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Summary: Sophie's World
Review: Sophie's World can be a very rewarding book if enough time and thought is put into it. I found that it was a good introduction to philosophy, and was comprehensible without being patronising. It could almost be used as a philosophy textbook, but it is by no means boring. The book is divided up so that new philosophies are more digestible. The storyline is a clever way of occasionally putting newly learnt philosophies into practice. The only reason Sophie's World did not get five stars was that it sometimes became a little heavy- going. But for those who like a challenge, definately worth your while.
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Summary: Alice In Wonderland meets Philosophy
Review: This book will make you laugh. This book will make you think. Sophie's World is a philosophy text wrapped in a fictional story. The further you get into the book, the farther down the rabbithole you've travelled. Once you've read it and discovered the surprise ending, you'll have to read it again in a new light.
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Summary: An extraordinary book
Review: Jostein Gaarder brings all the great philosophers to life and answers Man's fundamental questions through these philosophers in a way that any ordinary person can understand, appreciate and enjoy. An ambitious attempt which is ultimately rewarding.
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Summary: One of the best books that I have ever read
Review: Great book, a Must-Read.
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Summary: A simple indtroduction to a complex subject
Review: I found this book absolutely amazing because it gave me a bird's view of a very complicated and old discipline in a clear and yet, not patronizing language - I know of no other book that does that.True, some may find the plot thin and the characters flat (although I enjoyed greatly the mystery in the novel) - but the authour's main purpose is to give his readers a concise yet all-encompasing view of a huge subject - I'm surpised it took him so few pages. I think Jostein Gaarder succeeded in producing a book that can be read by people of all ages who want a simple introduction to philosophy. Anyone who is worried that the book is oversimplified because it was "written" for a 15-year old girl (Sophie): relax - Gaarder may provide only a short introduction to philosphy, but firstly, it should be only a starting point for an inquisitive reader who should come up with his/her own ideas based on what s/he read; and secondly, considering how many names and ideas Gaarder introduced in his book, there's nothing in your way - if you become interested - to buy a book dedicated solely to Plato or Hegel - which is what I was compelled by this book to do. Let this book be only a passage into the wonderful world of philosophy.
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Summary: I have never read a more engaging and entertaining textbook.
Review: A friend of mine swore by this book, so I had to pick up a copy. I've honestly never read a greater crash course in philosophy. By not delving into incredible depth (Voltaire is a single sentence) Gaardner is able to show the whole of movements, and how they interact and feed on and into each other. The chapter on linguistic roots and interrelations blew me away (I love etymology); and the way that the flow from movement to movement is easily visible is worth the price of admission. My only one small gripe: The ending could use about one or two more sentences, just to cement it more solidly.
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Summary: For those with a thirst for knowledge!
Review: Sophie's World is a fascinating, easy to read fable, for those readers interested in the history and evolution of thought. It covers all the important philosophers and their theories, who have lived throughout the past 3000 years, helpfully in chronological order. The author manages to evaluate and simplify complicated ideas, by writing very cleverly through the eyes and understanding, of a 15 year old girl in Norway - Sophie. The plot is a little weak and you may find, as I did, that you are almost skipping through the storyline to get to the next informative block of insight. But overall, this book is a wonderful introduction to the development of thought through the ages. I learnt more from reading these 400 pages, than perhaps I have from reading any other book. The information it contains is simply captivating. An absolute must-read for anyone studying philosophy, or anyone interested in the age old questions, "Who am I, where did I come from and, why am I here?". Finally, a book that includes Religion, History, Science, AND Spirituality, as inter-related topics that can help us aquire a knowledge and understanding of our own evolution. A stimulating read!
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Summary: PROBABLY?
Review: The bad news: It's not as good as the hype might lead you to expect. The good news: It's better than most of the other over-hyped pop-philosophy blockbusters on the shelves.
'Sophie's World' is at its worst when it pretends to be the sort of novel you would read purely for entertainment. That's because it starts out as a very good novel but finishes as a very bad one. Early on it catches your interest with an intriguing mystery and efficient classical narrative. Then about half way through, the author reveals his hand and ruins the plot. We are left with just another bit of post-modern ironic detachment or some such gimmick. From then on the fate of the characters ceases to matter, and as a novel it's all downhill from there on.
The book is at its best when it sticks to what Gaarder does best: lecturing on philosophy. This is where the fictive elements work best - by providing a character to voice the questions in our own heads. The author shows a good gra!sp of what will make sense to an uninformed reader, and provides a gentle ramble through a couple of dozen centuries of human thought that will help most people's understanding of the world in which we live.
That is not to say that Gaarder dispatches all periods in history with equal aplomb. His dealing with the metaphysical and ontological abstractions (jargon-free equivalent = world of ideas) of ancient Greece and the middle ages is exemplary. He manages to explain the more-or-less-unexplainable in terms of the easily-understood, in a way that more school texts should copy. Even the prickly thickets of 20th century existentialism yield up some of their unappetizing secrets under his patient hand.
Gaarder is least successful in dealing with creeds that go beyond pure ideas and involve a challenge to behaviour and lifestyle. His treatment of Marxism (which is not so much about ideas as it is about action) is shallow. His survey of Christianity (which is not about! ideas at all, but entirely about relationships) is derisory.
Amazon's warehouses contain better novels (for a first-class Scandinavian novel of ideas, try "Miss Smilla's Feeling For Snow") and better introductions to philosophy (e.g. Alain de Botton's 'Consolations of Philosophy'). In the end, however, 'Sophie's World' is surprisingly successful as a hybrid - it makes learning fun and deserves to be read.
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Summary: The Best Introduction to Philosophy
Review: Very unique. By teaching the ideas of the great Western philosophers into a fictional story setting, it keeps us engaged. That is not sufficient however; his synopsis on each philosopher's thought is extremely excellent for being concise. These features make this the best introduction to the history of philosophy and thus, philosophy itself, that I know of. What a great method to let more people know about the great thoughts that came before us, and to see the connections and roots of the ways we see the world today.
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Summary: Why arent you reading it NOW?
Review: If you have ever wondered why your existance is so useless or meaningfull then this book is for you, it combines a lovable story with histroy, philosophy, science, question and facts to provide ANYONE with the essential 'Beginners Guide' to finding The Meaning Of Life And Existance. WARNING: If you read this book it will force you to think for yourself and spark a feeling in you, which will fuel a desire for learning and a desire to delve into ancient to modern history literature. Your life will change with this book.
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