A pageturning novel that is also an exploration of the great philosophical concepts of western thought, sophies world has fired the imagination of readers all over the world, with more than. The book will serve as a firstrate introduction for anyone who never took an introductory philosophy course, and as a pleasant refresher for those who have. Mar 12, 2017 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. Do philosophical questions remain the same for all time. Sophies world a novel is the book i recommend the most because it so eloquently captures the wonder of philosophy, the giddiness you feel when you realise you are floating in space. Sophie has already demonstrated her ability to think in these terms, suggesting that shell be a good philosophy student. Hilde realizes that sophie has been speaking directly to hersophie is asking hilde to rebel against her father. Philosophy draws indiscriminately from all fields knowledge, in a never ending questioning. The 10 best philosophy books for beginners gregory sadler. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. I wasnt particularly interested in the story as such. One more very important character in the sophies world is alberto knox. 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 childrens bookbut only sophisticated young adults would be remotely interested. She begins a strange correspondence course in philosophy.
In 2016 we decided to change our lives completely by leaving our home country belgium to start a new adventure in the scottish highlands. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. This interview, however, is solely about his book, sophie. A summary of the natural philosophers, democritus, and fate in jostein gaarders sophies world.
Would sophies world be too difficult for an inquisitive. A novel about the history of philosophy by jostein. Popular philosophy books showing 150 of 100,000 the republic paperback by. The meat of the book its account of western philosophical. 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. Dec 22, 2007 sophies world was a long, strange, and most unpredictable novel.
Sophie s choice is a 1979 novel by american author william styron. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of sophies world and what it means. This is probably the quintessential philosophy book for people who are complete beginners, and just want to learn the broad strokes of philosophy, as quickly as possible and in a fun way. Hilde sits in her room, having just read chapter 26 of her book. Reading the best philosophy books gives us the opportunity to look into those hidden depths and understand our own thinking and behavior at a deeper level, helping us eliminate behavior we dont like. Shes dizzied by what alberto and sophie have just saideven if sophie is just the product of someones imagination, perhaps hilde and her father are no different. This is philosophy 101, it gives a good idea about the history of philosophy. Entertainment weekly first, think of a beginners guide to philosophy, written by a schoolteacher. Oct 27, 2019 sophies world a novel is the book i recommend the most because it so eloquently captures the wonder of philosophy, the giddiness you feel when you realise you are floating in space.
Boston studies in the philosophy and history of science book 254 by walter roy laird and sophie roux. 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. An alternative cover for this isbn can be found hereone day fo. This aspect of sophies world was its most magnificent and most riveting. Sophie s world is an outline of western philosophy that is beautifully set in a fictional story. Thinking of sophie s world as a mystery novel, what other clues did you encounter over the course of the book.
And he is the one introducing sophie to the philosophical thinking and philosophical thoughts. Sep 25, 1994 moreover, there is enough about the wonder and magic of philosophy in sophie s world to make some readers reach for their guns. It follows sophie amundsen, a norwegian teenager who is introduced to the history of philosophy by alberto knox, a middleaged philosopher. Here is an excerpt from a reader about his experience reading sophie. This is philosophy101, it gives a good idea about the history of philosophy. Sophies world sofies verden in the original norwegian is a novel by jostein gaarder, published in 1991. The books most interesting facet is its detailed take into the history of philosophy. Sophies world is an outline of western philosophy that is beautifully set in a fictional story. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics jostein gaarder, paulette moller on. A 14 year old rational, independent and confident girl. A novel about the history of philosophy enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. This is one of the best philosophy books in the history of medical practice, and forms the foundation of our current understanding of human health and disease. The best parts of sophies world are the fictional partssophies actual world. 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.
This book contains a novel mantra for those days when the world gets in your face. Sophies world became a bestseller in norway and won the deutscher jugendliteraturpreis in 1994. The novel chronicles their metaphysical relationship as they study western philosophy from its. 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. He recently accepted the position of president and ceo of the ayn rand institute, beginning at the end of june. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics kindle edition by gaarder, jostein, moller, paulette. Jan 02, 20 the age of the latter was determined more by the fact that sophie is 15 and this is reflected in the contextualising back story than because of the level of philosophy. May 11, 2018 its equally all right if the first book of philosophy you encountered was epictetus enchiridion.
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. A whimsical and ingenious mystery novel that also happens to be a history of philosophy. It presented to me aspects of the philosophy that i love in clean, simple, and essential forms, thereby reaffirming my primary premises. The republic by plato, sophies world by jostein gaarder, the big questions. It concerns the relationships between three people sharing a boarding house in brooklyn. Sophie s world became a bestseller in norway and won the deutscher jugendliteraturpreis in 1994. Thales, anaximander, anaximenes, eleatics, parmenides, heraclitus, empedocles, anaxagoras. Set in the late 1940s, the novel is narrated by stingo, a young southern writer who is the authors thinly veiled alter ego. For example, sophie might disagree with the idea that a fish can grow from nothing but water, but she can also respect the frame of mind that might produce this idea.
Sophies choice is a 1979 novel by american author william styron. Sophies world by jostein gaarder is, in my view, a highly successful attempt to write a history of philosophy together with a story. She encounters first some odd philosophical questions and then the first chapter of a written philosophy course in her mailbox. Sofies verden is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein gaarder. Once again gaarder plays with reality by placing the book sophies world as a physical object even within the world of sophies world. It goes from presocratic philosophy all the way to sartre. The essential charm of sophies world lies in the innocent curiosity of the young character, and the clever narrative structure gaarder designed to pique it. Lifestyle brand featuring sophie and her philosophies on special and everyday occasions. Sophie amundsen is fourteen years old when the book begins, living in norway. A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics.
