Siddhartha

This book by Hermann Hesse has been genuinely recommended 5 times across 2 different shows: Lex Fridman, Tim Ferriss. The people who vouched for it on air: David Blaine, Lex Fridman, Matt Mullenweg, Naval Ravikant, Tim Ferriss. It comes up in conversations about consciousness, depression & mood, exercise & strength, fasting, motivation & discipline. The earliest recommendation we indexed is from Jun 2020 and the most recent from Mar 2025. Every quote below is verbatim, attributed, and linked to the exact second it was said. Sourced expert opinion, not medical advice.

Hermann Hesse wrote Siddhartha after he traveled to India in the 1910s. It tells the story of a young boy who travels the country in a quest for spiritual enlightenment in the time of Guatama Buddha. It is a compact, lyrical work, which reads like an allegory about the finding of wisdom.

• “allow me to also comment about one of the books that first drew me toward India and to its deep history of philosophical and spiritual traditions. The book is "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse.”

  Why it counts as a recommendation: “I would recommend to read ... "Siddhartha" throughout your life”
  Lex Fridman · Lex Fridman Podcast · Mar 202503:09:52

  Said during "Narendra Modi: Prime Minister of India - Power, Democracy, War & Peace | Lex Fridman Podcast #460". The episode features Narendra Modi: Prime Minister of India, leader of the world's largest democracy of 1.4 billion people, who rose from extreme childhood poverty in Gujarat to win three terms as PM. A former RSS volunteer and spiritual seeker who spent years wandering the Himalayas before entering public life. Narendra Modi reflects on poverty, spirituality, fasting, peacemaking, democracy, AI, and India's civilizational identity with Lex Fridman.

• “read this book called sedara but it's a beautiful parallel story to the making of the Buddha by Herman Hesh it's a great book I highly recommend it”

  Why it counts as a recommendation: “it's a great book I highly recommend it”
  Naval Ravikant · The Tim Ferriss Show · May 202400:24:27

  Said during "Naval Ravikant and Nick Kokonas, The Tim Ferriss Show". The episode features Naval Ravikant and Nick Kokonas: Two featured guests in this anniversary compilation. Naval Ravikant: co-founder of AngelList and Airchat, angel investor, host of the Naval podcast. Nick Kokonas: former derivatives/options trader, co-owner and co-founder of the Alinea Group of restaurants (including three-Michelin-star Alinea) and founder of the Tock booking software. Tim Ferriss 10-year anniversary super combo: Naval Ravikant on honesty, habits, and happiness, plus Nick Kokonas on asymmetric risk and reinventing restaurants.

• “Siddhartha. ... just an interesting story of enlightenment and journey”

  Why it counts as a recommendation: “just an interesting story of enlightenment and journey”
  Matt Mullenweg · The Tim Ferriss Show · Dec 202300:30:33

  Said during "How to Thrive in an AI World, Tips for Life’s Darkest Hours, & The Art of Sabbaticals (4K)". The episode features Matt Mullenweg: Co-founder of WordPress (runs over a third of all websites) and founder/CEO of Automattic, the open-source company behind WooCommerce, Tumblr, Day One, and the Texts messaging app. Matt Mullenweg on open-source freedom, an AI-shaped future, his first-ever sabbatical, and tools for life's darkest hours.

• “so siddharth is one of my favorite books absolutely and i remember have you guys read that it's a short read it's amazing”

  Why it counts as a recommendation: “one of my favorite books absolutely ... it's amazing”
  David Blaine · The Tim Ferriss Show · Nov 202100:18:11

  Said during "Master Magician David Blaine, Fear< with Tim Ferriss". The episode features David Blaine: World-renowned illusionist and endurance artist known for extreme stunts like prolonged breath holds, week-long fasts, and being encased in ice. He pioneered modern street magic and approaches his feats with rigorous research and training. David Blaine talks fear, fasting, breath-holding, and how magic connects people, in a live conversation with Tim Ferriss.

• “the three tools that allow all the rest Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse is recommended by many guests in this book”

  Why it counts as a recommendation: “Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse is recommended by many guests in this book”
  Tim Ferriss · The Tim Ferriss Show · Jun 202000:24:13

  Said during "Tools of Titans, Derek Sivers, BJ Miller, and Christopher Sommer | The Tim Ferriss Show". The episode features Derek Sivers, BJ Miller, and Christopher Sommer: A compilation of three Tools of Titans profiles: Derek Sivers, the introverted musician-turned-philosopher who founded and sold CD Baby; BJ Miller, a triple-amputee palliative care physician who has guided roughly 1,000 deaths; and Christopher Sommer, a former US National Team gymnastics coach and founder of the Gymnastic Bodies strength-training system. Tim Ferriss narrates his Tools of Titans intro plus profiles of Derek Sivers, BJ Miller, and Christopher Sommer.