Siddhartha

Set in ancient India during the time of the Buddha, this novel follows Siddhartha, a young Brahmin who abandons his privileged life to seek spiritual enlightenment. He journeys through asceticism with the Samanas, encounters the teachings of Gautama Buddha, and eventually turns to the world of commerce and sensual experience. Through these varied stages of life, including love, loss, and the guidance of a river ferryman, Siddhartha learns that wisdom cannot be taught but must be experienced directly.

Description adapted from Open Library ↗.