Siddhartha

Demian by Hermann Hesse. I wanted to scream "Stop overthinking!" to the protagonist. Something I can relate to. Siddharta by Hermann Hesse. Helped me understand that a perfect life is a collection of ups and downs and that one must accept it all. Amerika by Franz Kafka. Could relate to the protagonist because people take advantage of his naivety. Factfulness by Hans Rosling. Made me see the world in a less pessimistic way.

Books: Siddartha: to think about myself and my changes/voyage through life. Half-time: to think what-the-hell-comes-next (only if you are 40+)(it won't resonate with a 20yo) Systemantics, Nexus: if you work in mega-big-corpos this will save your life Hold on to your kids, The anxious generation: if you got kids Strong Fathers Strong Daughters: (and mothers/sons) if you got kids (too Christian-y for my taste but an amazing 'manual' to manage the relationship with your kid(s)) 1984, Animal Farm, Gulag Archipelago: ... Light on Yoga: (also do practice yoga, it's good for most-if-not-all) You asked for "one book"... but.. life.. is not 'one' thing. Systemantics (and Dilbert) have helped me stay afloat at work. Siddartha gave me a perspective in live about myself, the different 'people' I have been throughout my life. All the listed ones are books I read and read again every few years. They shaped me the first time I read them, keep me 'grounded'/taking stock/thinking the 'change' in me and my life. I see them as a 'check-diff' and how I have changed/evolved/devolved since the last time I read it/them.

1984 (Orwell) Siddhartha (Hesse) The Gulag Archipelago (Solzhenitsyn)

A relative had to pass a "non Western" book for a high school class. She came to me because I was a known reader. I suggested Siddhartha. Her friend picked War and Peace. My credibility went waaaay up:) (Siddhartha is very thin, like the book)

Funny I reread it again recently after reading it in college. Having a kid and rereading it adds a different dimension to the story.

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse This book has stayed with me for years. It's a quiet, deeply reflective journey about self-discovery, the search for meaning. What resonated most was this idea that true understanding can't be taught—it must be lived and experienced. It’s a short read, but one that invites you to slow down. Each time I return to it, I take away something new depending on where I am in life.

Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand 1984, by Orwell Walden, by Thoreau Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse But really, the one that had most direct impact in my life was Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall. Not in my vision of the world but in my lifestyle.

Here are a few books that come to mind: Siddhartha – I highly recommend doing some background reading to get the most out of it. Everything in the book is a metaphor. For example, the question of whether to take the "Big Boat or Small Boat?" down the river is actually a deeper reflection on personal choices in the pursuit of nirvana or enlightenment. When You Hear Hoofbeats, Think of a Zebra Slaughterhouse-Five – Honestly, just read some Kurt Vonnegut. He’s probably the greatest American writer of all time. Also, here's a great list: https://i.redd.it/cjuf9k91d6g71.jpg .I’m sure I’ve missed some of my favorites, but I just wanted to share because reading has given me so much perspective on the world. I’m really grateful it’s something I enjoy.

Wow, so many great responses, thank you all for that! I'm going to throw in my personal favorite: Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. Somehow it touches me in a way that no other book does. It's also quite short, I think I've read it at least 3 times in the last few years and found something new and insightful each time

I suggest two books by Hesse - Siddhartha / Narcissus and Goldmund.

I started SICP last year but haven't gotten anywhere close to completing, mostly because of competing priorities. Siddhartha is great book, I read it years back and it sparked my interest in other works of Herman Hesse.

Agree, but would also list Narcissus and Goldmund. Am I the only one that found something of value in that book? People never seem to mention it.

Same, I've read Siddhartha once a year for the past 15 years at least. The river always has something to say.

Came here to say the same. Every time I read it it has a different meaning.

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

I have gifted numerous copies of the book - “Siddhartha” by Herman Hesse. I think the book changes the way you see the world.

Hesse is insanely good. I read almost all his books in the past year. I want to re-read Siddhartha soon, after only like 8 months. I don't think it's really about Buddhism persay. Hesse uses it to get across some ideas. The main point was that Siddhartha realized the oneness of the world, in that each part is not a distinct entity - because that "distinct entity" is defined by it's relations to everything else. The realization brings him joy to consider himself not second class, but simply part of it all. Right?

