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Summary: THE GATE
Review: This book is simply your gate to enter the real world...the world of pure thought and imagination.
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Summary: a very good introduction to the history of philosophy!
Review: I enjoyed this book very much! The book in itself is very well written,very wisely written. It tells the story of a girl that gets letters from a stranger,and this stranger starts giving her a course in philosophy.This course starts from the very beginning of philosophical thought up to our times.The book is also a mystery since Sophie doesn't know who sends her the letters.The whole concept of the book is very original and has a philosophical idea at it's core on which the whole book is based (you'll never guess it!).The book is written very clearly to anyone that doesn't have a clue about philosophy and one gets a very good opportunity to get to know verious philosophers and read about those that interest you most ,after reading this book.Very highly recommended!
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Summary: Yadda, yadda, yadda, meaning of life. . .and finally, yadda
Review: It's supposedly about a girl searching for the meaning of life, at the same time corresponding with an anonymous mentor. But it's really just a backdrop for the author's knowledge of philosophy. Reads like a Phil 101 textbook. It was a rehash of basic theories. Blah. He wove this cheap girlish teen-squeal mystery story around all the crap to make it look like a novel. Now that I got that out of my system: This book was a poor excuse for a novel. A mere showcase and mediocre backdrop for the author's regurgitation of the history of philosophy. Did he once inject his own philosophic views? Made me think of a piece of lint set against black velvet: Absolutely nothing outstanding. Basically rehashing a basic textbook run, it's as if he were trying to convince himself that the money he spent on phil 101 wasn't a waste by cutting and pasting this awful story together. What a slapdash and muddy work of garbage! I'm sorry I bought it. If you're up for a heavy dose of melatonin and a night of rolling your eyes in dismay, read Sophie's World. If not, do the laundry or sacrafice a chicken. And don't forget to pretend you're doing a good job of it, too.
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Summary: Brilliant
Review: Sophie's World is a brilliantly written novel which presents the great philosophers in the format of an entertaining and intriguing story of an inquiring young woman and her mentor. While defining philosophy, the story indeed becomes philosophy, drawing the reader into the very questions about which the story characters are challenged. Gaarder has accomplished no easy task in taking complex material and weaving it into a multi-layered story line, yet doing so in a manner which is delightful and entertaining. Although this book was perhaps written especially for younger readers who are experiencing their first introduction to the world of philosophy, it will also be enjoyed by the more mature and serve as a joyful reminder of matters long ago studied and not quite forgotten.
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Summary: Sophie's World: A novel About the History of Philosophy
Review: I thought Sophie's World was a facinating, thought provoking book. Not only did Sophie's World tell you about the history of philosophy, but it also causes you to think and look with more perspective and understanding. This book causes you to think. Often times we say that we agree with others, but do we really? Do we really know what we are agreeing to?
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Summary: An introduction to philosophy for all ages.
Review: What if your life wasn't "real"? What if your world was fabricated in the mind of an unknown? Who are you? These are questions tackled by 14 year-old Sophie Amundsen in Jostein Gaarder's book Sophie's World. While the tale begins with the seemingly simple question of "Who are you?" the others are soon encountered as she is guided on a philosophical journey through history by the philosopher, Alberto Knox. Never before have I read a book, with such a layered plot. Sophie is studying the world of philosophy -from ancient Greece to the present- , but someone is studying Sophie, while we ourselves are studying that someone. Surprisingly, however, Sophie's World is not a dark, sinister tale, but a pleasant romp through the history of philosophy. While it is not enough to make you all-knowing in philosophy, it will certainly whet the beginners palate and perhaps be found as a refreshing review by the experts. Jostein Gaarder has written a unique book for the old and young alike, that can certainly be considered a whole world in and of itself.
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Summary: sloppy account on philosophy
Review: An attempt to make philosophy entertaining for the general public is a nice idea but the story contained in this work is weak. I kept reading only to finsh the book and found the end most disappointing. Read a philosophy text it might take just as much effort to read, but you'll find it more rewarding.
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Summary: A Valuable Textbook With A Sholdy Storyline
Review: Sophie's World by far was benefitial, especially for someone who was begining an interest in philosophy. It puts 3000 years of western philosophy into the perspective of an adolescent quite successfully. The odd story line is essentially the only thing that destinguishes the novel from a text book. Unfortunately, that story line is rather weak and the conclusion is awful. However, it is definitely worth reading. The end.
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Summary: Philosophy Crib Notes
Review: I have to admit that this was pretty heavy going for much of the time. I plodded through diligently, more to 'learn' a bit more about the various philosophies than anything else. But then, I didn't retain anything, so I might as well have read a text book! The contemporary story didn't really grip me. Not bad to fill in some time, but not exactly my cup of tea. It might prove useful if I ever need to have a Cheat Notes version of several philosophers. Fortunately, there's an index to help.
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Summary: Sophie's World
Review: As a young student of philosophy, this book served as a fantastic introduction and sparked the great interest I now have for philosophy. The ideas presented are made much simpler than any philosophy textbook. The only problem is the sometimes choppy translation from Norwegian to English, but so much is to be expected. This is an excellent book for anyone to read.
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