'Sophie's World' by Jostein Gaarder

Book Review

Gaarder is a Norwegian former philosophy teacher, so it should come as no surprise to the reader, that the central theme of this bestseller is as an introduction to philosophic enquiry down the ages.

Sophie is a teenager, who serves as the book's main character, through which explanations are sought and expounded to. The plot is simple enough; Sophie begins to receive anonymous letters in the post. They are short and to the point, asking centuries-old 'big' questions, like: "Who are you?" and "Why am I here?"

Their author becomes a mentor for the young Sophie, teaching her about the different schools and histories of philosophical thought and debate, from the Greeks onwards. Sophie is bright and inquisitive, and the dialogue between the two characters makes for interesting and useful reading.

Sophie's World serves as an excellent introduction to philosophy for children and adults alike. It was clearly Gaarder's intention to keep the explanations and arguments simple and approachable throughout his text, and in this he has been successful. In the process, his book reveals the importance and prevalence of philosophical questions throughout different cultures and times, and the healthiness of the open, enquiring and curious mind.