? UNDER THE LAMPLIGHT-

Sophie’s World is a beginner’s guide to philosophy embedded in a fantasy novel: It all starts when 14-year-old Sophie Amundsen receives two anonymous letters in her mailbox saying, “who are you?” and “where does the world come from?” More letters keep turning up, with the sender revealing that they’re part of a short course in philosophy. Inadvertently, Sophie becomes the student of an old philosopher named Alberto Knox, who walks her through the history of Western philosophy, from existentialism and the big bang to the works of Darwin, Marx, and others. The book is an enchanting blend of fact and fantasy, with an Alice-in-Wonderland style plot unfolding alongside an informative core. While it isn’t an in-depth probe into Western thought, Sophie’s World packs just enough for readers to pick up topics and philosophers that pique their interest.

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