Read this when
Siddhartha
Tried the gurus. Tried the money. Tried the parties. Still empty? Siddhartha learned more from a river than from any teacher. 🌊
Who it's for
Siddhartha tries every route a restless seeker might try (ritual, extreme self-denial, a great teacher, then money, pleasure and gambling) and finds each one empty, which validates readers who feel they have done everything 'right' and still feel hollow.
Feelings it meets
What it is
Hermann Hesse's 1922 novel follows Siddhartha, who leaves home with his friend Govinda to live as an ascetic Samana in search of enlightenment. After meeting Gotama, the Buddha, Govinda joins his order but Siddhartha declines, believing wisdom must be found individually.
Where to find it
Public domain in the US (German original 1922). A free English translation is on Project Gutenberg. Widely in print, in libraries (Libby/Hoopla) and as an audiobook.
Before you start
Heads up: Brief suicidal ideation.
Age: Ages 14+
We are such stuff As dreams are made on, and our little life Is rounded with a sleep.William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act 4, Scene 1
