Siddhartha

Wonderful book. Five stars, but I have to dock one star because of the way Amazon is handling the translations. If choosing the right translation matters to you, be aware that the Kindle version on Amazon is the Susan Bernofsky translation, no matter what the cover image shows or (seemingly) what the author information says on Amazon. After initially downloading a Kindle version (reasonable at 99¢) I found the translation to be awkward in places and wanted to compare others. The translator is not listed anywhere in the actual Kindle book. I determined, by searching on other websites, that I probably was reading the Susan Bernofsky translation. After doing some investigating, I decided I wanted to read the Hilda Rosner translation and looked for a Kindle version of that translation. Twice I thought I'd downloaded the preferred edition--once going by the cover, which matched the Rosner paperback, and once going by the fact that Rosner was listed along with Hesse as the author. Both times the downloaded copy turned out to be the Bernofsky. Caveat emptor.

I'm still in the process of reading this incredibly inspiring book. I've had books that I love and "can't put down" but this is not one of them. No, this is a book I MUST put down and THINK. I revisit the words & lessons Siddhartha learns along his path and they so easily apply to present day life, to my own life.On the surface I could describe the book merely as one man's journey to "enlightenment". But that seems so vague and undervaluing of what this book truly is. It is a reflection of self, of life and its ups and down, it's quirks. Each chapter, or even at times, each phrase has become a point of discussion between me and my husband. We are both introverted intuitives and love to pontificate on the depth of knowledge Hermann Hesse lends this Siddhartha character.So often we read and discuss psychology books or self-help books to really delve into the analysis of life and how to not just deal with but to accept suffering. This book stands alone in its unique understanding and concise verbiage of the path of wisdom that eludes so many of us. It is a true gem in the library of analytical knowledge and discovery of self. A book you could read annually and still never tire of the ever evolving messages and discoveries of self-actualization.The prose style does take some getting used to with lots of run on sentences and comma splices such such as this example: "Under black hair, which made to tower high on her head, he saw a very fair, very delicate, very smart face, a brightly red mouth, like a freshly cracked fig, eyebrows which were well tended and painted in a high arch, smart and watchful dark eyes, a clear, tall neck rising from a green and golden garment, resting fair hands, long and thin, with wide golden bracelets over the wrists." But overall an incredible read for anyone seeking higher thought.____________Update____________Upon finishing this book, I was so inspired and still wanting more, I looked up study guides and questions to help me delve deeper. Also learned that it has been made into a movie, twice. Looking forward to watching it & hoping it lives up to the ridiculous expectations I have now :)

I’m not a fan of bad reviews unless it truly is necessary. This is a terrible translation. I looked at a e-book edition from Google and it was fluid and beautifully translated. Do not buy this version. I wish I had read the reviews before this purchase and I will be asking for my money back from Amazon.

The book itself is great and has a lot of value as a storyline, etc. However, DO NOT BUY THIS COPY OF THE BOOK. It is ridden with typos and poor grammar/sentence structure that are extremely distracting to the reader. You’d think four people translating would fix this problem, but maybe adding a fifth to proofread would be a good idea in future versions.

A good book is when the absorber of the read sees reflection of him/herself as in the mirror as it helps to understand one’s soul better, while helping it to grow.I have experienced moments like this while reading Siddhartha. Some of the thoughts expressed here are not the thoughts from the book but rather the thoughts invoked in me by it.First, is the deep philosophical and pragmatic importance of the idea that abilities to “fast, wait and think” are crucial for our inner peace, harmony and ability of one’s soul to find it’s true calling.I am putting abilities of “fasting, waiting and thinking“ in brackets as they have both literal and much deeper and broader meaning to me.It is the idea of inner calmness and equanimity. The ability to take life as it is and to laugh at seeming misfortunes. To play with business affairs without taking them too seriously or without allowing them to rule over you. To be always able to go into a secrete place and a refuge inside oneself, where there is calmness and peace and that anyone of us has capacity to have this place inside ourselves.The peace might allow to learn the art of listening to someone to deeply understand.Listening to understand a completely unknown person, to somebody we know, and very importantly to listen to oneself.The voice of the soul is very timid and one needs to be very attentive in order to hear it’s whisper.The wheel of manifestation can turn fairly quickly but one first needs to hear whisper of the soul which expresses itself with feelings and delicate tender gentle hints.This is the art of paying close attention with quiet heart, with patience and with an open soul devote of passions, wishes, judgement and opinions.My own understanding of the integration of deep insight and wisdom is first to hear, second to understand, then to remember, next to integrate, thereafter to act out and finally to make it part of yourself.Part of it is a potent idea that wisdom can not be passed on. Knowledge can be transferred but not wisdom. Wisdom can not be expressed by words. It should be found and lived.However those who are searching it, may never find it, as their view might be limited by subject of their search. Finding instead of searching is also an art of flowing through the river of live by directing yourself toward the direction of your will however not struggling against the current but rather accepting the ride as it goes and enjoying it.Also accepting that nobody is fully holy or sinful. Neither are many of the actions of the people. Such is the nature of life and what matters is harmony, which is achieved through balance and love.My thoughts might be quit different from what the author of Siddhartha Herman Hess was attempting to deliver. Oh well, the book is like a painting which is never truly finished until it is complete by the observer in his/her soul and mind.

A brilliant book but this is a horrible copy of the text. Buy a different version. This text contains spelling mistakes, sentences that make no sense, and, as shown in the photo, it looks like there's notes left in from the proof reader! It ruins the book.It looks like a cheap version knocked out by Seven Treasures Publications and printed by Amazon. I'm a fan of Hermann Hesse and so it's a shame as I'm sure the proper text is a pleasure to read.

This is a simply stunning and beautiful book. The story is that of Siddarthar, a Brahimn's [near holy person] son who as he approaches the age of adulthood, decides to start a journey. It's a small book and yet it is a story that is simply told and spiritually uplifting. Sometimes you can read books and they have impact for different reasons. Siddartha is a book that stays with you for quite a while because it teaches you a lot in a very short period of time. It amazes me that a story from Herman Hesse, has such talent and beauty as I've only heard of his name before mentioned in a vague but knowledgeable manner. This is well worth reading as it would seem to be one of the most important books ever written. Many thanks Mr. Hesse. xx

I'm someone who is always skeptical when people say 'Oh you must read *insert famous title here*' because I don't want to follow a crowd. However I must admit Siddhartha is worth it; short-ish, very succinct, but a deep story of how a boy with religious monk-hood leanings becomes a rich businessman, lover, father, then finally returns full circle to a very monk-like existence having achieved all the worldly things and put them aside again. Quite a profound look at personal enrichment and enlightenment and definitely a good one to get the brain whirring without being too deep or abstract.

OSHO said about this book -"Hermann Hesse's book SIDDHARTHA is immensely beautiful. It repeats the story of Buddha in a different way, but in the same dimension, with the same meaning. It is unbelievable that Hermann Hesse could write it but could not become a siddha himself. He remained a poor writer – yes, a Nobel prize winner, but that does not matter that much. You cannot give a Nobel prize to a buddha; he will laugh and throw it away. Hermann Hesse was not an enlightened one. He was just an ordinary human being, but in a poetic flight he has written one of the greatest books in the world, SIDDHARTHA."

Oh boy. I did not get on with this at all. This is the story of an arrogant know-it-all child, who gets steeped in a poorly understood western idea of Hinduism, tells the actual Buddha how to Buddhism, gets rich almost accidentally so he can have sex with a courtesan (the author appears to think this incredibly simple), become a gambling addict because he's too arrogant to appreciate anything he has, and then decided the only way he can learn anything (conveniently ignoring the many, many moral lessons he should have learned already) is to magic up the mysteries of the universe via one side conversations with an old man who may or may not be actual God, and a river. New age colonial nonsense from beginning to end. You'd be better off going and living in the woods yourself for a week for all the good it would do you.