A review by kristinasshelves
Sophie's World: A Novel about the History of Philosophy by Jostein Gaarder
5.0
Sophie, a 14 year old girl, returns home one afternoon to find a letter from a mysterious teacher. We quickly learn the teacher's identity to be Alberto Knox, who sends Sophie on a journey through the history of philosophy. We follow her as she learns about Plato Plato, Socrates and Aristotle; Zeno/Stoicism; to Middle Ages & Medieval; Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Marxism, Darwinism, Freud, and many more influential thinkers. Sophie learns more about logic, and begins to think in a new way as she is encouraged to be critical about her world and question things that are happening.
Sophie also finds herself receiving correspondence from a girl named Hilda, whose life has many similarities to Sophie. While the answers to this mystery plot became incredibly obvious as the book progressed, I still found it to be a fun addition to add levity to what could have easily been a very dense book.
I've always enjoyed philosophy, to the point that I almost included it as a second major in college. I adored how this book broke down each era of thought in an approachable way, yet still conveyed the major themes of each school of thought. I especially enjoyed how this story broke the fourth wall and the "twist" at the end, although again very obvious as I was reading.
Sophie also finds herself receiving correspondence from a girl named Hilda, whose life has many similarities to Sophie. While the answers to this mystery plot became incredibly obvious as the book progressed, I still found it to be a fun addition to add levity to what could have easily been a very dense book.
I've always enjoyed philosophy, to the point that I almost included it as a second major in college. I adored how this book broke down each era of thought in an approachable way, yet still conveyed the major themes of each school of thought. I especially enjoyed how this story broke the fourth wall and the "twist" at the end, although again very obvious as I was reading.