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Title: Fantastic, but not as an introduction to Hesse.
Review: This is a fantastic book, probably the most "mystical" of Hesse's works. Although I enjoyed it immensely, it is thick with references to Hesse's other works, and I can't recommend it as an introduction to his writing. If you've read a lot of Hesse, it may only serve to re-affirm themes from his other books. I however found it rewarding to read as a synthesis of his ideas to that point-- it is more than just a rehashing of old material.
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