Finished Range and Siddhartha, and now reading Seneca's letters from a stoic. Range is a great book that extols the virtues of playing around and dabbling with multiple skills. Immensely readable. Siddhartha, is a fascinating take on advaita vedanta, Sramana, and Buddhism. As someone familiar with these 3 philosophies, I liked Hesse's take on them. The story is really simple and can be finished in 2-3 sittings. Letters from a stoic is full to the brim of wisdom and I've never filled a book with so many bookmarks and notes before. Seneca writes like a straight arrow and doesn't mince words. No wonder the book is still around, one of the best examples of Lindy effect.

- Sapiens - The Lord of the Rings - Siddhartha - Chaos: Making a New Science - The Death Gate cycle books - Neuromancer - Head First Design Patterns - Valis - Dune - The name of the rose I'm sure there are more, but these are the ones off the top of my head.

The Razors Edge - Somerset Maugham Siddhartha - Herman Hesse The Hobbit - Tolkien

Just finished it last week, it made me revisit the idea of "What it means to have meaning in life?" and how personal that is, and have a wholesome view of my personality without any prejudice.

Just finished reading this and found it incredible how one book could reveal so much of myself to myself.

Siddartha by Hermann Hesse

Seneca - Letters from a stoic; Herman Hesse - Steppenwolf , Siddhartha and The glass bead game (Magister Ludi)

I didn't find it nauseating, it's an interesting tale, but I'll agree that it didn't make any profound influence on me beyond any other fiction book that I've read. Perhaps reading it as an eBook on my phone, means that I didn't take it in well enough.

I haven't read Siddhartha, and expect I won't like it, but perhaps the Sanskrit idioms translate better into German? (https://shreevatsa.wordpress.com/2014/07/01/sanskrit-and-ger... (https://shreevatsa.wordpress.com/2014/07/01/sanskrit-and-german/)) Did you read the book in German? Or if not, which translation (Wikipedia lists at least six: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Siddhartha_(novel... (https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Siddhartha_%28novel%29&oldid=856221176#English_translations))?

Siddhartha, Hermann Hesse

I second Siddhartha, I think it's the closest I have come to understanding "enlightenment" (whatever it may mean for each person). Give it a try.

There are many books which sound good in theory but I think my younger self would not have been able to make use of the wisdom in those books because I did not have the experience to relate to what the book was talking about. Nevertheless, if I had to ignore this factor, I too, like many others in this thread, recommend "The Mythical Man Month". However, I think, it's more important to figure out what one wants from life than to just better one's craft. Of course if that is what you want in life, then indeed pursuing that makes sense. I'm also tempted to recommend "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse and "The Consolations of Philosophy" by Alain de Botton.

It's an excellent book that I am fond of. I don't come from a religious upbringing, but that doesn't mean I don't wrestle with spiritual questions.

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse for its portrayal of a spiritual journey / life that was not a ‘religious’ one. This was a book I read in my early twenties that really helped me come to terms with a religious upbringing that no longer resonated with me, as well as a spiritual void in my life that needed to be filled. Seriously life changing stuff and so easy to read. Definitely the most accessible Hesse. I’d be curious if this book has impacted anyone else similarly and if so what they took from it. Love this thread btw

Oh yes. Siddhartha was really a good read!

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. The restlessness and questioning (epitomized when he leaves Buddha) that results in a fascinating journey of self-discovery and openness to experiences has been inspirational.

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse had a big impact on me when I was a teenager. The message I took from it is to not depend on teachers, mentors, or answers-from-above, and instead forge your own path in this world.

Excellent book. The first time I started reading it, I couldn't grasp it and stopped after a few pages. But then picked it up again in 2015 and read it in one sitting. It's a wonderful little book. To be honest, I don't think I can sum up how it felt but it was liberating. I remember keeping the book on my chest and getting lost in thoughts about what the purpose of life is. It was really deep, I was on a totally different plane with my thought process. I read it again last year on a flight but couldn't finish it and it didn't evoke the same emotions but it has a very special place in my heart.

I don't read much fiction myself. "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse was recommended to me by 3 different people on 3 different occasions, so I decided to read that one. It's a great little book that will make you stop every few pages and think about life.

