Knowing something is one thing, but fully understanding it is something that many of us struggle with. In "The Book Thief," much of the story is dominated by Liesel's gaining of knowledge and wisdom, both about the struggles of life and the harsh powers that govern it. The entirety of "The Book Thief" is filled with this process, and would be lacking in -depth and realism without it. "The Book Thief" is also full of characters who already have a plentitude of wisdom, and share their experiences with Liesel to help open up her mind to the world, which is very important to the characters development and progress in the story.