HN Reader

I read this in high school, but not because it was assigned. At the time I was really into "rare" Queen MP3s, and there's a studio recording of the fast version of "We Will Rock You" where Brian May reads a passage from this book before the music starts. An odd way to be inspired to read a book, but I still think I got a fair bit out of it.

Here's a nice e-book copy: https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/hermann-hesse/siddhartha/g...

The young relative of mine was required to read one non-western book to fulfill a high school obligation.

Hen came to me since I was known as a reader, and I suggested Siddhartha "but ask your teacher if it's ok". It was.

Few days later I saw my relative and a disgruntled friend. Disgruntled friend had picked War and Peace.

This book literally saved my life.

I read it in high school and it was okay. 15 years later I was taking a flight and needed something to read (pre-downloaded video was not quite a thing yet). I was NOT in a good place mentally, and hadn't been for a while. I was depressed and hiding it, suffering in my own head.

I'll be honest: I had a date picked out, and it was coming up.

This was in my library because I had grabbed a handful of free books from somewhere. I beasted the entire thing in 3 hours.

Something about it rung me like a bell. I saw myself in the dark place this character was 2/3rds of the way through the book. Lost, suffering, unfulfilled, failing to rise to his potential, lamenting choices and compromises of my past, looking back and knowing I would be a disappointment to the brilliant young man I used to be.

I can think, I can wait, I can fast.

These became my mantra.

I had the tools I needed. I could find a way out of this hole, I could be patient until the opportunities I needed arrived, and I could endure discomfort and hardship to get there.

I can think, I can wait, I can fast.

I told my wife I needed therapy. I told my therapist I needed meds. I've gotten more than ten years past that date.

I haven't quite found my river yet, but I'm on the road.

... so you should read this book.

I read this annually, typically in a day, usually when I'm feeling lost. For me it distills the human experience into a simply story that helps me find meaning for where I am in my own journey.

I liked this quite a bit the first time I'd read it. A decade later, not as much.

Narcissus and Goldmund is my favorite book by Hesse - it's beautifully crafted.

Off topic: Im curious what’s the most prominent religion among HNers? Is it different from the normal population?

Buddhism seems to be number 1 after atheism which isn’t a religion.

The internet is a nirvana automata. It wants to hack you, all your emotions, desires, your lust for rage, your hunger for dopamine, your wish to sit under the baobab tree and stare at the glowing stones lights indefinably, blissfully unaware of the world.

Thus without ever reading any of the teachings of the one in the lotus flower, one must rediscover detachment from the hackable self, or be enslaved forever.

Huh, funny this should pop up here.

I recently started commuting by subway into work, so I had to pick up a subway book. I had been meaning to read this, so I went to my local book store and grabbed a copy.

It’s a really great book. Such a fascinating story. And short, too. I highly recommend giving it a read. It might synthesize some of your loose connections about Hinduism, Buddhism, and your own place in a chaotic world and what it means to live a happy life.

I'm very grateful that this was assigned reading in high school, since it was a sort of gateway book for reading more about Buddhism. It's short. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it.

great book. I recommend people read it every 10 years or so as your perspective on life changes.

Love this book. I have three sons and read this when them when they're about 12 or 13.

It takes them a short bit to get into it, but by the time Sid is with the Samanas they're into it. Even though they sometimes get lost in some of the revaltory moments about the "self", the plot holds together and is compelling even at this level.

Best of all, the walk away with a couple good ideas worth considering and remember it fondly.

One of the greatest authors of all time. Hesse taps into the mind of the modern human and beautifully presents its inner workings. Each of his books takes a different angle, a different perspective or philosophy with which to observe the evolving personhood.

Great book, I suggest everyone read this at least once in their life.