Dear Friends,

I need help. I want to introduce a friend of mine to the world of Hermann Hesse. His 50 birthday is coming very soon!

I want to give him several of Hesse's books.

My thought is to read these as follows--I didn't

1- siddharta
2- demian
3- narcissisus & goldmund
4- steppenwolf
5- magister ludi

What do you think?

Pretty good list! If I were to choose...I would end pretty much the same list. Except maybe I will insert Journey to the east to replace Siddharta.....I hope Siddharta fan don't kill me...I love Siddharta also (How could I not)..it's just that JTTE appeals more to me.

Please don't forget The Glass Bead Game.

Trust me on this one.

I think The Glass Bead Game's title also translates into Magister Ludi in some languages, so I believe that it is included in the list above. I agree with you though, it should not be forgotten...

hi, your list is very good, but dont¹f forget Gertrud, its a great book, and of course, sidharta to read at fisrt place its a good chose.
ferom mexico, arturo!!!

hi its a good list but maybe you only want to get him only one book
and let the others ones be choosen by him .I think a lot of us experienced the lack of hesse material at some point of our search .And there is nothing more fulfilling that find those book oneself .
i woud start with demian .
folowed by siddhartha and steppenwolf and the rest let them be chossen by him