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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
challenging
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Got lost in the winding descriptions, but found solace in the conclusion.
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book didn't live up to the hype for me, leaving me feeling underwhelmed. While there are moments of wisdom and a few memorable quotes, the story felt distinctly male in its perspective. Siddhartha, born into privilege, embarks on a selfish and narcissistic quest for enlightenment, where he conveniently chooses to ignore every obligation towards his loved ones, abruptly abandoning both his pregnant partner and later his son in pursuit of a so-called spiritual awakening. At each departure from his loved ones, Hesse misses opportunities for genuine introspection, instead offering vague, cryptic gestures and knowing looks.
From this, he graduates to exploiting the good will of hardworking people, presenting himself as a wise Brahmin worthy of respect while garnering sympathy for material hardships that are entirely the result of his own negligence and choices. His search for the ‘self’ frequently comes across as a pursuit of self-centredness and self-veneration rather than genuine spiritual growth.
This book has little to do with Buddhism, and I often found the protagonist insufferable. Extra star because the writing was pretty poetic.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
not my kind of book. it's not awful, just outside of what I enjoy.
“Siddhartha”, as the name suggests, is the story of Siddhartha Buddha told by a German author Herman Hesse.
This was the second book which I’ve read by Hesse. The first book I read by him was “Steppenwolfe” which also rocked.
Hesse displays such hypnotic, transient writing style in his work, which makes for a really peaceful reading experience. Most of it is philosophical dialogue, such as in Plato’s writings, but far more comprehensible and engaging.
Siddhartha is a character that is always moving, becoming, in some way. His motivation is first teleological: to attain a heightened spiritual state through his own means. However, he only realizes through experience that a seeker will never find what they are seeking because their gaze is too narrow, too fixed.
He is skeptical of teachers, and dogmas throughout his life, but nonetheless learns how to listen to others and the world. He is neither ascetic nor worldly. He neither denies the world of appearances, nor submits to decadence. Rather, he affirms a love of the world, and it’s movement.
The important part about this is twofold:
1. Enlightenment is not communicable
2. One must experience life in order to appreciate it
This is why asceticism is not enough. Like Nietzsche told us, one cannot affirm life by denying it. We can only affirm life by affirming the struggle itself. The world of things should be loved, not denied.
“Siddhartha” is a short text, very short. I read it as my bedtime book, and it only took about a week. However, you could finish it in a day if you’d like. I really enjoyed it, and think I will read it again sometime.
This was the second book which I’ve read by Hesse. The first book I read by him was “Steppenwolfe” which also rocked.
Hesse displays such hypnotic, transient writing style in his work, which makes for a really peaceful reading experience. Most of it is philosophical dialogue, such as in Plato’s writings, but far more comprehensible and engaging.
Siddhartha is a character that is always moving, becoming, in some way. His motivation is first teleological: to attain a heightened spiritual state through his own means. However, he only realizes through experience that a seeker will never find what they are seeking because their gaze is too narrow, too fixed.
He is skeptical of teachers, and dogmas throughout his life, but nonetheless learns how to listen to others and the world. He is neither ascetic nor worldly. He neither denies the world of appearances, nor submits to decadence. Rather, he affirms a love of the world, and it’s movement.
The important part about this is twofold:
1. Enlightenment is not communicable
2. One must experience life in order to appreciate it
This is why asceticism is not enough. Like Nietzsche told us, one cannot affirm life by denying it. We can only affirm life by affirming the struggle itself. The world of things should be loved, not denied.
“Siddhartha” is a short text, very short. I read it as my bedtime book, and it only took about a week. However, you could finish it in a day if you’d like. I really enjoyed it, and think I will read it again sometime.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated