A phenomenal worldwide bestseller, sophies world sets out to draw teenagers into the world of socrates, descartes, spinoza, hegel and all the great philosophers. Dec 22, 2007 sophies world was a long, strange, and most unpredictable novel. Entertainment weekly first, think of a beginners guide to philosophy, written by a schoolteacher. Like sophie, she is a deep thinker, and the philosophy in the book intrigues her deeply.
A novel about the history of philosophy and over one million other books are available for amazon kindle. The way plot and theme are combinedand expressed makes this book unique. 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 twenty million copies in print. I read sophies world because it was recommended at a writers conference i attended. She s a very imaginative and creative young lady whose father doesnt understand her at all and neither do most of her classmates. More praise for the international bestseller that has become europes oddball literary sensation of the decade new york newsday a pageturner. Jun 11, 2012 a whole new world is opening up for sophie, a world full of people who look at the world completely differently from how most people do. Sophie s world a novel about the history of philosophy jostein gaarder translated by paulette miller berkley books, new york if you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property.
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 was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher, and. Sophies world summary from litcharts the creators of. The essential charm of sophies world lies in the innocent curiosity of the young character, and the clever narrative structure gaarder designed to pique it. I wasnt particularly interested in the story as such. Dec 05, 1991 sophie s world is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. Sophies world is an outline of western philosophy that is beautifully set in a fictional story. Jostein gaarder s sophie s world provides a child like introduction to the world of philosophy. 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 twenty million copies in print. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics jostein gaarder, paulette moller on. 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. Sophie s world is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. Her birthday falls on christmas day, and it is indirectly implied that she was born on the 25th of december 1986 see below.
She in turn learns about philosophy by reading about sophies study of philosophy, never suspecting that she is merely a character in a booksophies worldwritten by a philosophy teacher named. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics kindle edition by gaarder, jostein, moller, paulette. Bestselling author sophie dahl has written her first childrens book, madame badobedah a timeless story celebrating friendship and imagination. An international bestseller, it is both a mystery novel and a history of the major philosophies that have impacted the world. Sophies world is a novel by jostein gaarder that was first published 1991. Sophies world by jostein gaarder is, in my view, a highly successful attempt to write a history of philosophy together with a story. Writer jostein gaarder being interviewed by hsh prince alfred of liechtenstein at the forum 2000 duration. A brilliantly original and fascinating story with many twists and turns, it raises profound questions about the meaning of life and the origin of the universe. An alternative cover for this isbn can be found hereone day fo.
Living as though everything centres on our time is just as naive as thinking the earth is flat. She encounters first some odd philosophical questions and then the first chapter of a written philosophy course in her mailbox. While sophies world might be a little too advanced, there are other great books for answering childrens questions about the world wed 2 jan 20 06. Sofies verden is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. 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. This was my very first indepth reading on philosophy. Hilde, on the other hand, whom we meet halfway through the book, appears to be a real girl whose father has written a novel entitled sophies world. It is a wellwritten book and it was easy to quickly come to care about sophie. Hilde is also extremely compassionate, and she feels for sophie and alberto while her father plays with their lives. Mar 20, 2007 sophies world by jostein gaarder, 9780374530716, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The english translation was published in 1995, and the book was reported to be the bestselling book in the world in that year. Make this book your starting point and move forward.
Sophie demonstrates some of the recent creations from her virtual art class and invites you to join. Jostein gaarders world bestseller sophies world is a book about philosophy, as you may have guessed from the title of this article. A novel about the history of philosophy new ed by jostein gaarder isbn. Meanwhile, sophie and alberto watch hilde and albert. Originally published july 21, 2009 if you enjoy bizarre novels where nothing is as it seems, and the line between the real and the surreal blurs, sophies world, by jostein gaarder, is for you.
Sophies world by jostein gaarder, 9780374530716, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. 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. Alberto tells sophie that since the world is frozen, theres no way sophie can communicate with hilde. The book is written by jostein gaarder who is a norwegian writer. The different philosophers from sophies world learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. Copy and paste one of these options to share this book elsewhere. Sophie starts to learn about the historical beginnings of philosophy.
