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.
'A studio version was made for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show at the Maida Vale Studios on 28 October 1977 and first broadcast soon after on 14 November. It includes a separate section that begins with an abridged session version of the original comprising the first verse, chorus and guitar outro - this part has become known as We Will Rock You (slow). Between the two parts there is a brief reading of Hermann Hesse's novel Siddhartha, used in a BBC Radio documentary. This audio was found on the BBC tapes being reused to record the session and was retained by the band.'
That's the one! And all this time I'd been holding on to something I read on a mailing list or website back then, attributing the reading to Brian May "just because he liked that book."
Thanks for sharing it ! Not everyone listen to music only for the beat. It looks more like a success story than an odd one if you ask me. Music must inspires.
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 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.
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.
I'd suggest "cultural Christianity" as the most likely candidate, possibly followed by "cultural Hinduism" and "cultured Buddhism". In short, I don't think the average participant on this site is directly religious but nearly all are inculcated in the religious traditions of the place they grew up in and carry those traditions - minus the supernatural aspects - with them whether they like this or not. The "cultured Buddhism" bit is related to those picking up "fashionable religions" which they wear as if they are clothes - optional accessories which can be discarded when they no longer serve their purpose.
As to myself I'd say I fit in the first category, having been through Catholic schools and a Jesuit college without the religious aspects really making an impact from a very young age onwards. I may not believe in any gods but I understand why some people do and I mostly like the society built around those ideas, especially when compared to other societies built around other ideas like Islam, Confucianism or Animism. I dislike the negative aspects of organised religion which range from free-ranging paedophile priests in Catholic churches to the "mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets and the faithful our soldiers" attitude of the likes of Erdogan just like I dislike the negative aspects of party politics and consider the two to have a lot in common.
While non-religious and religious are reasonably disjointed sets, atheism is not disjoint with religious. That is the set containing the union of atheist with religious is not the null set.
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.
Readit News
'A studio version was made for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show at the Maida Vale Studios on 28 October 1977 and first broadcast soon after on 14 November. It includes a separate section that begins with an abridged session version of the original comprising the first verse, chorus and guitar outro - this part has become known as We Will Rock You (slow). Between the two parts there is a brief reading of Hermann Hesse's novel Siddhartha, used in a BBC Radio documentary. This audio was found on the BBC tapes being reused to record the session and was retained by the band.'
Deleted Comment
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.
Narcissus and Goldmund is my favorite book by Hesse - it's beautifully crafted.
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.
Buddhism seems to be number 1 after atheism which isn’t a religion.
As to myself I'd say I fit in the first category, having been through Catholic schools and a Jesuit college without the religious aspects really making an impact from a very young age onwards. I may not believe in any gods but I understand why some people do and I mostly like the society built around those ideas, especially when compared to other societies built around other ideas like Islam, Confucianism or Animism. I dislike the negative aspects of organised religion which range from free-ranging paedophile priests in Catholic churches to the "mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets and the faithful our soldiers" attitude of the likes of Erdogan just like I dislike the negative aspects of party politics and consider the two to have a lot in common.
"Buddhism, also known as Buddha Dharma, is an Indian religion"
Years later when I was exploring Buddhism, no Buddhist I met wanted to refer to Buddhism as a religion.
So the mentality seems to be that everything else is "religion" and what "we" have here is something deeper.
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.