Siddhartha - Hermann Hesse - Siddhartha By Hermann Hesse is one of the most influential spiritual works of the twentieth century. And, most famous examples of the West''s fascination with Indian culture & particularly Buddhistic philosophy. Hermann Hesse tells the story of Siddhartha, a Brahmin on a quest for self-discovery'. As boy follows his heart and goes through various lives to finally understand what it means to be enlightened. He experiences life as a pious brahmin, a Samana, a rich merchant, a lover and an ordinary ferryman, to a father. Neither a practitioner nor a devotee, neither meditating nor reciting, Siddhartha comes to blend in with the world, resonating with the rhythms of nature, bending the reader's ear down to hear answers from the river.This classic text gives the reader insight into various stages of growth in life that many people can connect with on different levels.