One more very important character in the sophies world is alberto knox. Jan 02, 20 while sophie s world might be a little too advanced, there are other great books for answering children s questions about the world wed 2 jan 20 06. Albert is impressed with the knowledge and wisdom hilde has absorbed from the book he sent her. The book begins with sophie receiving two messages in. Start a free trial of quizlet plus by thanksgiving lock in 50% off all year try it free ends in 00d 08h 20m 43s. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Author bio nancy rue has written over 100 books for girls, is the editor of the faithgirlz bible, and is a popular speaker and radio guest with her expertise in tween and teen issues.
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. Nov 18, 2014 writer jostein gaarder being interviewed by hsh prince alfred of liechtenstein at the forum 2000 duration. A novel about the history of philosophy audiobook by jostein gaarder. By 2011 the novel had been translated into fiftynine languages, with over forty million print copies sold. Sophies world great philosophical concepts of western thought, sophies world has fired the imagination of readers all over the world, with more than twenty million copies in print. Immediately download the sophie s world summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching sophie s world. Two decades ago, a history of philosophy by an unknown. At the same time, sophie is curious who is giving her. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary. 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 sophie s world, and several others since then. One day fourteenyearold sophie amundsen comes home from. You can sign up for the class and my newsletter here. An unlikely heroine, sophies forced to use her newfound war tactics to foil a heinous plot and save a friend from impending humiliation by the popular girls.
On the 20th anniversary of sophie s world the world s bestselling book of 1995 a striking new edition with a fresh jacket look and a foreword by the author. Immediately download the sophies world summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching sophies world. It goes from presocratic philosophy all the way to sartre. Sophies world was a long, strange, and most unpredictable novel.
Sofies verden sophies world, jostein gaarder sophies world is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. On the 20th anniversary of sophies world the worlds bestselling book of 1995 a striking new edition with a fresh jacket look and a foreword by the author. The novel concerns a little girl, sophia, who gets a correspondence course in philosophy from a mysterious character further details into the. But the history of philosophy is very well done and informative. 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. About the author jostein gaarder was born in oslo in 1952. After finishing sophies world i put down the book and stared out the window for a long time. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading sophies world.
All classes use materials commonly found in most households. A whole new world is opening up for sophie, a world full of people who look at the world completely differently from how most people. Oct 23, 2014 jostein gaarder, in the book sophies world there are also instances where important insights into certain philosophers are shared, perhaps as a warning. It follows sophie amundsen, a norwegian teenager who is introduced to the history of philosophy by alberto knox, a middleaged philosopher. Classes are at 3pm pacific time, monday, wednesday and friday via zoom. Mar 20, 2007 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, having been translated into fortyfive languages and with over twenty million copies in print. Sophies world is one of the most famous philosophical books in the history of literature. 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 great novel about philosophy, some of you may have seen it on my bookshelf in my intro video. The philosopher states that, in all cultures, people wanted explanations for why nature worked the way it. Sophie amundsen is fourteen years old when the book begins, living in norway. The washington post book world just as remarkable for its playful premise as it is for its accessibility. Together, albert and hilde look up at the stars, discussing philosophy and science. Jan 01, 2004 i read sophie s world because it was recommended at a writers conference i attended.
The philosophical world which is often complex, vast, and difficult to contemplate in a limited time we have needs simplified parables and analogies. Shes a very imaginative and creative young lady whose father doesnt understand her at all and neither do most of her classmates. According to aristotle, plato was trapped in a mythical world picture in which the human imagination was confused with the real world. As the name of the book says it all, the book is all about a girl sophie amundsen. I didnt understand what point gaarder was trying to make until i looked again at the philosophies covered in knoxs course. She begins a strange correspondence course in philosophy. Apr 09, 2017 sophies world is one of the most famous philosophical books in the history of literature. Sophie finds another packet from the philosopher, this time on the ancient myths. One day fourteenyearold sophie amundsen comes home from school to find in her mailbox two notes, with one question on each. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics is a history of philosophy written in the format of a mystery novel by jostein gaarder. For world book day 2020, esther marshall shares her motivations behind creating the sophie says childrens book series, which sets out to.
The book simplifies the complex world of philosophy. It follows sophie amundsen, a norwegian teenager who is. Sophies world became an alltime hit at the time of release and more when the english version got published. Every day, a letter comes to her mailbox that contains a few questions and then later in the day a package comes with some typed pages describing the ideas of a philosopher who dealt with the issues raised by the questions. Entertainment weekly first, think of a beginners guide to philosophy, written by a. Link to this page view link to the book embed a mini book reader 1 page 2 pages open to this page.