Rating: 
Summary: Excellent overview!
Review: It's amazing to me how very much my US public school education did NOT cover! SOPHIE'S WORLD is an excellent overview of Philosophy- and if you are anything like me, it's a relief to have a guide that puts everything in a (quirky) summarized timeline.
If one is a person that's not studied philosophy as a subject previously, it seems our knowledge of the subject and the philosophers is a confused smattering bits collected from various works we've read over the years. This filled me in on pretty much all I missed in the broader sense- and now gives me direction on where I'd like to study next.
I have mixed feelings about the whimsical blend of a fantasy story amid the chapters of history. It did breathe life into the subject, forced me to take a break and contemplate what I've studied, and at times gave excellent examples for some of the concepts, but also was "in the way" at times when I just wanted to skip the whimsy and study the philosophies. I'm delighted I came across the book and I'd certainly read the philosophical summaries again, but I doubt I'd read the fantasy story again.
It's definitely worth reading if one has not studied philosophy previously, highly, highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Deep without being too Heavy..
Review: My little brother, who loves reading philosophy and other deep subjects, passed this book my way. I began it not knowing at all what to expect. I was not prepared for the amazing journey I would go on with Sophie, as her life is affected by a corresponding "philisophy teacher" who askes her the questions of life and explains to her how philosophers of old responded to these questions.You will read some great summaries of philiosophical beliefs as they were passed down from one society to the next. As Sophie tries to sort what she agress with and disagrees with you will do the same. I found myself having to take time to read this book, to think about the views, and re-read some of these summaries. You will also be taught how philosophy evolved into science, and then eventually into religion. All in all, the book is a true simple summary of the history of philosophy, with an underlying plot that will surprize you, and even have you scratching your head now and then trying to figure out exactly wht IS going on. One nice thing about this book is that I believe it could be enjoyed by adults and teens alike. I think for high school students of philosophy this book should be a must, because the discussions it will invoke will be amazing! The material is deep, seeing how it is philosophy and mans questions of existence, but the book is a light read, and won't leave you to shaken, like some soul searching books might do. it is a fun read, especially if you enjoy pondering philosophies of life. Remember, it is more philosophy then story, and if that is what you are looking for, you will love this. I noticed new editions of this book recently in reprint at the book store, and I was excited to see it making a come back. You will be glad you read it !
Rating:
Summary: Mystery part which is not unlike "MATRIX for children" fails
Review: Mystery part which is not unlike "MATRIX for children" fails, but still a good philosophy textbook.
Pros: Explaining philosophers for children without losing its crux of logic is not an easy job. The author was successful in this respect.
Cons: 1) the mystery part was centered on the question "how to revolt against the God". The author requires readers to invest vast time into this through the book, but simply abandoned to answer the question at last. No twist at the end. 2) To make it "easier", the authors avoid using any basic philosophical terms such as metaphysics, epistemology, a priori synthetic proposition, zeitgeist, whollism etc. This is like explaining baseball with using pitcher, innings, and homerun. 3) Too long. Good editor can condense this book to 200 pages without losing its crux. Especially the first 300 pages are way too slow. Skip it and read from Descartes. Mystery portion reaches its climax at the Berkeley chapter, and nothing really happens after that. 4) The author's perspective is clouded by his personal Christian faith. While he included Jesus Christ as a philosopher, he didn't include anti-Christians such as Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Russell. In that sense, he doesn't take a neutral stance. 5) There is no explanation regarding how the old philosophy are regarded by current major philosophers. For example, Descartes' dualism, Berkeley's idealism, Kant and Hegel's metaphysics are not supported by current philosophers, but readers who are new to philosophy would not notice this from this book. Science-technology revolution of 20th century was a product of philosophy of science, materialism, and empiricism originated from Locke/Hume, but the authors's Christian faith prevents him to give us a clear perspective. 6) No 20th century philosophy except Sartre. Not including structuralism philosopher like Derrida/Foucault is understanble, but omitting Wittgenstein is critical.
Rating: 
Summary: Changed my outlook on the world...
Review: One of my teachers in high school recommended this book to me. I bought it but did not expect much, especially because I had very little "experience" in philosophy.
I finished the book in several days, and to say the least, I was pleasantly surprised.