Minds, Brains and Machines by Geoffrey Brown [1] for introducing me to the complexities of the mind-body problem. It did not show the answers of course, but helped me think right about it. Siddhartha by Herman Hesse [2] for contributing to helping me come out of excessive questioning of everything (philosophy) to science that helps towards actually answering the questions answerable. Feynman Lectures in Physics [3] and Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman [4], with no need to explain "how". :-) The Ghost in the Atom [5] for explaining varied views on the nature of science, especially Quantum Mechanics, and what goes in the minds of the top-notch scientists working on these problems. Parsing Techniques by Dick Grune [6] for teaching me the fundamentals of computer science and helping me proceed with my deep interest in Artificial Intelligence. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Minds-Brains-Machines-Mind-Matters/dp... (https://www.amazon.com/Minds-Brains-Machines-Mind-Matters/dp/1853990132) [2] https://www.amazon.com/Siddhartha-Hermann-Hesse/dp/161382378... (https://www.amazon.com/Siddhartha-Hermann-Hesse/dp/1613823789/) [3] http://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/…

Older Stuff: The Bible/Quran, The Republic (Plato), The Social Contract (Rousseau), Tao Te Ching (Laozi), Brothers Karamazov (Dostoevsky), History of the Peloponnesian War (Thucydides) Newer Stuff: Nine Stories (Salinger), The Razor's Edge (Maugham), Nausea (Sartre), Siddartha (Hesse), Road to Serfdom (Hayek), The Book (Watts), Design of Everyday Things (Norman), Atlas Shrugged (Rand), Invisible Man (Ellison), Debunking Economics (Keen), Blood Meridian (McCarthy), The Center Cannot Hold (Saks), This Time Is Different (Reinhart/Rogoff), Infinite Jest (Wallace), Calvin and Hobbes (Watterson) All of these books are well written and have given me some perspective on interesting people/situations/ways of thinking.

Altruism - Mathieu Ricard Search Inside Yourself - Chade-Meng Tan Bible - several authors Siddhartha - Hermann Hesse Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk Eléments de Philosophie Angélique - Denis Marquet (french) Au coeur de l'instant - Jean Bouchart d'Orval (french)

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. I recommend it to everybody that asks for a life-changing book. Truly a piece of art.

Siddhartha is great--if you like Hesse I would also recommend that you check out "Steppenwolf" (same author), and if that also appeals to you, then "The Stranger" by Camus

It's an amazing book. Apparently, the author had to stop writing it for a few years, since he needed to reach another level of "enlightenment" before he could accurately describe the last part of the book.

Hesse is timeless, there's a reason he resonated with so many people in the 60s movements. Siddhartha is a great meditation on life in its entirety. For startup-focused professionals it can be hard to imagine satisfaction with a life lacking "accomplishment" but Hesse paints a thoughtful picture.

I like understanding where I am located in space and time, that is why I love reading about science & science fiction ; it is indirectly related to religion in the sense that it makes you think about your world, about yourself. Buddhism / Religion / ... : - Siddartha - Hermann Hesse - The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho Science: - A brief history of time - Stephen Hawking (space, time) - The Blind Watchmaker - Richard Dawkins (evolution) - Le cerveau intime - Marc Jeannerod (in french only) Science-fiction: - The Road - Cormack Mc Carthy - City - Clifford D. Simack - Time is the simplest thing - Clifford D. Simack - Ringworld - Larry Niven

Buddhism (and better living): Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Siddhartha (by Hermann Hesse), The Way of Zen (by Alan Watts - I learned a lot about meditation and satori). Also: Think and Grow Rich (by Napoleon Hill, the original self-improvement book)

Siddartha - Herman Hesse

Thats a great book!

Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse. It changed my outlook on life.

Siddhartha The Alchemist Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance How to Win Friends and Influence People

Adding more: Siddhartha - Hermen Hesse Narcissus and Goldmund - Herman Hesse The Glass Bead Game - Herman Hesse The Consolations of Philosophy - Alain de Botton A Brief History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson Politics and The English Lanaguage (essay) - George Orwell A Modest Proposal (essay) - Jonathan Swift

If you do a search through HN, you'll find some really good recommendations. Read The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb (Fooled By Randomness is also good) if you want to peer into the mind of an investor. Read Hesse's Siddhartha if you're thinking along the lines of culture/religion/philosophy. Read a few Ayn Rand books if you like libertarianism and don't really care to relate to the characters. Read We by Yevgheny Zamyatin if you want an interesting allegory that metaphorically compares heaven to a dystopian dictatorship. Read Unweaving the Rainbow by Richard Dawkins if you're very interested in the sciences. I remember Sebastian Marshall recommending Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa -- I'd recommend it too. It's pretty good, and I was especially interested since I've been doing marshal arts for over 10 years now. And read Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! no matter how you think. It's fantastic. EDIT: More Books! I read these when I was in elementary school, but they still hold their value: The Giver by Lois Lowry if you want more dystopias. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery if you're feeling especially playful.

