entertainment weekly first, think of a beginners guide to philosophy, written by a schoolteacher. Dec 22, 2007 sophies world was a long, strange, and most unpredictable novel. Jostein gaarder introduces us to his new book the world according to anna duration.
It follows sophie amundsen, a norwegian teenager who is introduced to the history of philosophy by alberto knox, a middleaged philosopher. Jostein gaarder does a very good job not just by writing a concise history of philosophy, but also by writing a very accessible book for as far as early teenagers, which in itself is worthy of high praise. See more ideas about sophie s world, books and history of philosophy. Definitely not your run of the mill philosophy book. A whimsical and ingenious mystery novel that also happens to be a history of philosophy. The book will serve as a firstrate introduction for anyone who never took an introductory philosophy course, and as a pleasant refresher for those who have. Jostein gaarders world bestseller sophies world is a book about philosophy, as you may have guessed from the title of this article. When sophie first starts receiving letters from the philosophy teacher, she finds that each one is slightly damp, having two little holes in it.
Have you read sophie s world or have an interest in philosophy. The theme of philosophy, wisdom, and wonder in sophies world. In all honesty, the style never really won me over. Daily mail what is admirable in the novel is the utter unpretentiousness of the philosophical lessons, the plain and workmanlike prose which manages to deliver western philosophy in accounts that are crystal clear.
A pageturning novel that is also an exploration of the great philosophical concepts of western thought, sophies world has fired the imagination of readers all over the world. A riveting novel that is also an exploration of the great philosophical concepts of western thought, sophies world, with more than 30 million copies in print, has fired the imaginations all over the world. The two books ive read that helped me get a very broad overview of the major topics in philosophy are. Sep 25, 1994 moreover, there is enough about the wonder and magic of philosophy in sophie s world to make some readers reach for their guns. One day sophie comes home from school to find two questions in her mail. Oct 27, 2019 sophies world a novel is the book i recommend the most because it so eloquently captures the wonder of philosophy, the giddiness you feel when you realise you are floating in space. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. I loved the way jostein gaarder wove the history and philosophy into the fiction. The book begins with sophie receiving two messages in her mailbox and a postcard addressed to hilde moller knag. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.
Sophies world is a novel by jostein gaarder that was first published 1991. The garden of eden, the top hat, and the myths the natural philosophers. Sophie s world became a bestseller in norway and won the deutscher jugendliteraturpreis in 1994. The philosophical world which is often complex, vast, and difficult to contemplate in a limited time we have needs simplified parables and analogies. One day fourteenyearold sophie amundsen comes home from school to find in her mailbox two notes, with one question on each. Sophie s world is not a simple novel, but a beautiful combo of literature and philosophy. Published in 1991, the book was a resounding success selling millions of copies and being translated into over 50 different languages the original book was written in gaarders native norwegian. This was my very first indepth reading on philosophy. This aspect of sophies world was its most magnificent and most riveting.
The best parts of sophie s world are the fictional parts sophie s actual world. Mar 20, 2007 sophies world by jostein gaarder is, in my view, a highly successful attempt to write a history of philosophy together with a story. The best philosophy books of all time updated for 2020. Sophies world by jostein gaarder audiobook 22 youtube. Paulette moller one day when sophie comes home from school, she finds two questions in her mail. There are 518 pages of the original edition of the book. Sophie learns that the ancient greeks believed the world was eternal, and so they did not ask about where it came from but rather were interested in the question of change.
1607 1410 1250 366 806 816 522 733 957 788 1465 1625 621 1342 1308 1656 1346 1100 1382 423 28 1407 313 229 1459 1189 933 501 176 1425 203 913 1386 248 665 229 123