Sophie Amundsen begins receiving questions and then letters in the form of lessons as she is approaching her fifteenth birthday. A beret-wearing stranger, Albert Knox, becomes Sophie's teacher and builds a tale beginning with the earliest Greek philosophers - Natural Philosophers. As Sophie learns more about asking versus assuming she also tries to figure out who Hilde is and why she continues to come into possession of Hilde's belongings, mainly messages from the latter's father.

This book will remain on my bookshelf in an easily accessible place for philosophical reference. However, the fictitious story that was woven throughout the lessons was really stupid. The characters were poorly developed and generated neither sympathy nor support. This is a textbook that could have been labeled "Philosophy for Lightweights", which is why I will keep it nearby. I'm pretty light. But, I can save other people the trouble of reading it. There is an index, so you don't have to endure the extra poppycock of Sophie's tale.