Steppenwolf Book Review by Herman Hesse
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- Опубликовано: 14 окт 2024
- Steppenwolf is a novel by Herman Hesse with lots of deep messages about life and in particular, our approach to it.
I would say that despite this book at times being a tad odd (especially the third part), it is a book for those who feel they are in a "liminal" space between longing for the old world yet fearing the new world if they don't approach this new world with the right mindset.
Steppenwolf tells us that as humans, we have - and need to have - different personalities. We're not just humans or wolves. This is a book I'll definitely be rereading so it will stay on my bookshelves. It's a book for this time - and indeed a book for any middle-ager (like me).
While reading this book, I had the strong image of the Yin/Yang symbol - a fluidity - which indeed, the book read like I was on some psychedelic.
Over to you.
What did you think of this book?
What were the key themes that stood out for you?
Which door would you step through if you had to relive your life?
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Wow, I read this book in my twenties and I specifically remember thinking it’s the perfect book for adolescents. But now I’m in my forties and find many themes you mention in your video very relatable. I guess I’ll have to read it again.
Thank you for another great video!
Thank you! Yeah I read it was a school book for adolescents somewhere and I thought, “what the?” Anyone who is in a cusp of some life change would resonate with this book! Thanks for watching and sharing this feedback
I just read this book and it was really deep/psychedelic experience. I agree with everything that you said about the book. :)
Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts. 🙏😊
THANK YOU SO MUCH, VERY USEFUL
Appreciate that, glad it was. Happy reading!
Very enjoyble and I have the book on my shelf so I better give it a read.
Let me know what you think!
im a teen and when i read it i deeply related to it, i think it has the best description of suicidality that ive ever read and i really latched onto it, though there are parts which i think are unique to middle age and i cant fully understand (my copy even has a warning from Hesse in the front to young people who have latched onto it despite being able to understand which i ignored).
then again many of my favourite books are about middle age
Thank you so much for this thought provoking response. It’s so interesting to get different viewpoints and in particular, from people younger than me. I do wonder at times that certain periods in our life - transitions - bring about change where we reflect about what lies ahead. Eg. Adolescence to adulthood. Adulthood to middle aged ;middle aged to senior age. Periods where we take stock of where we have come from, where we are going and the person we choose to be through it.
Woohoo one of my favorites!!!! Glad you reviewed it finally 🙂
I think it was you who requested it. I had it on my bookshelves so I thought I’d give it a read. Thanks again. I liked it. Despite it being odd towards the end, I think in its oddness, I came to realise the message.
@@LifeLessonsFromBooks You did great!
Helen you had an amazing review of this book.
Thank you once again. Always appreciated. 🙏😊
I would recommend if you come across it The Novels of Hermann Hesse: A Study in Theme and Structure by Theodore Ziolkowski. It can be found on archive if you are interested or your library doesn't have a copy. I got my used copy some years back online. Chapter 9 pages 178-228 deal specifically with this novel and I think you find it worth your time to read it.
Okay thanks for this. I knew I was barely scratching the surface upon reading this book. This reference would help. Thank you! 🙏
@@LifeLessonsFromBooks Like I said, if you can't find it locally it is on archive
1st: Goethe was more of a poet than philosopher (I mean.. ok.. granted, there is much "philosophy" in his works, but that is the case with almost all poetry/writing art) If anything, he was a science man (in addition to being a poet)
2nd: I read the "Steppenwolf" and "Glasperlenspiel" and.. well.. I still don't like Hesse :D ... A friend of mine said , it is because I didn't read it as a Teen, but in my mid twenties. So yes, it seems Hesse really "speaks" to (modern) teens somehow
Hi Helen..its great how you bring these oft over looked little beauties to the fore for us to seek out and enjoy..its on my list for a pick up from the library tomorrow..its right behind The Dumas Club by Arturo Perez Reverte!!.. i like your comments at the end, live your life, dance to your own tune, walk your own path...life is fleeting and as Bellow said its a small glint of light between two eternal darknesses..
Ooh I’ve read this author many years ago but not this book. I’ve noted it down now to seek it out. Thank you for that recommendation!
This is an excellent novel.
And an excellent review! :)
Thank you!!! 🙏
One of the mistakes in interpreting the text, per Hesse, is to take it literally: Hesse provided a short introductory note to the text in 1961, in which he states that "of all my books Steppenwolf is the one that was more often and more violently misunderstood than any other." One of the keys to the text, to me, is the magical theater where transcendence takes place. Another is that he leaves the text behind and it is the nephew who is actually narrating. The nephew ultimately changes his opinion about haller. Another interesting thing is that Haller had been to that town before.
I was trying to find more detail as to why he said that and what his explanation of Steppenwolf was but couldn’t find anything. I think it may be in that reference book you mentioned about his work. Ultimately though, I still liked the book but I think it needs a few more reads. I think I’ll get something more with each reread. It stays on my shelf now….