The age of the latter was determined more by the fact that sophie is 15 and this is reflected in the contextualising back story than because of. The philosophical world which is often complex, vast, and difficult to contemplate in a limited time we have needs simplified parables and analogies. 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. 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 worthy of high praise. The different philosophers from sophies world learn with flashcards, games, and more for free.
This is a great book, a mustread i should say for anyone who is starting up with philosophy. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. There is a great deal of similarity between sophie and hilde. Gaarder here reading to schoolchildren tapped into adolescent. May 23, 2016 created using powtoon free sign up at create animated videos and animated presentations for free.
Sophies world a novel about the history of philosophy. Gaarder, through alberto knox, was an enthralling teacher. The only list of best philosophy books you will ever need. Sophies world by jostein gaarder audiobook 22 youtube. The book simplifies the complex world of philosophy. Mar 20, 2007 sophies world by jostein gaarder is, in my view, a highly successful attempt to write a history of philosophy together with a story. 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 childrens book but only sophisticated you. Both of them enjoy thinking and like to wonder about life and the unknown. Tal tsfany on sophie, the book the objective standard. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Mar 12, 2020 a whimsical and ingenious mystery novel that also happens to be a history of philosophy. Mar 09, 2018 as the name of the book says it all, the book is all about a girl sophie amundsen.
Sophies choice, novel by william styron, published in 1979, that examines the historical, moral, and psychological ramifications of the holocaust through the tragic life of a roman catholic survivor of auschwitz. Youre even all right if you started out with some work by bertrand russell, or ayn rand. Start studying sophies world study guidephilosophy terms. Sophie seems more willing than alberto to believe in the existence of spirituality and mysticism. A novel about the history of philosophy audiobook by jostein gaarder. The natural philosophers, democritus, and fate sparknotes. More praise for the international bestseller that has become europes oddball literary sensation of the decade new york newsday a pageturner.
A novel about the history of philosophy fsg classics jostein gaarder, paulette. For us it was like adopting a new philosophy, and since my husbands name is philip and i am called sophie phil o sophy it seemed natural also to combine both names for our bed and breakfast. Well, i read this book 10 years ago, when i was 17. A 1,000yearold text at the foundation of modern medicine and biology. Moreover, there is enough about the wonder and magic of philosophy in sophies world to make some readers reach for their guns. Thinking of sophies world as a mystery novel, what other clues did you encounter over the course of the book. Sophies world was a long, strange, and most unpredictable novel. Eventually, through the philosophy of george berkeley, sophie and alberto figure out that their entire world is a. She in turn learns about philosophy by reading about sophies study of philosophy, never suspecting that she is merely a character in a booksophies worldwritten by a philosophy teacher named jostein gaarder to teach teenagers the beauty of philosophical discourse. A novel about the history of philosophy paperback mar 20 2007 by jostein gaarder author 4. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
The best philosophy books of all time updated for 2020. Throughout this novel, the plot of the book will mirror the study of philosophy itselfin other words, sophie wont just be tangling with the mysteries of philosophy. The republic by plato, meditations by marcus aurelius, thus spoke zarathustra by friedrich nietzsche, beyond good and evil b. Sophies world study guidephilosophy terms flashcards. The washington post book world as remarkable for its playful premise as for its accessibility. A pageturning novel that is also an exploration of the great philosophical concepts of western thought, sophies world has fired the imagination of readers all.
When sophie first starts receiving letters from the philosophy teacher, she finds that each one is slightly damp, having two little holes in it. Both girls are angered by the opinions of many of the philosophers about women. The story, however, careened more on the latter, gaarder weaving it into the book to enhance its complexion. Apr 04, 2018 i recently had the pleasure of speaking with tal tsfany about his new book, sophie. Sophie starts to learn about the historical beginnings of philosophy. The book begins with sophie receiving two messages in her mailbox and a postcard addressed to hilde moller knag. Sophie world and ancient greek philosophy part 1 duration. Tal is an entrepreneur, investor, businessman, and cofounder of the ayn rand center israel. At the same time, sophie is curious who is giving her. Jostein gaarders sophie s world provides a child like introduction to the world of philosophy. Including quick summaries for beginners of modern philosophy books, eastern philosophy, western philosophy and more. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading sophies world. A novel about the history of philosophy by jostein gaarder about the book with more than thirty million copies in print, sophies world is an exciting, entirely innovative novel that thrives on its.
Stingo, a young aspiring writer from the south, and the jewish scientist nathan landau and his lover sophie, a polish catholic survivor of the german nazi concentration camps, whom he befriends. But the history of philosophy is very well done and informative. Sophie loses interest in school while she is taking the philosophy course and hilde skips school on her birthday to read the book. I bought this book for me neice, as she turned 17 last month. As the name of the book says it all, the book is all about a girl sophie amundsen. The essential charm of sophie s world lies in the innocent curiosity of the young character, and the clever narrative structure gaarder designed to pique it.
Jostein gaarders world bestseller sophies world is a book about philosophy, as you may have guessed from the title of this article. As well as this book, which she published together with her translation of smithss the theory of moral sentiments in 1798, grouchy wrote and published other texts pseudonomously and. Sofies verden is a 1991 novel by norwegian writer jostein. This guide includes the best philosophy books from throughout history. 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. Start a free trial of quizlet plus by thanksgiving lock in 50% off all year try it free ends in 00d 08h 20m 43s. The book begins with sophie receiving two messages in her mailbox and a. 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.
885 1128 1179 1494 1646 198 682 299 1254 892 752 399 243 648 981 1202 1453 1365 417 797 154 1404 1166 1617 1236 1499 1371 93 148 599 499 1193 1549 251 881 905 35 484 445 256 1370 846 498 1030 897