Rating: 
Summary: too much philosopy, not enough plot- BORING!!
Review: I had to read this book in the summer for AP European History and was at first excited to learn about philosophy using a semi-fictional book. I was wrong. This book is simply an excuse to write a short textbook on the history of philosophy with only hints of an alterior plot thrown in. It took me weeks to get through this one and I was put into the terrible state of wanting to blow the book to pieces each time I started reading. If you are in fact interested in philosophy and simply want to have a concise history of the subject then this book is an excellent source, but I would clearly not recommend it to those of the weak hearted who simply want a good read.
Rating: 
Summary: BORING!
Review: I had to read this book over the summer for an english assignment, and I've got to say this is probably the worst book I have ever read! It was painful having to read this book, and I had to make a little scheduale for when I would force myself to read it. It also seems to be very religious, and it's constantly mentioning why god did this or that. The book did not get good until the last three chapters. I do not reccomend buying this book if you're looking for enjoyable reading.
Rating:
Summary: horrible
Review: serioulsy, this book is AWFUL! after reading all the glowing reviews, i was really excited about this book, but it's one of the worst things i've ever read. the story is ridiculous, and the philosophy is extremely superficial. besides ignoring nearly all of the 20th century philosophers...(where are you foucault?!) the author glosses over HUGE portions of the history of philosophy. philosophy is important to study because it is exciting, groundbreaking, worldchanging... this book left me utterly bored. any author that can make freud seem boring and dry is an author to avoid... AVOID THIS BOOK AT ALL COSTS
Rating: 
Summary: A Timeless Educational Modern Day Fable
Review: I just started rereading `Sophie's World' for the third time. Originally I was intriqued by its subtitle so picked it up and started reading it hungrily devouring it in a week. It is a novel so different, so extraordinary as to only be justified in the description magical. What makes it so great is that it has the ability to appeal to people with PHDs in Philosophy, or those totally ignorant or who Socrates was. As one read's Sophie's story I imagine even slightly jaded readers' can't resist vacariously sharing her sense of wonder as she learns about and explores the world she lives in. It is indeed a crash course on the History of Philosophy, even more accessible than Durant's books. As an added bonus as one reads further into the novel the author forebodes a twist. Overall an immensely enjoyable read that makes one think and ask pertinanet questions we are othwerwise likely too busy to explore.
Rating:
Summary: Personal Favorite
Review: Sophie's World is a fantastic overview of the history of philosophy. I minored in philosophy in college and it really helped to fill in the knowledge gaps. The author did a fantastic job breaking down the complexities of each philosopher. All of that's great, but the real brilliance is that the characters in the story tell the story of philosophy, not the author directly. Somehow Jostein Gaarder has mixed fiction and nonfiction together so well that it has the educational features of nonfiction while having the entertainment of fiction. It's just brilliant!The only problem I have with the book is that he doesn't have a chapter on Nietzsche.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: I was in awe of this book. It has such a wealth of history and philosphical trials, and everything is presented in a masterpiece fictional story.
Rating: 
Summary: It would be a better textbook ...
Review: Three stars go to SOPHIE'S WORLD, mostly because as far as philosophy goes, it's a wonderful reference. It's very complete, (though I'd like more on Buddah and Nietzsche), and, although Alberto is often adressing the reader, (and Sophie), like a child, it is put into terms comprehensible for your average reader. If you want to be more worldly or at least familiar with various philosophers throughout history, this is the book for you; it gives the general idea of every major philosopher, relates them to each other and political events of the time, and offers specific quotes. As a textbook, this is your ultimate Philosophy In General. This is a book that gets your brain moving. As you read the words of these various philsophers, you'll also start asking questions of your own. It's a good book to read slowly ... don't just read it, think about it. But as a novel, I'd have to say that I didn't enjoy it nearly so much. The relationships between the character and the author do provide a unique twist, but this theme is highly overused. And it's not even overused in different ways, (I don't know how many times someone came knocking at Alberto's door). The last three chapters were very predictable -- I wasn't fascinated by the plot, I was annoyed with it. But ending on a positive note, I thought the notion that book characters live eternal lives, such as spirits, was a lovely one. Immerse yourself in a general overview of philosophy with this book, but don't read it for the fantasy plot.
Rating: 
Summary: A Brilliant Fantasy
Review: Jostein Gaarder, intending his novel of the history of philosophy to be unorthodox and out of the ordinary, blended application of philosophical theorem to real life and delightfully fanciful plot twists and occurrences that make the story a flight into the imagination of the philospher, or as the case may be, into the imagination of the author. Sophie is a girl who has a seemingly normal life until things that are not to say the least paranormal begin to happen to her. Suddenly she is tossed into a maelstrom of fantasy in which she rides on gooseback, watches ancient Greek ruins renew themselves from the dust, shrinks to the size of a thumb, talks to dogs, and meets some interesting people. These include Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse, Noah, and Ebenezer Scrooge, to name a few. But what strikes me as the most surprising are not the fantastic surprises within the book, but the practical surprises of everyday life. More than talking animals and escapes from reality, what bugs me is how -Sophie doesn't get freaked out during a correspondence with a mysterious philosopher and call the whole thing off
-Her mother lets her walk off into the woods to meet a middle-aged man without punishing her or showing more than minimal signs of suspicion
-Sophie can sit through lessons with Alberto without getting bored at his long philosophical lectures. (not that they are not well-written, but that's if you're reading them, not listening to them)
-Alberto has memorized entire novels on philosophy and philosophical theorem
-Joanna's parents and Sophie's mother don't freak out during Joanna's and Jeremy's ... er... encounter at the garden party Gaarder definitely paints a picture of a kind of super-reality in this novel, and remarkably keeps our attention down to the last page, while educating us. The six concluding chapters to the book are especially superbly written, and I can only imagine that this novel in its original Norwegian is all the more beautiful.
Rating:
Summary: A Really Great Book!
Review: I think this is one of the best books ever written! It ties in philosophy lessons with the story of Sophie and her mysterious messenger so that neither is ever boring! I hope there is a sequel to this book so I can read that too!
Rating:
Summary: Ummmmm...
Review: Sofes world is to advansed four me. My dogs agre. It was big and super like long. It was the longest book i ever have readed. I didn't understand...any of it. I dont like big queschins! Little peopel should stay a way. I big tho. This girl is a genus who wants to like no everything from this dude. That's pretty much the hole strange darn story. Yep yep.
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