Paradigm Shift

[Mickie]

When I was twenty, this book changed my life. I was changing a lot back then.

[Justin]

I am reading it now and its currently changing my life. It has seemed to come to me out of nowhere at exactly the right time. It is full of truth.

[Sharon L.]

I had to read this book in my 30s--all the way through in one sitting--and cried at the end. What a powerful story--worth exploring for all kinds of learning....

[Eric]

My favorite Hesse book so far. I've read several this year. There is a new book of his poetry translated into English that is very good:The Seasons of the Soul.

[Sue]

In my mind, l always thought of this as an expansion on the ideas from "Siddhartha." The journeys these 2 characters take to find themselves and the friendship that is formed is really quite beautiful. I read this when l was 17 and l still remember how l felt and where l was when l finished it. Great, great book.

[John]

I read this book along with an old friend... I identified as Goldmund and he as Narziss. The truth is that there elements of both in all of us. This is my favorite of Hesse's novels and one of my top 25 novels of all-time. I recommend this book to every intelligent person that I meet.

[Jen]

Started with Steppenwolf when I was 15 and with every Hesse I read my life changed some more and the search went on. So many different paths that lead to the same thing and with every book he explores different journeys. Read them all as a adolescent, then as a mother and now as an old crone ;) and every age I had another favourite and identified with a different character.
As Christopher says: if you liked this do read all his books, which culminate with the Glass Bead Game.
So jealous of anyone reading these for the first time.

[Gary]

For me, this beats the Glass Bead Game because it was more to do with the spirit of the heart rather than mind. It didn't change me - Neville Shute's Round The Bend got there first. I'd sugest everyone should read that too.

[Jamie]

I read this recently while I was walking 500 miles on the camino de Santiago. While Goldmund went on his journey, I went on mine. It was the perfect book for me to read at the time and I think I will go back to it again and again.

[Read me two times]

This was my first Hesse book. I read it in a sunny day, a whole afternoon, under a tree. Tears were falling down on my face at the end (and not only), I was struck by these two characters, so different yet matching one other...really, a great book, moving and inspiring.

[Gary]

Eric wrote: "My favorite Hesse book so far. I've read several this year. There is a new book of his poetry translated into English that is very good:The Seasons of the Soul."

Wow! His poetry - thanks so much :D