SIDDHARTHA by HERMANN HESSE(book review)
October 4, 2010 § 12 Comments
SIDDHARTHA BY HERMANN HESSE
Image from here
A book that can change you. A book that will influence you. A book that will make you see within.
Siddhartha is a contemporary of The Buddha. The book takes us through his life and quest for enlightenment. The narrative is simple and yet involving. The author shows the thirst of a young man for enlightenment. He highlights friendship, love and most importantly the struggle of a young man to find meaning in life.
There is lot to be learnt from the book. The story is beautiful and you feel peace descending upon you, as you read the book.
We see the protagonist travel through the various stages of life- Hesse has managed to capture in a way that it is so natural that you might almost not notice it. We see the brahmin’s son, turn into a Samana, then into a business man and finally a ferryman. He realizes, learns and grows through each vocation and indeed every page of the book.
This is one of those books that will leave at least a footprint- one that you hope will remain for a while. To me, the message- “I can Think, I can wait, I can fast” , thought me that I need to slow down. All you need to do is a take a deep breath and watch, listen and speak to the river(as in the book).
This review is being written, some ten days after completing the book- simply because I wanted to feel its impact. Indeed, this has left a very big mark on me. I will say it is a must read.
Rating:- 10/10.
You can download the book from here.
the light shines the brightest 
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Vishesh, I read this book when I was your age.It is a very nice book.
Sounds great. “I can Think, I can wait, I can fast,” reminds me of things I’ve read about meditation concerning the importance of this sort of ardent patience, so to speak, to the spiritual journey.
Hey, thanks for this. I’ve read other books on the Buddha but I’m surprised I missed out this one. Am off to read it now.
Haven’t read but saw the movie long time ago. Shashi Kapoor played Siddharta well made lyrical film.
@prerna: yup 🙂
@paul: yes..patience seems to be the key.
@gargi happy reading 🙂
@rauf: i believe books are always better than them moives, right?
[…] by Hermann Hesse – you can read the review here […]
This book does gift you with some valuable insights.
[…] One cannot but help identifying with him and in my case, this book is a landmark, just like how Siddhartha was. Like Siddhartha here too the protagonist is someone who moves from the existing conventions […]
[…] One cannot but help identifying with him and in my case, this book is a landmark, just like how Siddhartha was. Like Siddhartha here too the protagonist is someone who moves from the existing conventions […]
vishesh ,
I loved your blog and Siddhartha left a deep impact on me too . and to know the same very author who gave this book lived his final years in a mental asylum just shows the irony of fate . The author keeps on stressing crossing the river , for me it is the metaphor of crossing the samsara . Going through various births like a brahmin than an ascetic shamana than lustful business man and than finally crossing the ocean with the help of Vasudev ,the author conveys the experiences accumulated by a soul , the lessons learnt and the final delivarance at the hands of Vasudev .
[…] One cannot but help identifying with him and in my case, this book is a landmark, just like how Siddhartha was. Like Siddhartha here too the protagonist is someone who moves from the existing conventions […]