Yeah, brilliant. A great illustration of gumption and willingness to pursue self-knowledge giving rise to amazing opportunities. Along the same lines, Siddartha by Herman Hesse was my favorite book this year. Quite similar to the Alchemist really, viz. understanding yourself and being conscious and receptive to your environment.

Here's a few I've really liked that have a broader subject matter than only what you asked for. I figure that if you like to read you'd like these books. --- NON-FICTION --- Darkness Visible A Mathemematician's Apology Omnivore's Dilemma Fermat's Enigma The Code Book Born to Run Judgement of Paris Siddhartha Killing Pablo The Victorian Internet Lone Survivor I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman Papillon Into Thin Air Born on a Blue Day Touching the Void Got Fight The Conquest of Happiness --- FICTION --- Switch Bitch Lost Horizon The Cuckoo's Egg The Simlarillion The Time Traveler's Wife The Alchemist The Count of Monte Cristo A Canticle for Leibowitz Neverwhere My Uncle Oswald Stories of Your Life and Others Invisible Cities Life of Pi Atlas Shrugged --- WALL STREET / FINANCE --- When Genius Failed Liar's Poker Buffett (Lowenstein) Bull! Black-Scholes and Beyond (textbook) Fixed Income Securities (textbook) The Road to Serfdom The Smartest Guys in the Room Fortune's Formula The Fourth Turning Inside the House of Money --- ENTREPRENEURSHIP / COMPUTERS (non-textbook) --- Masters of Doom It's Not About the Bike Dot. Bomb Founders at Work The PayPal Wars…

Want to blow your mind? Fiction Keep an open mind, and a sense of wonder when you read these for max effect! Hitch-hikers guide to the galaxy. I was hooked at "The big yellow ships hung in the air just the way bricks don't." Dune - what does scarcity do to a society? Isaac Asimov - Robot series. Foundation series. All of his short stories, esp. The Last Question, Nightfall. A.C. Clarke - 2001 - series, Childhood's End, The Fountains of Paradise The Little Prince, The Count of Monte Cristo, Catch-22, Siddhartha, Ender's Game, Sundiver, Wodehouse.

Most books by Hermann Hesse, really... Narziss&Goldmund changed my perspective on life. If you have anything artistic in you, it's a must-read. Steppenwolf, Siddharta and the Glass Bead Game are other must-reads. Gabriel Garcia Marques, One hundred years of solitude. Practically all of Jorge Luis Borges' short stories. Mind-bending. Milan Kundera's Unbearable Lightness of Being. Michael Ende's Never Ending Story. Enjoy!

The ones I've read and find good: - Existentialism is a Humanism - Jean Paul Sartre : Very easy to read and is a very good introduction to existentialism. - Thus Spoke Zarathustra - Nietzsche - Siddhartha - Herman Hesse

"Siddhartha", "Steppenwolf" - by Herman Hesse. "Atlas Shrugged" - by Ayn Rand. "Mrityunjay" - by Sivaji savant (originally in marathi/hindi language.. based on the character of Karna from Mahabharata.Not very sure how good the english translation is though.The title means - he who has conquered Death.)

I would Second ANYTHING by Hesse, not got round to a thorough read of Siddhartha yet, but Damien is most excellent and The Glass Bead Games is a revelation for anyone who feels there is something just a little bit ill with the mind and motion of our modern age. Oh, and something along the lines of The Neverending Story (The Silmarillion/LotR), because it's something to lose yourself in with kids and doesn't even have to be read.

Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse. Quick read, very elegantly written. Nearly everyone that I know who has read it puts it at the top of their list.

Siddartha by Herman Hesse. It's a short read but very interesting.

The First Circle (Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn) LOTR Siddhartha (Hermann Hesse) The Odyssey (Homer) The Dilbert Principle (Scott Adams) -- Alright, not literature! But come on, it's Dilbert :)