Sophie’s World, Vol. 1: A Graphic History of Philosophy : A Graphic Novel About the History of Philosophy: From Socrates to Galileo

Sophie’s World—Jostein Gaarder’s internationally bestselling introduction to philosophy—is reimagined here as an accessible, visually rich graphic novel that explores how humans have long searched for meaning, knowledge, and their place in the world.

When fourteen-year-old Sophie begins receiving mysterious letters asking deceptively simple questions—Who are you? Where does the world come from?—she is drawn into an unexpected course of study that challenges how she thinks about identity, reality, and purpose.

Guided by a secretive mentor, her lessons unfold as a journey through ideas that have shaped how people across time have tried to make sense of existence.

This first volume traces key thinkers and movements from Socrates to Galileo, translating foundational philosophical questions—about truth, knowledge, and the nature of reality—into clear, engaging scenes through dynamic artwork and narrative storytelling. By grounding abstract ideas in story and image, the book invites readers to think alongside Sophie as she begins to form her own understanding of the world.

Volume 1 begins a two-part graphic adaptation, continuing in Sophie’s World, Vol. 2: From Descartes to the Present Day, which carries Sophie’s search for meaning into modern philosophy and its lasting influence.