Siddhartha came up with a genuine on-air endorsement 7 times across the episodes we processed. This page collects every one of those moments: who said it, what they said, and the exact point in the episode.
Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha has landed seven mentions across Lex Fridman and Tim Ferriss, usually surfacing in conversations about meaning and detachment rather than literature per se.
A novel from 1922 holding its own on modern tech and interview podcasts is worth noting. Each mention links to the exact quote and the moment it was said.
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.
Where to get it & every mention“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.” — Lex Fridman 03:09:52
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” — Naval Ravikant 00:24:27
Tim Ferriss 10-year anniversary super combo: Naval Ravikant on honesty, habits, and happiness, plus Nick Kokonas on asymmetric risk and reinventing restaurants.
“the Eastern path that I took and kind of Fus that with psychedelic culture in Seattle... so like I'd say it all started with sadara sadara that's a good book” — Andrew Callaghan 00:08:50
Channel 5's Andrew Callaghan on gonzo journalism, hitchhiking, QAnon, January 6th, O-Block drill, fame, and his public reckoning.
“Siddhartha. ... just an interesting story of enlightenment and journey” — Matt Mullenweg 00:30:33
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” — David Blaine 00:18:11
David Blaine talks fear, fasting, breath-holding, and how magic connects people, in a live conversation with Tim Ferriss.
“siddhartha by herman hesse is uh it's an incredible book yeah” — Lex Fridman 01:53:29
North Korean defector Yeonmi Park recounts escaping a closed dictatorship and reflects on freedom, suffering, love, and the systems that shape human lives.
“the three tools that allow all the rest Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse is recommended by many guests in this book” — Tim Ferriss 00:24:13
Tim Ferriss narrates his Tools of Titans intro plus profiles of Derek Sivers, BJ Miller, and Christopher Sommer.
