See a complete list of the characters in sophie s world and indepth analyses of sophie, alberto, hilde, and albert knag. 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. The symbol of the brass mirror in sophies world from. Madeleine lengle sophies 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. 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. When learning about most of the philosophers from previous chapters most of their upbringings have been much the same cliche such as generally catholic or very religious. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of sophie s world and what it means. The book begins with sophie receiving two messages in her mailbox and a. It goes from presocratic philosophy all the way to sartre. Sophies world is a novel but its essentially a 101 on philosophy disguised as a novel, a young adult or teen novel. Sophies choice is a 1979 novel by american author william styron.
This book teaches its readers about the history of philosophy, which is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge. 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. A novel about the history of philosophy new ed by jostein gaarder isbn. Sophies lessons in philosophy and her quest to find hilde made jostein gaarders novel sophies world. Sophie s world im finally trying to make time for books that have been on my wish list forever, and those that id given up on years before. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading sophies world. Jostein gaarder, sophies world a compositionand every work of art is oneis created in a wondrous interplay between imagination and reason, or between mind and reflection.
I also read one of jostein gaarder s other books, the solitaire mystery, and it has a similar feel, with intertwining and vaguely supernatural story lines, but it s not a beginner s textbook as sophie s world. The book will serve as a firstrate introduction to anyone who never took an introductory philosophy course, and as a pleasant refresher for those who have and have forgotten most of it. While sophies world might be a little too advanced, there are other great books for answering childrens questions about. Browse essays about sophies world and find inspiration. Sophies world a novel about the history of philosophy. Sophies choice won the us national book award for fiction in 1980. 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. It is not a book to be compared to christopher nolans inception. Spinoza classification marx was known as a historical materialist. Sophie amundsen is fourteen years old when the book begins, living in norway.
This study guide consists of approximately 58 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of sophies world. It is a bildungsroman, a novel about sophies moral and psychological growth. Would sophies world be too difficult for an inquisitive. Sophies world by jostein gaarder is, in my view, a highly successful attempt to write a history of philosophy together with a story. The novel is not at all persuasive but more threatening. The book tells sophie s story, and hilde rapidly moves through the chapters. This is a novel that tantalizes you to think and rethink till you reflect on an answer, and then yet again pushes you to rethink and question your answers. Each chapter focuses on a single philosophy or a single thought, making for a didactic reading. Does reading a novelor any bookconstitute a philosophical project.
Sophies world is a beautifully written tale within a tale within a tale that will take you to an inspirational journey through the history of. Sophies world belongs to the latter, but thanks to secondsight, i got back to it after 10 years. Would sophies world be too difficult for an inquisitive sevenyearold. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. It contains the major themes of his previous fiction, embodying his loves of the south and of literature, his experience of war, and his quest. Dec 05, 1991 sofies verden sophie s world, jostein gaarder sophie s world is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. The novel was the basis of a 1982 film of the same name. While sophie s world might be a little too advanced, there are other great books for answering children s questions about. What other book might you compare sophies world to and why. Berkeley, we already knew, questioned the objectivity of time and space. Mar 20, 2007 jostein gaarder was born in oslo, norway, in 1952. They provided a way of answering the question asked by one bookgrouper which is what is philosophy.
I read this book over the course of a month, while reading other books in. We also learn how those philosophers ideas have shaped our own idea of reality today. I loved sophie s world when i first read it in high school i should try it again now and see if it holds up. Books similar to sophies world goodreads share book. Jostein gaarder, author, paulette miller, translator, paulette moller, translator farrar straus giroux. Please note that the words in the third section are. History is made by the best of us and the worst of us over the heads of the rest of us.
It is a bildungsroman, a novel about sophie s moral and psychological growth. A genrecrossing european bestseller file under fiction, philosophy, and young adulthood with nearly a million copies sold to date, jostein gaarders novel, at. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. It does seem that that is the way the world truly works. Jostein gaarders sophies world quotes archives famous. It is probably possible to slip in knowledge that would normally be above a child s level using this writing style i.
Sophies world is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. She sees a large package by her bed and grows agitated because it might be the strange present she expects from her father. Sophies world definitely gave me a better udnerstanding of philosophy and the world around us. Sophie wouldve disappeared like her friends joanna and the rest of her world if it wasnt for her enlightenment. It was controversial for the way in which it framed styrons personal views regarding the holocaust. Sophies world by jostein gaarder is a novel about the history of philosophy, just like the cover says. As the book moves along, sophie amundsen, a teenaged girl, learns important lessons in the history of western philosophy from her teacher, alberto knox. In which i talk about a really great book in a really short amount of time. Sophie s world follows a fifteen years old lady s journey pondering the 2000 years of western philosophy. Sophies world encompasses numerous time periods, cultures, discoveries, and belief systems.
There may be other books like sophies world, but it was unique to me, which makes it hard to compare to other books. Hilde opens the package and finds a ring binder filled with typed pages. Sophies world became a bestseller in norway and won the deutscher jugendliteraturpreis in 1994. Read this essay sample on sophies world reaction paper. Goodreads members who liked sophies world also liked. Sophie s world belongs to the latter, but thanks to secondsight, i got back to it after 10 years.
