Siddhartha (Pocket Size) by Herman Hesse

Siddhartha is one of the most influential spiritual works by Hermann Hesse. Siddhartha was Hesse's ninth novel, written in German, in a simple, lyrical style. Published in 1922, this novella deals with the spiritual journey of Siddhartha, a Brahmin's son who is not satisfied with the life which is expected from him. So, he embarks on a journey of self-discovering himself. This journey makes him leave his home and family. This quest takes him through the attractions of a luxurious life, immense wealth, and pleasure of sensual love but simultaneously, he also goes through other tough human experiences like hunger, pain, greed, yearning, boredom, despair, sacrifices and hope. This journey eventually takes him to a river where he meets a ferryman, who mentors him to travel on a way which leads him to his destiny and shows him the real meaning of one's existence in this materialistic world. This finally makes Siddhartha gain peace and ultimate wisdom. Nobel laureate Hesse sets up this influential tale in the limelight of the highly regarded Indian philosophy and writes it with grace, simplicity and utmost honesty which makes Siddhartha one of the most adorable classic of the twentieth century.