Sophie's World: 20th Anniversary Edition

I love Jostein Gaarder’s writing and have since I was a teenager. I was younger than Sophie and Hilde when my Religion teacher Mrs Foy introduced me to this book. I was absorbed and obsessed with it for months and it gave me a kind of peace and a framework of the world that simply had never occured to me before. I have my paper copy still in my books at home but I bought the online version as well. I love the newer cover, it is beautiful. I think this book was the main reason that I didn’t become a completely close minded atheist. If I have ever had a thought that was outside the box or been pushed to think outside my comfort zone, it can be traced back to this book. It is as enthralling to me now as it was all those years ago. I can’t wait to pass it to my own children.

This is the story of Sophie Amundsun and Hilda Molle Knag, one a fictional character and the other a schoolgirl reading a book. The book takes the reader through intellectual thought in chronological order from ancient Greece to modern existentialism. The debate between how we learn about the world through our senses or reason is discussed from ancient Greece through to modern day. Morality is represented by the three main religions, along with humanism, in addition to the debate over whether right and wrong are innate or culturally influenced. Movements such as the Renaissance, the Enightenent and Romanticism highlight cultural changes in technology, reason and a return to nature. Individual modern thinkers such as Kierkegaard, Sartre, Marx, Darwin and Freud. Despite being aimed at teenagers, this is a useful introduction to philosophy for adults.

Jostein Gaarder writes well or his translator does - whichever way this is well written with accessible and compelling prose. I bought this after it was recommended as an introduction to philosophy and at that it is great. Gaarder's relaxed style, superb use of examples and the interplay between the curious Sophie and her philosopher mentor Alberto Knox makes an often turgid and offputting world interesting, enticing and above all accessible. I am reading my masters in philosophy now and as an introduction to all of the big ideas of philosophy I couldn't really have done better. Of course covering so much does mean that from time to time some of the coverage is superficial but it is only an introduction. As a philosophy textbooks go brilliant. The story follows Sophie as she approaches her fifteenth birthday and begins receive strange letters and notes asking questions such as "who are you?" and "where do you come from?" The notes are followed by complex letters explaining philosophy from the pre-Socratics to modern day new-agers and existentialists. Eventually Sophie meets her intiguing tutor (much to her mother's consternation) and they begin to explore some of the more complex issues together. All the while Sophie is also receiving notes from a Major based with the UN in Lebanon for his daughter Hilde (with whom Sophie shares a birthday). The premise is actually very interesting and I was intrigued to find the relationship between Hilde and Sophie. Gaarder is keen on stories within stories and this book weaves intricate tales within tales and hints at the possibility of more. And actually as a result the last hundred pages aren't very good and the end is frankly rubbish. So as a story I can't really recommend this despite how well it starts but as a lively introduction to the subject of philosophy spot on.

If you have ever felt that philosophy should be made more widely available in schools and that this would improve the ethical and moral status of society (eventually), this could be the book for you. Interwoven with a kind of folk law story it is accessible and vitally important. Updated version includes greater emphasis on environmental issues.

With a book like this, it's important to know what kind of book it is before you read it. First and foremost this is an educational book, in which the lessons are faciltated by means of a story, so if it's light fiction your after then this isn't the book for you. This may sound obvious to most people, but I know a couple of people who bought this book not realising this. As for me I knew what I was buying beforehand (indeed I deliberately bought it to be educated) and therefore got a lot out of it. As far as I'm concerned this book more than achieves it's goal in teaching what can be a complex subject in a relatively understandable way. My only gripe about this book is that sometimes Sophie's dialogue (both in her conversations with the people around her and in her internal thought process) can feel a bit contrived and, for me at least, slightly irritating. Again though let us remember that this is an educational book and should be judged mainly on that basis. That being said though, one clever aspect of the story writing in this book is that early on in the story there are a number of questions relating to the plot that are answered later in ways you weren't really expecting at all.

Gaarder's work has proved to be a huge success in the market, selling many copies and achieving critical acclaim. This is also represented in the frequency with which it is cited as one of the best introductions to philosophy, according to those who have read it. This, however, seems to have been a rather inflated truth and one which sets up great expectations which the book simply cannot deliver on. The novel structure of the book may have been inviting to a wider audience than perhaps philosophy is used to, yet the actual effect is somewhat less attractive. Gaarder's prose is often reminiscent of teen literature and does little to embellish the story line, which is also problematic and often vague. This is a personal interpretation, however, and ought not to discourage others from enjoying it if the prose style is of little consequence. The real highlight of this book, though this is not much of a highlight still, is the philosophical teachings that Knox espouses. However, this seems to be superficial and often cannot cite arguments for the conclusions. In this way, the point of real philosophising is often left to a few criticisms under the guise of Sophie's incredulity. Overall, it has to be said that if the reader's intention is to have a very simple level of understanding and an easy read, this is definitely the correct book. Overall, Sophie's world is an enjoyable entry-level work and has the possibility of provoking real philosophical thought and reading. For this, as well as the basic introduction and novel approach, it has earned three stars.

I read this book when it first came out and it blew me away. Until I met my now partner of 3 years I never encountered anyone who I thought would appreciate it. He is retired and has had health issues but recently also has had family troubles ( a sister and brother died suddenly). I could see he was struggling and when I realised it was 20 years! since I first read Sophies World I had to get it for him even as a distraction from his worries. It is a magical story which on the surface looks banal but the truths within are breathtaking. He loves it and says its the best present ever. Well written wish I had done it. My partner and me very happy with it and as soon as he is done I am getting it off him! Just have to re read Paolo Coelho The Alchemist again first which he bought me for our first anniversary! NB My own copy of Sophie disappeared at the time my eldest daughter went off to Uni LOL

It’s hard to find any real criticism of this, especially as it’s marketed at teenagers but surpasses most ‘grown up’ fiction with ease. Well, I’m 40 and not only thoroughly enjoyed the plot but as someone interested in philosophy in general found it extremely educational too. It simplifies the big ideas and I can see how it creates a spark of interest and could make the reader want to delve into the original detailed philosophical texts having grasped the basics from this. I suppose if anything I thought the vehicle of Sophie’s story was dumbed down a bit too much. The plot could have been delivered with the same elegance as the philosophical sections. Overall though, I was impressed with this journey into the realms of both fantasy and philosophy - It’s both a fictional novel and educational text and can recommend to young and old alike.

I like it very much

I am loving the book. The edition is pulp-paperback but the price is fair and with good readability. Great little book to bring with you everywhere and read when ocassions shows up.

My favorite book!

I couldn’t stop reading, I was curious like a 5 year old while reading..it enriched my imagination and enhanced my thinking process, really recommend reading

Quando li este livro, há 10 anos, eu estava com a mente muito aberta e ele fez muito sentido. Independente da história da filosofia e das afirmações e preocupações dos filósofos, o que mais me marcou foi aumento da capacidade em realizar análises(dividir assuntos complexos em pequenas partes) e ter um bom senso acima do padrão. Resolvi reler em inglês e tive uma experiência diferente. Hoje eu consigo entender melhor as filosofias porém a história principal já não foi mais tão impactante :( A gente envelhece e perde a magia de se surpreender...