Siddhartha

by Hermann Hesse

paperback, 144 pages

Published Sept. 23, 2008 by Penguin Classics.

ISBN:: 978-0-14-118957-4

(69 reviews)

Though set in a place and time far removed from the Germany of 1922, the year of the book’s debut, the novel is infused with the sensibilities of Hermann Hesse’s time, synthesizing disparate philosophies–Eastern religions, Jungian archetypes, Western individualism–into a unique vision of life as expressed through one man’s search for meaning.

It is the story of the quest of Siddhartha, a wealthy Indian Brahmin who casts off a life of privilege and comfort to seek spiritual fulfillment and wisdom. On his journey, Siddhartha encounters wandering ascetics, Buddhist monks, and successful merchants, as well as a courtesan named Kamala and a simple ferryman who has attained enlightenment. Traveling among these people and experiencing life’s vital passages–love, work, friendship, and fatherhood–Siddhartha discovers that true knowledge is guided from within.

1 edition

Jero reviewed Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

Review of 'Modern Classics Siddhartha' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

A little but profound book about a boy’s journey to self discovery and meaning, seeing him living through different phases of life all the way to old age. What I learned from Siddhartha is this: Whatever I’m going through life, in every situation, in every suffering, there’s always something to learn, as long as I stay open and present. Also, an old and known truism driven home, riches and luxuries don’t bring meaning to our lives. However, I think sometimes we have to toil, suffer, despair and make mistakes in order to clearly see this. Another thing, maybe we need to stop looking so much in order to see that what we look for is staring us in the face.

Taylor reviewed Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

Review of 'Modern Classics Siddhartha' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Man's Search for Meaning meets How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia. There's a lot of searching and a little finding. Might have to reread after thinking, waiting, and fasting more.

protomattr reviewed Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

Review of 'Modern Classics Siddhartha' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

"The river is everywhere at the same time, at the source and at the mouth, at the waterfall, at the ferry, at the current, in the ocean and in the mountains, everywhere, and that the present only exists for it, not the shadow of the past, nor the shadow of the future."

This passage, and others pertaining to the river, where Siddhartha finally finds peace, have stuck with me since the first time I read this book twenty-five years ago, and are still stand-outs. With its elegant prose, memorable characters representing different facets of humanity, and wealth of ideas gently nudging the reader towards wisdom, Siddhartha is a book well worth revisiting throughout one's life.

OM.

Robin Marx reviewed Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

Review of 'Modern Classics Siddhartha' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

As an atheist fascinated with religion, I have an especially ambivalent stance towards Buddhism. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by its complexity and counterintuitiveness, other times--a bit disappointed--I wonder "is that all there is? A lot of cruft surrounding a few basic recommendations?" I've read D.T. Suzuki's writings on Zen, a translation of the Lotus sutra and even Buddhism for Dummies, and still my confidence about "getting" Buddhism wavers. Happily, Siddhartha wasn't just a pleasant, lyrical read, I felt it furthered my understanding of Buddhist concepts as well.

Despite having five translators listed for the Project Gutenberg edition I read, it was a surprisingly smooth read. The story was told in a fairly straightforward fable-like manner that reminded me a bit of Lord Dunsany, of all people.

The characterization was especially deftly handled; there are several places in the narrative where the reader is subtly tipped off that Siddhartha is straying from the path towards enlightenment or becoming a bit sanctimonious, only to have that become a major plot point later on. I also enjoyed that this wasn't a story of one righteous man surrounded by fools and the misguided. Although Siddhartha himself has an ingrained tendency to be skeptical of teachers and condescending towards those he calls "the childlike people" (i.e., you and me), all of the other characters in the novel, from the exalted to the lowly, end up playing a crucial part in his journey.

Although it's never called out directly, the Buddhist precept this book seems to deal with most directly is mindfulness, one facet of the Noble Eightfold Path. Siddhartha sees the most when he's quiet and receptive, willing to pay attention to the small things in life. Like a lot in Buddhism, it's almost childishly simple but sometimes hard to put into practice.