Hermann Hesse: Siddhartha
German poet, novelist and Nobel-Prize winner Hermann Hesse wrote 'Siddhartha' after an inspiring visit to South Asia. I read it when very young, maybe 14yo, growing up in a communist country. It may have influenced my later life sublty, yet heavily. The novel is about the universal human quest for individuation, wholeness & the pursuit of meaning, both materially and spiritually. It is a timeless tale, hinting at perennial truths shared between diverse cultures, depth psychology and philosophy. It may help people to wake up to our true nature, by planting seeds, at least. If we are to better the world, we'll have to start at 'the smallest minority' - the individuum.
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