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A review by lancemartija
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha—the third book I’ve read this month and the 15th book I’ve read in total—is an enlightening, engaging, life-changing, and comforting book. It follows the story of Siddhartha, a young Brahman, in his search for self-realization and enlightenment during the time of the Illustrious One, Gautama Buddha. Siddhartha learned not only from the people he met along the way but also from nature itself, listening to its laughs and whispers and living every moment without haste or fear; he was a man who struggled with his Self, from achieving enlightenment to letting himself succumb to worldly sins, and from finding his purpose to only lose it once more. Through the life of its protagonist, the book allows its readers to ponder and realize the unification of good and evil, addiction and control, happiness and loneliness. And along the journey, the book hopes to influence its readers to find meaning in their own searches for self-realization and purpose in life.
The timing of my reading this book has never been more perfect. The year 2022 had been quite a struggle for me, both mentally and emotionally, and the challenges I overcame that year didn’t let me off that easily. Every moment of every day of that year, I questioned myself about what I was doing, where I was heading, and what my purpose in life was. I was so lost that I tried to find my worth in many things and many people. I was in constant fear that my life would fall apart once I lost control of it, once I stopped pursuing the things I pursued, or once I paused and took a breather for a minute or two. But reading this book, I realized that there’s more to life than being in constant pursuit of meaning. Siddhartha made me understand that in the moment of our silence, as we wait and are patient, only then will life unfold its beauty and be clear enough for us to make sense of it.
Siddhartha taught me that finding enlightenment or your own purpose is not the end of our journey. We will constantly reach our highs and then fall down, only to reach our highs again. That is essentially what life is, and it is up to us how we react to life’s struggles. There’s no good or evil, no right or wrong. Only us and our actions. All we have to do is just wait, be patient, and let the river of life flow. Going against it wouldn’t change things, for it is its nature to flow, and flow, and keep on flowing.
The vibe Siddhartha, the book, gave off was light and very cozy; it was a comforting read as I read alone or with other people around me. I read it in the school library, on the minibus, and inside my room, and during the period of my reading, I felt so keen and so engaged that I would want to finish the book the moment I opened it. But being a prolonger of things myself (I’m not sure if I used that word correctly, "prolonger"), I tried my best to read the book as slowly as I could in a span of a few days. The book wasn’t that long either, or I could probably have finished reading it in one sitting. Nevertheless, I’m quite certain that I will revisit this book in the foreseeable future. I dare say I’d even push my future children to read it as soon as they have the capacity to read and understand literature.
In conclusion, Siddhartha, a book with a reflective, inspiring, and hopeful message, is a book for anyone seeking to detach from or embrace their Self. I highly recommend this book to everyone, and it’s an easy read, unlike the other classics out there (I’m looking at you, Dorian Gray and your fancy words).
The timing of my reading this book has never been more perfect. The year 2022 had been quite a struggle for me, both mentally and emotionally, and the challenges I overcame that year didn’t let me off that easily. Every moment of every day of that year, I questioned myself about what I was doing, where I was heading, and what my purpose in life was. I was so lost that I tried to find my worth in many things and many people. I was in constant fear that my life would fall apart once I lost control of it, once I stopped pursuing the things I pursued, or once I paused and took a breather for a minute or two. But reading this book, I realized that there’s more to life than being in constant pursuit of meaning. Siddhartha made me understand that in the moment of our silence, as we wait and are patient, only then will life unfold its beauty and be clear enough for us to make sense of it.
Siddhartha taught me that finding enlightenment or your own purpose is not the end of our journey. We will constantly reach our highs and then fall down, only to reach our highs again. That is essentially what life is, and it is up to us how we react to life’s struggles. There’s no good or evil, no right or wrong. Only us and our actions. All we have to do is just wait, be patient, and let the river of life flow. Going against it wouldn’t change things, for it is its nature to flow, and flow, and keep on flowing.
The vibe Siddhartha, the book, gave off was light and very cozy; it was a comforting read as I read alone or with other people around me. I read it in the school library, on the minibus, and inside my room, and during the period of my reading, I felt so keen and so engaged that I would want to finish the book the moment I opened it. But being a prolonger of things myself (I’m not sure if I used that word correctly, "prolonger"), I tried my best to read the book as slowly as I could in a span of a few days. The book wasn’t that long either, or I could probably have finished reading it in one sitting. Nevertheless, I’m quite certain that I will revisit this book in the foreseeable future. I dare say I’d even push my future children to read it as soon as they have the capacity to read and understand literature.
In conclusion, Siddhartha, a book with a reflective, inspiring, and hopeful message, is a book for anyone seeking to detach from or embrace their Self. I highly recommend this book to everyone, and it’s an easy read, unlike the other classics out there (I’m looking at you, Dorian Gray and your fancy words).