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. Entertainment weekly first, think of a beginners guide to philosophy, written by a schoolteacher. Definitely not your run of the mill philosophy book. The book simplifies the complex world of philosophy. 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 two books ive read that helped me get a very broad overview of the major topics in philosophy are. 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. See more ideas about sophie s world, books and history of 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.
It follows sophie amundsen, a norwegian teenager who is introduced to the history of philosophy by alberto knox, a middleaged philosopher. 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 s sophie s world provides a child like introduction to the world of philosophy. The philosophical world which is often complex, vast, and difficult to contemplate in a limited time we have needs simplified parables and analogies. Jul 14, 2019 the story, however, careened more on the latter, gaarder weaving it into the book to enhance its complexion. Its worth a read for anybody interested in philosophy, and could easily be a collegelevel philosophy textbook. Do philosophical questions remain the same for all time. If i had written sophies world today, is there something important i would have added. More praise for the international bestseller that has become europes oddball literary sensation of the decade new york newsday a pageturner. Jostein gaarder introduces us to his new book the world according to anna duration.
The author ingeniously walks the reader through the entire history of philosophy while telling a story. 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. 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. Sophies world by jostein gaarder audiobook 22 youtube.
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. Sophie loses interest in school while she is taking the philosophy course and hilde skips school on her birthday to read the book. One day when sophie comes home from school, she finds two questions in her mail. There is a great deal of similarity between sophie and hilde. Dec 05, 1991 sofies verden sophie s world, jostein gaarder sophie s world is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder.
The theme of philosophy, wisdom, and wonder in sophies world. 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. 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. Dec 22, 2007 sophies world was a long, strange, and most unpredictable novel. A novel about the history of philosophy enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. There are 518 pages of the original edition of the book. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. I wasnt particularly interested in the story as such. May 23, 2016 sophie world and ancient greek philosophy part 1 duration. 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. Berkeley s philosophy, which sophie has just studied, assures sophie that sensual perceptions only exist in the mind of the perceiver. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics kindle edition by gaarder, jostein, moller, paulette.
Have you read sophie s world or have an interest in philosophy. Listen to this audiobook excerpt from jostein gaarder s novel sophie s world. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary. Sophie s world by jostein gaarderaudiobook excerpt.
Sophie s world is not a simple novel, but a beautiful combo of literature and philosophy. One day sophie comes home from school to find two questions in her mail. Sophies world a novel about the history of philosophy. By studying the best philosophy books we can try to understand the ways that cultures before us created and understood meaning in their lives. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics. A whimsical and ingenious mystery novel that also happens to be a history of philosophy. The defining theme of sophies world is, pretty clearly, philosophy. A summary of the natural philosophers, democritus, and fate in jostein gaarders sophies world. 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. A novel about the history of philosophy paperback mar 20 2007 by jostein gaarder author 4. A novel about the history of philosophy jostein gaarder. We sense more of the unfathomable mystery in a butterfly that flutters from a twigor in a goldfish swimming in a bowl. A novel about the history of philosophy by jostein gaarder at indigo. The best philosophy books of all time updated for 2020.
In all honesty, the style never really won me over. Both of them enjoy thinking and like to wonder about life and the unknown. This page contains details about the fiction book sophie s world. Jan 21, 2019 i accepted the advice of another aspiring reader of good literature to begin with sophies world. This aspect of sophies world was its most magnificent and most riveting. The age of the latter was determined more by the fact that sophie is 15 and. 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. Some of the greatest thinkers in world history have lived within the field of philosophy. I believe there is something of the divine mystery in everything that exists. 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. Jan 02, 20 when sophie s world was published, it became a sensation for both adults and children from 10 and 11yearolds up. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of sophies world and what it means. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. The book begins with sophie receiving two messages in her mailbox and a postcard addressed to hilde moller knag.
The books most interesting facet is its detailed take into the 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. The meat of the book its account of western philosophical. This was my very first indepth reading on philosophy. The garden of eden, the top hat, and the myths the natural philosophers. 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. Start a free trial of quizlet plus by thanksgiving lock in 50% off all year try it free ends in 00d 08h 20m 43s. It goes from presocratic philosophy all the way to sartre.
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. The different philosophers from sophie s world learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. A novel about the history of philosophy by jostein gaarder published in 1991. 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. Sophies world is an outline of western philosophy that is beautifully set in a fictional story. Alberto, an intelligent man, guides sophie through the ancient greeks, the medieval thinkers, and enlightenment and.
Sophies world is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. But the history of philosophy is very well done and informative. Gaarder here reading to schoolchildren tapped into. When sophie first starts receiving letters from the philosophy teacher, she finds that each one is slightly damp, having two little holes in it. Sophies world is a novel by jostein gaarder that was first published 1991. Both girls are angered by the opinions of many of the philosophers about women.
Norway is the original publication place of the book. Schumacher writes about mans relation to the world. Sophie amundsen is fourteen years old when the book begins, living in norway. Jostein gaarder the protagonists are sophie amundsen, a 14yearold girl, and alberto knox, her philosophy teacher. The best parts of sophie s world are the fictional parts sophie s actual world. Before she knows it she is enrolled in a correspondence course with a mysterious philosopher. Thus begins jostein gaarder s unique novel, which is not only a mystery, but also a complete and entertaining history of philosophy. Mar 25, 2012 all things associated with sophie amundsen in sophie s world by jostein gaarder. The different philosophers from sophies world learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. The natural philosophers believed that there was one substance that all things were made of. Sophie s world became a bestseller in norway and won the deutscher jugendliteraturpreis in 1994. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics jostein gaarder, paulette moller on. 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. 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.
Gaarder, through alberto knox, was an enthralling teacher. Sophie s world quotes will surely be loved by people with brains and a taste for literature. An alternative cover for this isbn can be found hereone day fo. Sophies world combines history, mythology, philosophy, and a comingofage tale. This book is the 765th greatest fiction book of all time as determined by.
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. Jostein gaarders world bestseller sophies world is a book about philosophy, as you may have guessed from the title of this article. She begins a strange correspondence course in philosophy. Eventually, through the philosophy of george berkeley, sophie and alberto figure out that their entire world is a. Sections in which we read the text of knoxs lessons. One day fourteenyearold sophie amundsen comes home from school to find in her mailbox two notes, with one question on each. Paulette moller one day when sophie comes home from school, she finds two questions in her mail. 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. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Thinking of sophie s world as a mystery novel, what other clues did you encounter over the course of the book. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that.
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