‘Siddhartha’ by Hermann Hesse

  "Siddhartha," Hermann Hesse’s account of the life an auspicious and insightful man seeking spiritual enlightenment, urges the reader to think about his or her own journey through life.
  As a youth, Siddhartha questions whether he will ever be enlightened from his Hindu teachings. He is compelled to leave home in search of what he hopes will bring him spiritual awareness. Throughout this lifelong voyage, he is taught self-denial, self-reliance, and self-indulgence. Ultimately, he attains nirvana through observing a river during his time spent as a ferryman.
  The main idea of the story is open to interpretation, which is what makes it such an excellent novel. I believe Hesse’s message was that peace and happiness can be found in the most unlikely of places, such as the river for Siddhartha.
  Because the story is so much about coming to terms with the world and oneself, I highly recommend it for younger readers. With fewer than 200 pages, it is a quick and simple book to read, but Hesse fills the pages with much wisdom.
  "Siddhartha" has had more of an impact on me than any other book I’ve read.