From a literary standpoint, Gaarder's use of didactic fiction keeps things interesting, and the philosopher's points come across quite clear. While some may find certain bits of the narrative boring, these "bits" culminate in a spectacular ending, which forced me to go back and look over several sections once more to see what I had missed.
More importantly, this book has changed the way I see the world and the way I interpret the events around me. I have found myself questioning things more and more each day--not to criticize them but simply to understand them.
Seeing the progression of humanity through a philosophical perspective, has changed my outlook on the world (for the better, of course), and I recommend this book without reservation.
Rating:
Summary: Jostein Gaarder - Master of Brevity :)
Review: Sophie's World is an incredible novel that traces the history of philosophy in an easy-to-read manner. Unlike modern educational textbooks, this was written for readers to understand and REMEMBER the major individuals and concepts of ancient to modern philosophy, the ideas and thoughts that are necessary. True, Sophie's World may not be equipped with the miniscule details and reference material that a textbook could provide, but it equips us with a lasting image embossed in our minds.
The underlying plot in this course is about a Norwegian girl, Sophie Amundsen, and her discovery of philosophy through letters she receives mysteriously in the mail. Through this sudden correspondence with someone she has never met, she begins to learn about the fundamentals of philosophy (chronologically). However, when strange events begin to happen in Sophie's life, she must progress through her studies with this unknown (and later known) lecturer in order to find the answers to a complex puzzle wrapped around her and someone else's life. . .
Sophie's World is a challenging book that, if you allow it, will open your eyes to the beauty of our world.
RECOMMEND: Entertaining, interesting and educational, this is an outstanding read for someone interested in life, philosophy, history. . . or just looking for that one great, classic book to sit down with. I would recommend it highly to ANYONE.
AGE RATING: 12 and up for comprehension. Though it's fairly easy to read, the subject matter & complexity may be slightly difficult for some youths to understand and contemplate.
-As always, feel free to contact me if you need further information. ;)
Happy Reading!
Rating:
Summary: Great Philosophy Introduction
Review: The book's philosophical content spans over 2500+ year of Western philosophy. It provides a great introduction for someone to the many important characters in Western philosophy - Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Stoics, Augistine, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Marx, etc... The book is presented in a novel format of a 15 year old teenage girl essentially being taught Western philosophy all the way back before Socrates up until towards the end with existentialism. The philosophy teachings coincide with the marginally compelling storyline of the novel. A great introduction for anyone looking to get a start on Western philosophy and its history.
Rating:
Summary: This book saved my life
Review: This is a book that EVERYONE must read before they die, regardless of who they are or what they've heard about the book or what preconceptions they have about this book.
It is not just recommended for people who are interested in philosophy or different ways of thinking. I read it when I couldn't have cared less about what philosophy was, and it changed my life forever.
I am a Christian (after three years of exploring) and I am tempted to rate this book as higher than the Bible ... I am the person I am today because of this book ... it made me give up Christianity, go on a search for what was actually true and real, and then after three years of intense study and exploring and examining different philosophies, finally becoming a Christian again (this time for wise reasons).
I am 20 years old (I read Sophie's world when I was 15) and I am looking to hear from anyone who found this book as amazing as I did (not just because of the plot, or because it tells you about philosophy, but because of the first questions that Sophie gets asked which make you realise that you are alive, and mortal), preferably someone who lives in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (or is planning to visit somewhere near where I live). My email is enchantress42@hotmail.com.
I will warn you that this book might save your life also ... but when it does you will be so thankful and will never want to go back to your old way of living anyway.
Rating:
Summary: Philosophy doesn't get easier than this!
Review: Unlike one of the reviewers on the book cover, I read this book while taking a course that dips now and then into western philosophy, and I was glad to report that I got a good grade for it! When one writes a story that can get its readers good grades, that means the book is not only a good one, but also a rewarding read. First of all, we are introduced to Sophie, 14 going on 15, with the problems of a normal teenager would face around the world. Going through her mail, she finds a letter addressed to her. Reading it unwittingly sends her into a headlong lecture of the whole three thousand years' history of western philosophy, from the classical to the modern, from Aristotle to Goethe, from "Politics" to "Faust". In which she discovers who she is, and the mysterious mailer. And they said you have to have encyclopedias in your home. Buy this instead and read it to your sons, daughters, and/or friends. This is a valuable book meant to be read and kept as an heirloom.
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