yes it's very different.

and sophie's world is a good book for entrance...before you pick what kind of philosopher you like to learn more.

i don't think there a lot book out there that have comprehensive views of philosophy and even if there is it might bore you to death.

so my suggestion, go and read sophie first. if you can finish it and be interested in philosophy come back here and we can suggest other books for further reading.

psychology? hmm that's even a more vast area.

i remember reading the kinsey book or research when i took human behavior under psychology.

and no reading a summary of the book would get you nowhere.the book serves as an intro to each philosopher ideas and how they develop it.

for further info on each philo you basically need to dig deeper.

wah most of the book recommended is text book.

I like Plato erotic dialogue.Descartes and Kant.

I know Kant are quite heavy.after all the man is a crazy to stick to routine and discipline all the time.

i just say is like a text book because i remember the books were all mentioned in history text book as the book that revolutionize the way human think or society ought to behave.

but for me, i prefer to learn philo from learning the greek mythology and tragedies first, then slowly proceed to the aristotle,plato and socrates and then to the next school of thought.

it gives you background how the idea is develop.