Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

I had the opportunity to read another classic. This one by Herman Hesse. Before I start into my understanding of the book, I will preface it with a quote taken directly from the book: "What is a treasure and wisdom to one man always sounds like utter foolishness to another."

Although this isn't one of the best books that I have ever read, it is one of the most profound books that I have ever read. This is another easy read you can probably go through in a night and the nuggets of wisdom that you will find between the covers is absolutely amazing. To quote just a few:

"Seeking means: having a goal. But finding means: being free, being open, having no goal."

"Writing is good, thinking is better. Cleverness is good, patience is better."

"If a person has nothing to eat, fasting is the most prudent course. If, for example, Siddhartha had not learned how to fast, to day he would have had to accept some kind of-any kind of-employment, whether with or somewhere else, because hunger would have driven him to it. But as it is Siddhartha can wait calmly, he knows no impatience, he knows no distress, he can let hunger besiege him for a long time and laugh as well. For that reason, Sir, fasting is good."

Throughout the book, you follow Siddhartha on his path to self discovery. Some of the things that he discovers about himself are sad like the realization that people like him cannot love. Love is the blessing of the "child people" as he calls them.

This is a book that I will read again.