One day fourteenyearold sophie amundsen comes home from. Sophies choice 1979 is one of william styrons betterremembered novels. Sophies world summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. I wasnt particularly interested in the story as such. 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, sophie s world has fired the imagination of readers all over the world, with more than twenty million copies in print. Hilde is reading the book sophies world in the same way that we areshes learning about the history of philosophy, but shes also learning about philosophy through the form of the novel itself. In the novel sophie s world sophie amundsen and her philosophy teacher alberto knox explore this question in the context of a course on the history of philosophy. Sophies world by jostein gaarder is, in my view, a highly successful attempt to write a history of philosophy together with a story. When sophie s world was published, it became a sensation for both adults and children from 10 and 11yearolds up. A novel about the history of philosophy by jostein gaarder and a great selection of similar used new and collectible books available now at.
Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of sophie s world and what it means. Meanwhile, sophie and alberto watch hilde and albert. The things which happen in the story will be of much interest, especially to a philosopher. 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. This was my very first indepth reading on philosophy. This study guide and infographic for jostein gaarders sophie s world offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text.
They discover, to their horror, that the world in which they live in and all the people in it, including sophies mom and friends, are just products of. In a particularly memorable and psychologically grotesque sequence, sophies birthday party is transformed into a scene of depravity and total. I accepted the advice of another aspiring reader of good literature to begin with sophies world. The teacherpupil structure enhances the plot, whose mysteries will keep you wondering to the last page. The book has one of the strangest stories you would have read.
It follows sophie amundsen, a norwegian teenager who is introduced to the history of philosophy by alberto knox, a middleaged philosopher. One day fourteenyearold sophie amundsen comes home from school to find in her mailbox two notes, with one question on each. Sophies world big paper sophies world presents the history of philosophy in the form of a novel. Definitely not your run of the mill philosophy book. It was my graduation gift from my 8 th grade teacher, who knew me very well. On june 15, the day she turns fifteen, hilde receives a birthday gift from her father entitled sophies world.
Find books like sophie s world from the world s largest community of readers. Sophies father was the captain of a big oil tanker, and was away for most of the year. Sophies world summary from litcharts the creators of. The philosophical world which is often complex, vast, and difficult to contemplate in a limited time we have needs simplified parables and analogies.
It combines an overview of philosophy with a riveting story and a maincharacter i could really relate to. Alberto tells sophie that since the world is frozen, theres no way sophie can communicate with hilde. Link to this page view link to the book embed a mini book reader 1 page 2 pages open to this page. A summary of themes in jostein gaarders sophie s world. Sophies world is a novel by jostein gaarder that was first published 1991. The book simplifies the complex world of philosophy. In which i talk about a really great book in a really short amount of time. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary. Sophies world a novel about the history of philosophy jostein gaarder. With more than thirty million copies in print, sophies world is an exciting, entirely innovative novel that thrives on its contradictions. The thing which got sophies world this much success is the philosophy behind the story.
Sophie is a young woman, unsure what kind of adult shes going. I was determined to help round out my education by including some philosophy reading in my 2018 book list. Books similar to sophies world goodreads share book. Jostein gaarders sophie s world provides a child like introduction to the world of philosophy. Sofies verden is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. 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 whole new world is opening up for sophie, a world.
Sophie s world sophie s world has fired the imagination of readers all over the world, with more than twenty million copies in print. However, albert writes he expects sophie will soon begin to catch on. Then at the end of sophie s world, the book that hilde is reading, while at a party for sophie on june 15, alberto and sophie disappear. An addictive blend of mystery, philosophy and fantasy, sophies world is an international phenomenon which has been translated into 60 languages and sold more than 40 million copies. Like sophie, she is a deep thinker, and the philosophy in the book intrigues her deeply. This long, dense novel, a bestseller in the authors native norway, offers a summary history of philosophy embedded in a philosophical mystery disguised as a. 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.
Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. A summary of counterpoint and the big bang in jostein gaarders sophie s world. Sophies world became a bestseller in norway and won the deutscher jugendliteraturpreis. The birthday present is, of course, sophie s world, and hilde has been reading along since the beginning, meaning she has already met sophie, though sophie does not yet know this. Sophies world is a best selling book by jostein gaarder. Albert is impressed with the knowledge and wisdom hilde has absorbed from the book he sent her.
The book would be unsuitable for younger readers because of its explicit treatment of sex. I was wondering if you guys know of any books with a. The age of the latter was determined more by the fact that sophie. Copy and paste one of these options to share this book elsewhere. Sofies verden sophie s world, jostein gaarder sophie s world is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder.
She in turn learns about philosophy by reading about sophie s study of philosophy, never suspecting that she is merely a character in a book sophie s world written by a philosophy teacher named jostein gaarder to teach teenagers the beauty of philosophical discourse. Its such a fantastic book and i recommend it to anyone interested in philosophy. Sophies world is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. He also explicitly names sophie and tells hilde the two of them will meet one day. Sophies world i just finished reading sophie s world by jostein gaarder. A novel about the history of philosophy by jostein gaarder. Sophies world by jostein gaarder the philosophical wonderland. The book begins with sophie receiving two messages in her. 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. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher, and. The way plot and theme are combinedand expressed makes this book unique. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on sophie s world. Jostein gaarders world bestseller sophies world is a book about philosophy, as you may have guessed from the title of this article. Together, albert and hilde look up at the stars, discussing philosophy and science.
Sophie amundsen is a 14yearold girl who lives 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 sophie s world. 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. Hilde becomes certain that sophie exists, that she is not just a character in a book. Hildes father comes home and they talk about the book, and hilde is sure that sophie exists somewhere. Published in 1991, the book was a resounding success. Hilde, on the other hand, whom we meet halfway through the book, appears to. It is described as an american classic or historical fiction, though it falls squarely into the category of adult literary fiction. Its described as a novel about the history of philosophy. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of sophies world. The main theme of sophies world is that the key to surviving the world is understanding yourself. 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. Sophies world was a long, strange, and most unpredictable novel. This book leads you though a history of the great philosophers right though to the modern age.
By kat jones leeds contributor january 21, 2015 at 4. The most basic philosophical question in this book the one which provokes all the other onesis the question of identity. Sophie and alberto learns that the two of them are actually just figments of some authors imagination. The book begins with sophie receiving two messages in her mailbox and a. Goodreads members who liked sophie s world also liked. With sophie, the reader is encouraged to question the world around themselves. Im not quite clear about how sophie comes into the real world. Sophies world a berkley book published by arrangement with farrar, straus and giroux, inc. The rest of the book revolves around sophies and knoxs quest to escape the power of hildes father, the author of the overarching story. A novel about the history of philosophy addeddate 20160324 07. It is a pageturning adventure as well as a history of western philosophyfrom the discourse of ancient greece to debates about the big bang. The book sophies world written by jostein gaarder shows the reader to wonder more about the world. Jostein gaarder introduces us to his new book the world according to anna duration. 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.
This question is and has been central to the study of philosophy since its beginning. The next written lecture that sophie receives is titled, the mythological world picture, which is about the. As a child, we would think philosophically about the world but the older we got, we would philosophically think less because we got used to the world to begin with, what are. Hilde is also extremely compassionate, and she feels for sophie and alberto while her father plays with their lives. Topics a novel about the history of philosophy collection arvindgupta. Sophie s world honors book report gaarder, jostein. This book contains a novel mantra for those days when the world gets in your face. Sophies struggle to understand her world is a fascinating illustration of the ideas of. We follow the rest of sophies story from hildes perspective. Sophie s world is the most thoughtprovoking novel i have everread. 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. The letters pose difficult philosophical questions, such as how was the world created. 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.
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