In many ways, his worldview corresponds most closely to the world weve seen in this book. Nov 18, 2014 in which i talk about a really great book in a really short amount of time. But the history of philosophy is very well done and informative. Sophies world follows a fifteen years old ladys journey pondering the 2000 years of western philosophy. I also read one of jostein gaarders other books, the solitaire mystery, and it has a similar feel, with intertwining and vaguely supernatural story lines, but its not a beginners textbook as sophies world. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Jan 02, 20 would sophie s world be too difficult for an inquisitive sevenyearold. Gaarder here reading to schoolchildren tapped into. Jun 10, 2009 sophie s world belongs to the latter, but thanks to secondsight, i got back to it after 10 years.
Sophie s world was a long, strange, and most unpredictable novel. Thus begins her course in western philosophy, taught by a mysterious mentor who chooses not to reveal himself quite yet. By 2011 the novel had been translated into fiftynine languages, with over forty million print copies sold. It is one of the most commercially successful norwegian novels. Its interesting that in sophies world the mirror, a traditional symbol of selfcontemplation, is depicted as a tool for interpersonal communicationa magical device that allows sophie to see another part of the world. The english translation was published in 1995, and the book was reported to be the bestselling book in the world in that year.
Sophies world was a long, strange, and most unpredictable novel. 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. The book is saying that those who are ignorant suffer by leaving their world with no mark. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics is a history of philosophy written in the format of a mystery novel by. Sophie s world became a bestseller in norway and won the deutscher jugendliteraturpreis in 1994. I learned some really interesting things about many philosophers and even ones ive never heard of. 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. Alberto, an intelligent man, guides sophie through the ancient greeks, the medieval thinkers, and enlightenment and romantic idealists. Philosopher longshoreman, eric hoffer, was the author of the above quote, which struck me the first time i read it. Review of sophies world, by jostein gaarder richard gehr levity. I loved sophies world when i first read it in high school i should try it again now and see if it holds up.
Sophies world presents a story in which three texts are at work. The theme of philosophy, wisdom, and wonder in sophies. I believe that god create the world from the beginning. Start writing about sophies world reflection with this example essay. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics kindle edition by gaarder, jostein, moller, paulette. What other book might you compare sophie s world to and why. Im not quite clear about how sophie comes into the real world. There may be other books like sophie s world, but it was unique to me, which makes it hard to compare to other books. This was my very first indepth reading on philosophy.
In the novelwithinthenovel, sophie amundsen discovers a strange brass mirror that allows her to see her reallife counterpart, hilde moller knag. Chapter summary for jostein gaarders sophies world, chapter 22 summary. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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. Sofies verden sophies world, jostein gaarder sophies world is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. This novel not only teaches the main ideas of many philosophers, but also their views on reality and history. Sophies world is a novel by jostein gaarder that was first published 1991. See a complete list of the characters in sophies world and indepth analyses of sophie, alberto, hilde, and albert knag. See plot diagram summary sophie in a small town in norway, 14yearold sophie amundsen walks home from school one day in early may to find a note asking philosophical questions. This book teaches its readers about the history of philosophy, which is the. Dec 22, 2007 sophies world was a long, strange, and most unpredictable novel.
Meditations by marcus aurelius and sophies world provided a really interesting way in to philosophy. Dec 26, 2016 start writing about sophies world reflection with this example essay. I enjoyed the whole mystery of the book and tryign to figure out the different things. Sophies world by jostein gaarder is a novel about the. He emphasized that it was the economic forces in society that created change. What if we were all just characters from a book written by major albert knag as. Would sophies world be too difficult for an inquisitive sevenyear. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher, and. A summary of hume, berkeley, and bjerkely in jostein gaarder s sophie s world. Sophies world is a mindboggling piece of literature demonstrating and questioning derridas theory on deconstruction, there is nothing outside of the text. A novel about the history of philosophy addeddate 20160324 07.
Find books like sophies world from the worlds largest community of readers. Sophie s lessons in philosophy and her quest to find hilde made jostein gaarders novel sophie s world. Topics a novel about the history of philosophy collection arvindgupta. Norwegian schoolgirl hilde receives a book from her father called sophie s world on her 15th birthday, which is june 15th. The uninteresting writing makes the book seem interminable for readers. Learn by example and become a better writer with kibins suite of essay help services. It is probably possible to slip in knowledge that would normally be above a childs level using this writing style i. Sophies 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. The defining theme of sophie s world is, pretty clearly, philosophy. Sophies world is an outline of western philosophy that is beautifully set in a fictional story. If i had written sophies world today, is there something important i would have added.
How many of the novels terms and references were you already familiar with. His point was how we work affects our consciousness, but our consciousness also affects the way we work. Hilde loves the novel and starts to believe sophie really exists. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics. 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, with more than twenty million copies in print. One day a few weeks before her fifteenth birthday norwegian schoolgirl sophie amundsen looks inside her mailbox and finds a mysterious letter addressed to her. Find a summary of this and each chapter of sophies world.
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