The Glass Bead Game
The Glass Bead Game
Hermann Hesse
Paul Stamets
One of my favorite books. - Paul Stamets
Tyler Cowen
About the beauty of organised structures and how we play them in game-like fashion and how much they entrance us. - Tyler Cowen
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The Glass Bead Game

The Glass Bead Game

Hermann Hesse
By
Hermann Hesse
4.1
2253
ratings on Goodreads

In the enigmatic landscape of the twenty-third century lies Castalia, a sanctum for the intellectual elite, dedicated to the cultivation of the mind and the preservation of knowledge. Here, the pinnacle of intellectual achievement is the Glass Bead Game, a fusion of art, science, and philosophy, played with a sophistication that transcends mere language. It is within this context that Hermann Hesse weaves the tale of Joseph Knecht. Raised in this cloistered world, Knecht's life is a journey of the mind, a quest for meaning amidst the rigorous discipline of the Game. His path from precocious student to Magister Ludi (Master of the Game) is not just a personal triumph but a narrative that questions the value and direction of human intellect. "The Glass Bead Game" stands as Hesse's magnum opus, a meticulous exploration of the dichotomy between the life of the mind and the soul's yearning for freedom and authenticity. Through Knecht's story, Hesse delves deeply into themes of self-discovery, the role of education, and the pursuit of enlightenment. This novel, a masterpiece of modern literature, challenges the reader to reflect on the essence of creativity and the pursuit of knowledge, offering a profound meditation on the complexities of modern life and the eternal quest for meaning.

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Released
1943
1 Jan
Length
558
Pages

2

recommendations

recommendation

About the beauty of organised structures and how we play them in game-like fashion and how much they entrance us. - Tyler Cowen
One of my favorite books. - Paul Stamets
What you call passion is not a spiritual force, but friction between the soul and the outside world. Where passion dominates, that does not signify the presence of greater desire and ambition, but rather the misdirection of these qualities toward and isolated and false goal, with a consequent tension and sultriness in the atmosphere. Those who direct the maximum force of their desires toward the center, toward true being, toward perfection, seem quieter than the passionate souls because the flame of their fervor cannot always be seen. In argument, for example, they will not shout or wave their arms. But, I assure you, they are nevertheless, burning with subdued fires.
— Hermann Hesse, The Glass Bead Game

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