Siddhartha

Whether it is the Bible or another book of faith or any work of self-expression, art, and study, it is the resonance that matters. 

Sometimes, it really does happen, and it's happened to me, although it is very rare. There is no clear explanation, only hints and clues. The mechanisms of inspiration are not fully known, nor is there a charted path to understanding - it's all discovery. You start out reading a book, a certain book, and there is a transformation, page by page, a journey both natural and new. 

Then, by the final chapters, you are no longer exactly who you were before. All thru some strange magic of conscious thought, evolution, words and ideas, and the crystal clarity of brilliant composition. Siddhartha is about the Buddha. His birth name was Siddhartha Gautama, and Hesse's timeless novel chronicles the panoramic inner journey to personal enlightenment. 

Certain experiences can be life-changing or have inexplicable influence for a myriad of reasons. I started reading this great book one evening, then throughout the night until dawn. I was sixteen.