Quickie Book Review: Sophie's World, by Jostein Gaarder

It's been around for a while, but I still recommend reading it. Why? Because it is the ultimate philosophy primer for anyone. It's a novel revolving around Sophie, a girl who gets a mysterious letter asking her two questions, Who are you? and Where does the world come from? She quickly winds up enrolled in a philosophy correspondence class and starts receiving another batch of odd letters addressed to a girl named Hilde. In order to figure out why this is happening Sophie must use the philosophy she learns. Only problem is that the truth of the matter is far more complex and dangerous than she could have imagined.

Why you should be reading it. Everyone (yes, including you) needs to know some of the basics of philosophy. Every aspect of our lives (science, religion, politics, etc.) have been heavily influenced by people who do nothing else but sit around all day and think philosophers. In order to get up to speed with all things philosophical you need to start somewhere and this book is it. Sophie's World does an excellent job covering all major aspects of philosophy from the Pre-Socratics to the Existentialists. Best of all, through the use of the novel format it delivers the info in an entertaining and approachable way.

Warning: this book can be exceedingly life changing. It caused one person I knew to take up a minor in philosophy. I'm not kidding you, that's a true story.