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A review by zbmorgan
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
4.0
Really 3.5 stars, as it took a while to get to the point, but the point is a good one.
At first this story was a bit of a turn off : man ditches life to go looking for enlightenment, thereby leaving family, friends, family again..... and it was written by a guy with equally questionable priorities. (Enlightenment and commitment are not always good bedfellows, and this book demonstrates that admirably). But watching Siddhartha (not the Buddha Siddhartha, just the same name, let's be clear on that, as I cracked this open thinking it WAS the story of Buddha) flail about to find meaning inevitably induces pity and self-examination in your own life.
The writing wasn't exactly beautiful, but it was pleasing, and his eventual enlightenment is somewhat satisfying, although it's lack of effect on his child may frustrate the average 21st century control freak.
At first this story was a bit of a turn off : man ditches life to go looking for enlightenment, thereby leaving family, friends, family again..... and it was written by a guy with equally questionable priorities. (Enlightenment and commitment are not always good bedfellows, and this book demonstrates that admirably). But watching Siddhartha (not the Buddha Siddhartha, just the same name, let's be clear on that, as I cracked this open thinking it WAS the story of Buddha) flail about to find meaning inevitably induces pity and self-examination in your own life.
The writing wasn't exactly beautiful, but it was pleasing, and his eventual enlightenment is somewhat satisfying, although it's lack of effect on his child may frustrate the average 21st century control freak.