Inspired by the life and teachings of the Gautama Buddha, Hermann Hesse’s timeless novel, “Siddhartha,” is a reflective and philosophical quest for spiritual enlightenment.

The story follows the travels of Siddhartha, a young Indian man from a privileged background, leaves his comfortable home in search of a deeper meaning to life.

Through encounters with varied teachers and diverse experiences—including asceticism, love, and material wealth—Siddhartha learns that true wisdom cannot be taught but must be personally experienced.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Hermann Hesse, and Publisher St. Martin’s Press / St. Martin's Essentials for this advanced reader's copy for review.

Siddhartha was an interesting read that I took very slowly, to really absorb the ideas and story. Anyone interested in the roots of Buddhism and the story of Siddhartha should read this … and come away with some new inspiration about life and the human condition.

Life of Budda and the journey as ascending. Wealthy, love won't last forever. But owning nothing won't bring you to the nonetheless. Follow the steps of lotus, listen to your true self, the path will open.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for letting me read and review this book. Siddartha is a book about the quest for knowledge and enlightenment. This was a pretty quick and easy read, and taught me a lot. Usually those two things don't go hand in hand. I think this should be a required read in school.

"Siddhartha is an insightful glimpse into the human soul, a classic novel of discovery, and a literary exploration of the true nature of purpose and spirituality. Set during the time of the Buddha, the novel tells the story of a wealthy Brahmin who, plagued by a soul-deep discontentment, leaves his life of ease in order to seek out a sense of deeper fulfillment. His persistent, stumbling search for meaning has resonated with readers for generations, making Siddhartha one of the most powerful novels of the modern age."

A true evergreen classic about the human quest for meaning and transcendence. Timelessly relevant, especially for the world in which we live now.

"Siddhartha" is the ultimate quest for knowing, and it should be savored. It is a timeless classic that captures the spirit of the ultimate search, the one that all humans are on - truth and meaning.

Title: Siddhartha

Author: Hermann Hesse

Release Date: October 11th, 2022

Page Count: 192

Start Date: September 30th, 2022

Finish Date: October 9th, 2022



This is the first classical novel I've read in a while. I also feel like I learned a lot about a religion that I'm not familiar with. I'd love to do more research on it thanks to this book. I took the time to read a different story each day. That way I could fully enjoy the entire book. I'm glad I did it that way. It made the book that much sweeter for me. I may go back and get this in audiobook just to listen to it. There are some words that I wasn't sure that I pronounced properly.

I read this years ago, but I took the chance to view it from an adult perspective.
Quick read. I can see why it is considered a classic, but I am not sure I liked it as much this time. There are bits of wisdom scattered throughout hesse's work, and I think if you take it as a work of fiction rather than a chance to learn more about a religious methodology, it can be appreciated.
Also, in my limited knowledge, I found this most recent translation easy to read and understand.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this dARC in exchange for my honest review.

While a short read, it does make you think. We follow a man, not happy with his present life, who looks for a spiritual life and purpose.

Story of one man's journey as he questions the teachings of his community and ventures out to discover what is truly important in life.
#St Martin's Essentials #NetGalley

This has been on my TBR list forever. I finally sat down this weekend and I am so glad I did. I can tell this is going to be one I reread more than once. So much wisdom. I know it's on the AP list and it should be required reading.

I hate to use the term Cult Classic but this is one of those book you may have been reccomended to read in high school or a discovering religions class. Now it could possibly be on banned books lists.

The first section is on self discovery but the second contains the life lessons.
I would reccomend this for a mature audience. It is rather heart breaking.

I loved the life lessons in the book and the search for meaning. A must for anyone pondering their place in the world.

This title is part of what St. Martin’s Press is calling its Essentials collection. I would agree that this is an essential book and one that it is worth reading. I first encountered this novel many years ago and found it so full of life and meaning. It is wonderful to see it reissued in this edition.

The story of Siddhartha is one of discovering what is important. It will leave readers with much to ponder.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

82 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Essentials, St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: October 11, 2022

General Fiction (Adult), Buddhism, Ancient Historical Fiction, Religion, Spirituality

These are stories of Siddhartha as he travels through life to find its true meaning. Even though this is a reprint of the stories, this was my first time reading it. He seems like a normal guy experiencing love and life. If you haven’t read this book, you really should. It is full of life lessons.