Herman Hesse: Outside Man
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Herman Hesse: Outside Man
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Re: Herman Hesse: Outside Man
#2I've discovered Hermann Hesse comparatively late in my life, given that many of his novels are seen as "coming of age" topics. Still I can recommend them to anyone with an open mind or willing to open their mind or change perspectives. For instance if you are into eastern thinking there's the famous "Siddharta".
One of my personal favourites is "Narcissus and Goldmund", which sketches the relationship between two young men who represent an "artistic" and a "scientific" way of thinking and life.
Re: Herman Hesse: Outside Man
#3Seems like being raised in, and rejecting, a pietist environment can result in some fantastic literature and philosophy. Hesse was raised in a pietist household and smoked cigarettes to protest. Kant was brought up the same and wrote "Critique of Pure Reason".
I don't necessarily regard Hesse's work as necessarily being directed towards a 'coming of age' readership; but, I discovered him at a time when I was struggling with my own "private battles of adolescence" and am grateful in finding his work.
Re: Herman Hesse: Outside Man
#4I've discovered Hermann Hesse comparatively late in my life, given that many of his novels are seen as "coming of age" topics. Still I can recommend them to anyone with an open mind or willing to open their mind or change perspectives. For instance if you are into eastern thinking there's the famous "Siddharta". One of my personal favourites is "Narcissus and Goldmund", which sketches the relationship between two you…
Siddhartha is an amazing story, at least for me. So much wisdom if it comes at the right time in your life.
“His goal attracts him, because he doesn’t let anything enter his soul which might oppose the goal. This is what Siddhartha has learned among the Samanas. This is what fools call magic and of which they think it would be effected by means of the daemons. Nothing is effected by daemons, there are no daemons. Everyone can perform magic, everyone can reach his goals, if he is able to think, if he is able to wait, if he is able to fast.”
Re: Herman Hesse: Outside Man
#5I've discovered Hermann Hesse comparatively late in my life, given that many of his novels are seen as "coming of age" topics. Still I can recommend them to anyone with an open mind or willing to open their mind or change perspectives. For instance if you are into eastern thinking there's the famous "Siddharta". One of my personal favourites is "Narcissus and Goldmund", which sketches the relationship between two you…
Siddhartha is an amazing story, at least for me. So much wisdom if it comes at the right time in your life. “His goal attracts him, because he doesn’t let anything enter his soul which might oppose the goal. This is what Siddhartha has learned among the Samanas. This is what fools call magic and of which they think it would be effected by means of the daemons. Nothing is effected by daemons, there are no daemons. Eve…
One of the few Herman Hesse translations that’s PD in the US:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2500
https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/hermann-hesse/siddhartha/g...
Re: Herman Hesse: Outside Man
#6Seems like being raised in, and rejecting, a pietist environment can result in some fantastic literature and philosophy. Hesse was raised in a pietist household and smoked cigarettes to protest. Kant was brought up the same and wrote "Critique of Pure Reason". I don't necessarily regard Hesse's work as necessarily being directed towards a 'coming of age' readership; but, I discovered him at a time when I was struggli…
I, too, am lucky to have found him a few years ago in my late teens. It feels like I’ve just been in an internal existential crisis these past few years and his words always keep me grounded. Along with Rilke’s and Camus’s.
Re: Herman Hesse: Outside Man
#7Seems like being raised in, and rejecting, a pietist environment can result in some fantastic literature and philosophy. Hesse was raised in a pietist household and smoked cigarettes to protest. Kant was brought up the same and wrote "Critique of Pure Reason". I don't necessarily regard Hesse's work as necessarily being directed towards a 'coming of age' readership; but, I discovered him at a time when I was struggli…
"Beneath the wheel" (Unterm Rad) is a good read if you are interested in that aspect.
Re: Herman Hesse: Outside Man
#8I've discovered Hermann Hesse comparatively late in my life, given that many of his novels are seen as "coming of age" topics. Still I can recommend them to anyone with an open mind or willing to open their mind or change perspectives. For instance if you are into eastern thinking there's the famous "Siddharta". One of my personal favourites is "Narcissus and Goldmund", which sketches the relationship between two you…
Siddhartha is an amazing story, at least for me. So much wisdom if it comes at the right time in your life. “His goal attracts him, because he doesn’t let anything enter his soul which might oppose the goal. This is what Siddhartha has learned among the Samanas. This is what fools call magic and of which they think it would be effected by means of the daemons. Nothing is effected by daemons, there are no daemons. Eve…
This has stood with me for a long time. Now, it's back, thanks to your comment:
Everyone gives what he has. The soldier gives strength, the merchant goods, the teacher instructions, the farmer rice, the fisherman fish.
Very well and what can you give? What have you learned that you can give (the merchant asks of Siddhartha)
I can think, I can wait, I can fast.
Re: Herman Hesse: Outside Man
#9Herman Hesse is my Tesla, my Einstein, my guru. I first read "Siddhartha" quite young, and by my early teens I'd read both "The Glass Bead Game" and "Magister Ludi" - a different translation a bit harder to read - I'd read them both multiple times.
Hesse's philosophy is so comprehensive, there is no trite summary. Perhaps simply viewing life as a series of symphonic movements, with competing harmonies and melodies is as short as one can get.
Re: Herman Hesse: Outside Man
#10I'm currently reading Steppenwolf by Hesse and it has me thinking a lot. Main character (Harry Haller) seems to portray being in one of those "be careful what you wish for" situations. One aiming for individuality and independence at the cost of alienating people close to him. It is his desire, his goal in the beginning and ends up being his punishment, his prison. Maybe I found the book at the right time of my life (25).