Siddhartha

By: Hermann Hesse, Joachim Neugroschel - translator

Narrated by: Firdous Bamji

Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins

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.

A truly accessable masterpiece about life

Hesse shows that the deepest and most contemplative works don't have to be inaccessible.

He provides both a great introduction and criticism of the teachings of Buddha.

This book can be repeated with continued enjoyment

Need a calming and fulfilling book to listen to on repeat when you get tired of listening to random music or talk radio? This book is great to have playing during daily tasks i.e. Getting ready for work, doing housework, or relaxing with a glass of wine after work. Well read, great story.

Wow!

Wow! Just wow.

I have to say that at the end of this audiobook is included the introduction to this particular translation of Siddhartha. In it, the author of the introduction gives both a biography of
Hermann Hesse and an analysis of Siddhartha. One thing he said in it particularly struck me; the book includes two Buddha figures. One of my college English teachers was hung up on the idea of Christ figures in literature (specifically disproving Christ figures), but this is the first fiction book I can remember reading that has Buddha figures.

However, he is exactly right. One of the Buddha figures is the actual historical Buddha, Gautama, who makes sort of a cameo appearance near the beginning of the story but is a constant presence offstage, as it were, during the whole story. The other is the main character, Siddhartha. Siddhartha, of course, is another of the Buddha’s real names, but this is a different Siddhartha. He is the son of a Brahmin whereas the Buddha was a king’s son, but both of them left home during their youth to study asceticism, and then having decided that asceticism has taken them as far as it can move on to other paths. Siddhartha and his friend Govinda then go to seek the Buddha, and Govinda becomes a disciple of the Buddha, but Siddhartha decides that what he wants to know cannot be taught. He must experience it for himself.

Here taking the opposite path from the Buddha, Siddhartha becomes a man of the world, learning the ways of business and the ways of love, and forgetting all the spiritual things he had learned in his youth. In his old age, however, he decides that this too is not really what he set out to learn and leaves his life in the city to return to the ferryman at a river he had crossed earlier on his way to the city to learn about life from him.

This book explains nicely why so much of Buddhism appears to consist of contradictions and paradoxes.

Great listen and extras

This was a fantastic book that really makes you think. The addition of the essay at the end was a welcomed treat as well.

My thoughts

Awesome and amazing perceptive on life. I learned from this book and will read again as I continue to navigate through life. I enjoyed the content but not the reader. He was boring

loved it

loved it. Very well written. Would suggest it to anyone but especially to someone going through major life changes.

Finally!

I have wanted to read Siddhartha for many decades. It was the “thing” in the 60, 70s and 80s when it was so popular in my generation.

Year passed, and finally at the age of 72 I have found my way back to it. Gratefully, through Audible.

I can see why it was so popular. It’s a powerful account of spiritual journey - why we “leave home,” where we go, our touch points and experiences, our loss and growth along the way, things we sense and learn along the way, and where and how we end up.

Siddhartha’s particular journey was well crafted, believable, and inspirational.

It’s not the finest literature, nor was the reading the best. But I would highly recommend it for those who, like me, wanted to experience what we missed in the 60s or those who want in these times to understand and sense what Hesse was exploring and writing about.

BEAUTIFUL STORY!!

Words will fail me as they did Siddhartha. Do yourself a kindness and read the book!

This book was just ok. Not good.

This book was just ok. Confusing to follow. I started this book because I needed to write a report on it. I regret even choosing this book to write about.

Loved it

I loved the story about Siddhartha. Really great story telling as well as describing with great detail each lessons that Siddhartha accumulated through his path in life and towards peace within.
Hope to read and listen to more literature like these.
Thank you.