Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
Siddhartha  By  cover art

Siddhartha

By: Hermann Hesse,Joachim Neugroschel - translator
Narrated by: Firdous Bamji
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.75

Buy for $13.75

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Siddhartha is Nobel Prize-winning author Hermann Hesse's most famous and influential work, a novel of self-exploration that will linger in your mind and spirit for a lifetime.

A young man, blessed with loving parents and a safe home in a world where want and neglect abound, leaves this haven in search of himself. He joins the Samanas, a band of wandering ascetics without possessions or earthly ties. His quest unfulfilled, he descends into a life of unbounded luxury and indulgence. Where is truth? Where will his soul find true ease? In denial? In decadence? Or in some truth far greater than himself, so simple, so close to him, yet so obvious that only clear eyes may see it?

Siddhartha reawakens questions most of us have long ceased asking ourselves and opens paths to spirituality many of us have never traveled.

Translated by Joachim Neugroschel.

©1999 Joachim Neugroschel (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC.

Featured Article: Audiobooks Like The Alchemist to Expand Your Horizons


Since it was published in 1988, The Alchemist has remained a universally relatable work about what it means to find yourself and reach enlightenment. Paulo Coelho’s simple but profound writing style leaves listeners captivated—a style only heightened by the impeccable narrative performance of prolific stage and screen actor Jeremy Irons. If you’re one of the countless fans who’ve fallen in love with this title and find yourself wanting more, we’ve got you covered.

What listeners say about Siddhartha

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,845
  • 4 Stars
    565
  • 3 Stars
    250
  • 2 Stars
    74
  • 1 Stars
    30
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,597
  • 4 Stars
    433
  • 3 Stars
    161
  • 2 Stars
    35
  • 1 Stars
    23
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,615
  • 4 Stars
    372
  • 3 Stars
    162
  • 2 Stars
    60
  • 1 Stars
    37

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Very Interesting to Listen

The narrator is very expressive. The story itself
is simple but extra ordinary in the vivid descriptive passages.
For the impatient and for those curiously after the twist and turns,
it would turn out to be outright boring. But for those
in a spiritual path, it is time worth spent.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

50 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

a shame ...

To cut to the chase:

The narrator of this version of Siddhartha isn't one whose other work I'll be chasing down. I had hoped to be swept back to the place I landed when I first read the book (decades ago), but with this reader and a translation that struck me as anything-but-lyrical, I finished the recording hugely unsatisfied.

It's a shame that Audible offers only an abridgement of Sherab Chodzin Kohn's translation -- widely considered sensitive and poetic.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

40 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!

This presentation of one of my favorite books, is nothing short of excellent.I enjoyed listening very much. The narrators vocals were pleasantly soothing and harmonious with the the story of Sidhartha. The story is told without revision, silly soundtrack, or irritating sound effects. There is an informative lecture and commentary after the reading about Herman Hesse, and this classic tale of Sidhartha.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

39 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Buddhist 'Life of Brian'.

I initially thought this was a version of the life story of the Buddha (one of whose names was "Siddartha"). But it's the story of a contemporary who crosses paths with the Buddha in the story, but who carves his own path to enlightenment. It's like "The Life of Brian", but with philosophy and poetic wording rather than that great Monty Python humour.

I found the story of Siddharta compelling, poetic at times, and well-narrated. I was not completely convinced by Sid's philosophy ultimately, but I still really enjoyed the story. I would have docked the story one star for it's philosophical conclusions, but that that didn't seem justified.

So, I highly recommend the book for its twisty-turny story, the lyrical writing, and the interestng ideas it sets out. Don't worry about it if you're exactly not on all fours with Sid's conclusions by the end. The narration is really excellent as well.

PS: You will need some basic info about Buddhism though. I'm no expert, but here goes. The most important thing is that the goal of the religion is to meditate long and hard until you finally achieve the ultimate truth of the universe at which point you're on your way to Nirvana. If you fail, you are reincarnated and get another chance. And know that Brahmans are the the priest/upper class of that society.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

I don't get it.

What did you like best about Siddhartha? What did you like least?

In short, I don't understand why this is a classic and so loved by others. It's a about 3 hours too long and it didn't tell me anything new or even anything old in a new way. I guess at the time this book was written it may have been unique and thought provoking . Given the amount of information available today about spirituality of all kinds, this made me wonder when it was going to give me that I've-never-thought-of-it-that-way moment. It never happened.

I normally like mystery/thrillers but I have enjoyed other books in this and other genres and wasn't expecting action and adventure - but this book, particularly the first part, was a little too much pontification by a man who comes across as a little arrogant. Perhaps it was the narrators tone and not the words giving me this impression so reading may be different than listening. Having said that, the narrator was expressive and I did like him overall.

Would you ever listen to anything by Hermann Hesse again?

Probably not.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

no

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Simple and meaningful

I liked how this went through the ups and downs of a persons life... it has hidden meanings and provokes thought and reflection in ones own life. This is a great addition to a persons collection of self help books, the meaning of life, people searching for something more. It is easy to listen too in a story book fashion. Nice change of pace from the "do this, do that" type self help books

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Revisiting Siddhartha

Well worth it after half a century. Hesse is enjoyable to revisit so long after reading him in college.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A return

The first time I read this book I was about 19 or 20. It was my favorite book then as it is now at 52. I can so relate to it on many different levels,ls . I would suggest that anyone on an inward path read this book. Even to those that are not. The narration is excellent.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Its a classic

Great quick listen. Simply a classic.

Great quick listen. Simply a classic.

Great quick listen. Simply a classic.Great quick listen. Simply a classic.Great quick listen. Simply a classic.Great quick listen. Simply a classic.Great quick listen. Simply a classic.Great quick listen. Simply a classic.Great quick listen. Simply a classic.Great quick listen. Simply a classic.Great quick listen. Simply a classic.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Uninteresting plot

Would you ever listen to anything by Hermann Hesse again?

Probably not. Maybe his writing talent is lost in translation from German.

Would you be willing to try another one of Firdous Bamji’s performances?

Possibly

Any additional comments?

Book was recommended in an article stating The 25 Must-Read Books. Not impressed with the list, so far.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful