Book Club - "Steppenwolf" by Hermann Hesse

"... So many people live such an unreal life. They take the images outside of them for reality and never allow the world within to assert itself.”

This novel is not merely read - it is experienced, questioned, and echoed in the reader’s own internal dialogues. It challenges us to confront the parts of ourselves we exile, the selves we perform, and the ones we hide even from ourselves.

It draws us into the twilight realm between the civilized and the wild, the spiritual and the sensual, the solitary and the social. Through the eyes of Harry Haller - a man caught in painful duality - we wander the alleyways of despair, ecstatic revelation, and ultimately, the mysterious magic theater where selves splinter, dissolve, and reassemble.

• Genres: Fiction, Philosophy, Psychological Novel, Modernist Literature.
• Pages: ~240, paperback.

Looking forward to a heartfelt and deep discussion on identity, alienation, and the being's potential for metamorphosis - where every voice adds a facet to the mirror Hesse so hauntingly holds up to us!

📜 To foster a fruitful, respectful, and inspiring conversation together, please be mindful of the following ground rules:

• Attendance at the book club requires reading the entire book before the meeting. Online summaries or cover descriptions do not count as reading the book.
• Listen respectfully, without interrupting.
• Listen actively and with an ear to understanding others' views.
• Comment on ideas, not individuals.
• Focus on learning rather than debating. The goal is not to find agreement, but to gain insights from the diverse perspectives we each bring to the table. Comment in order to share information, not to persuade.
• Avoid blame, speculation, and inflammatory language.
• Allow everyone the chance to speak.
• Avoid no-shows and last-minute drop-outs to ensure fairness to those on the waitlist and the organizer. Be advised that a no-show or a drop-out may result in your exclusion from the next meetup.
• Refrain from attending the event if you're not on the attendee list. This ensures fairness to those on the waitlist and helps the organizer.
• Be mindful and present during the discussion. Avoid using your phone; after all, the beauty lies in face-to-face social interaction.

🚫 Zero Tolerance Policy: Harassment or insults of any kind - whether during in-person meetups or online - towards members' culture, religion, profession or identity will result in an immediate ban. Mutual respect is non-negotiable; violations will be acted upon without further discussion.

💰 Organisation Fees: Minimum donation of €5