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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
So much learning and contemplation!
challenging
informative
reflective
Review from 2012 •
I could recommend this to people who like Philosophy, but then, Philosophy was once my favorite subject, and I didn't like this book. In fact, thanks to this book, I no longer had any interest in philosophy, or philosophizing.
I started out expecting to like it. After all, it's about philosophy! And I do love mulling over the purpose of life, and being awed at how we exist and think at all. I didn't know this book is going to be a long-winded discussion of different types of philosophies and the people who pioneered this theory and that. It certainly was interesting, to an extent. In fact, the beginning was really good, and then towards the middle, it went downhill. I must confess, I was down to the last 50 or so pages, and I couldn't bring myself to finish it.
In the end, all I grasped was, these were men who argued that their theory was more plausible than that other theory, blah blah blah. It's all pretty muddled, actually, since I read this a long time ago, and also I no longer cared about these philosophers and their theories.
Who cares what you think life is, or what it's about? Whether you support Nietzche, or Hobbes, or Machiavelli? It's how you live your life that matters. Is there any merit in pondering more, of making even more theories? Surely the ancient philosophers and their philosophies were enough.
I do still like to ponder about Existence, but to actually study Philosophy...*shudders* Too much thinking and too little action. In a way, Stephen Hawking was right to say that philosophy is obsolete. Isn't it time to stop formulating theories and actually do something?
I could recommend this to people who like Philosophy, but then, Philosophy was once my favorite subject, and I didn't like this book. In fact, thanks to this book, I no longer had any interest in philosophy, or philosophizing.
I started out expecting to like it. After all, it's about philosophy! And I do love mulling over the purpose of life, and being awed at how we exist and think at all. I didn't know this book is going to be a long-winded discussion of different types of philosophies and the people who pioneered this theory and that. It certainly was interesting, to an extent. In fact, the beginning was really good, and then towards the middle, it went downhill. I must confess, I was down to the last 50 or so pages, and I couldn't bring myself to finish it.
Spoiler
I read that in the ending, Sophie realizes she's a fictional character, so I couldn't have changed my opinion of the book based on its ending.In the end, all I grasped was, these were men who argued that their theory was more plausible than that other theory, blah blah blah. It's all pretty muddled, actually, since I read this a long time ago, and also I no longer cared about these philosophers and their theories.
Who cares what you think life is, or what it's about? Whether you support Nietzche, or Hobbes, or Machiavelli? It's how you live your life that matters. Is there any merit in pondering more, of making even more theories? Surely the ancient philosophers and their philosophies were enough.
I do still like to ponder about Existence, but to actually study Philosophy...*shudders* Too much thinking and too little action. In a way, Stephen Hawking was right to say that philosophy is obsolete. Isn't it time to stop formulating theories and actually do something?
Great for an intro, or for a teen. I found it dull.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It's a very information dense book which is why it took me months to finish because I wasn't just reading but also trying to absorb really complex ideas.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 stars
rating this book is a bit challenging because I have picked it up several times and never got into it.
and now I finally did!
it's definitely not a light read. You might need to read a chapter three or four times to fully absorb the information the book contains.
this novel is like a brief summary for philosophy and the history of the world. I highly recommend it, it has a nice twist that I didn't see coming. my problem with the book is the lack of coherence, I didn't like the dialogues, the sequence of events seemed rather absurd.
all in all I liked it.
rating this book is a bit challenging because I have picked it up several times and never got into it.
and now I finally did!
it's definitely not a light read. You might need to read a chapter three or four times to fully absorb the information the book contains.
this novel is like a brief summary for philosophy and the history of the world. I highly recommend it, it has a nice twist that I didn't see coming. my problem with the book is the lack of coherence, I didn't like the dialogues, the sequence of events seemed rather absurd.
all in all I liked it.
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sophie's World is a truly engaging exploration of philosophy, cleverly presented through the eyes of fifteen-year-old Sophie. The book's strength lies in its carefully constructed narrative: each chapter builds upon the previous one, seamlessly introducing key philosophical concepts and significant figures. Gaarder masterfully uses concise, impactful quotes to encapsulate complex ideas, prompting readers (myself included) to actively engage with the material and reflect on their own beliefs. Although some might argue that certain philosophical concepts are oversimplified, the overall effect is one of accessibility and engagement.
The book follows two main narratives: Sophie's and (spoiler alert) that of the "real world." However, while the philosophical journey is captivating, the narrative surrounding Sophie's mystery, and the eventual revelation of the "real world," feels underdeveloped and underwhelming. The plot, while initially intriguing, ultimately lacks depth and fails to fully satisfy. The philosophical aspects are far more rewarding than the narrative arc.