BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:Book Club: Steppenwolf #1 METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260908T181500 DTEND:20260908T194500 DTSTAMP:20260908T181500 UID:2026/book-club-steppenwolf-1@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260803T124711 LOCATION: SUMMARY:Book Club: Steppenwolf #1 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

According to Hermann Hesse himself, Steppenwolf is the most misunderstood of all his books. In writing the book, the Nobel Prize winning author not o nly composed one of the greatest pieces of modernist writing; he als o shares an account of a personal, existential crisis. Almost 100� �years old, and influential still, it’s a ‘classic’ by all me ans.

The Library Book Club is everybody’s book club. Fancy a refreshing read, a change of scenery and a nourishing encounter? Com e and read Steppenwolf with us! 

About the book and its author 

German-Swiss&n bsp;author Hermann Hesse (1877 – 1962) was well-read duri ng his lifetime in German speaking countries; but his interest i n Asian religions, spirituality and psychoanalysis made that he reson ated particularly well with a new young generation in the 1960s in the Global North. Many of his books centre an individual’s search for authenticity, self-knowledge and spirituality.&n bsp; 

Steppenwolf (1927) is no exceptio n, although compared to his other work, it might be especially p ersonal — if not autobiographical. Written in the period of a three-year marriage with Ruth Wenger in which he found himself driven into isolation and living an increasin gly recluse life, Steppenwolf is a compelling account of modernity, alienation and a possibility of transcendence and healing. 

Practicalities 

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  • We’ve picked the Penguin Modern Cla ssics edition of 2012 as a reference point (I SBN 9780141192093), so page numbers refer to that edition.& nbsp;
  • Each session, we’ll be discussing  about a third of the book. During the first session, that’s pages 1 till 70; during the second, pages 71 till 159 (before the asterisk, af ter “… mentioned in the Steppenwolf tract.”); and dur ing the third from page 159 till  240 (so we include the author’s postscript). Mak e sure to read these pages beforehand. 
  • This book club season consists of three biweekly sessions o n Tuesdays 8 and 22 September and 6 October; you’re not obliged to participate all sessio ns. 
  • The location is the Library Lounge, at the entry of the University Library in the Main Building (HG-01A01). 
  • There’s no need to sign up . If you’d like to receive updates and  to vote for books in the future, you can join the group chat (WhatsA pp). 

    • Schedule 

    5:30 p.m. walk-in: you’re welcome to come in ea rly, to bridge time or to bring and have dinner. 

    6:15 p.m. opening: we kick off with a round of introduc tions, and a brief introduction of the book. 

    6:25 p.m. group discussion: we share our experience and fin dings reading the book so far. 

    7:25 p.m.  summarising: we look ahead to the next session and summarise to day’s session. 

    7:45 p.m. end or s ocialising: we end the session, although you’re welcome to stick ar ound until the building closes. 

    About the Librar y Book Club 

    The Library Book Club is for anyone roaming VU’s campus. We read a few books each year, and  try to throw something new into the mix each time; passing fiction an d non-fiction, poetry and prose, short stories and longer o nes along the way. Our librarians select three candidates for a  season and you get to vote. If you’d like to engage with this group more often, the easiest way to get involved is throug h the group chat (WhatsApp). Information on future sessions can b e found on our VU webpage.

    DESCRIPTION: The Library Book Club is everybody’s book club. Fancy a refreshing read, a change of scenery and a nourishing encounter? Com e and read Steppenwolf with us! 

    About the book and its author 

    German-Swiss a uthor Hermann Hesse (1877 – 1962) was well-read during hi s lifetime in German speaking countries; but his interest in Asi an religions, spirituality and psychoanalysis made that he resonated particularly well with a new young generation in the 1960s in th e Global North. Many of his books centre an individual’s searc h for authenticity, self-knowledge and spirituality. & nbsp; Steppenwolf (1927) is no exception, although  compared to his other work, it might be especially personal — if not autobiographical. Written in the period of a t hree-year marriage with Ruth Wenger in which he found himse lf driven into isolation and living an increasingly recluse life, Steppenwolf is a compelling account of modernity, alienation and a possibility of transcendence and healing . 

    Practicalities 

    Schedule 

    5:30 p.m . walk-in: you’re welcome to come in early, to bridge time or to bring and have dinner.  6:15 p.m.&n bsp;opening: we kick off with a round of introductions, and a brief i ntroduction of the book.  6:25 p.m. group discussion: we share our experience and findings reading the book so far.  7:25 p.m. summarising: we look ahead to the next session and summarise today’s session.  7 :45 p.m. end or socialising: we end the session, althou gh you’re welcome to stick around until the building closes. 

    About the Library Book Club 

    The Libra ry Book Club is for anyone roaming VU’s campus. We read a few books each year, and try to throw something new into the mix eac h time; passing fiction and non-fiction, poetry and prose, short  ;stories and longer ones along the way. Our librarians select th ree candidates for a season and you get to vote. If yo u’d like to engage with this group more often, the easiest way to get involved is through the group chat (WhatsApp). Informatio n on future sessions can be found on our VU webpage. According to Hermann Hesse himself, Steppenwolf  is the most misunderstood of all his books. In writing the book, the Nobel Prize winning author not only composed one of the great est pieces of modernist writing; he also shares an account of a per sonal, existential crisis. Almost 100 years old, and influential st ill, it’s a ‘classic’ by all means. END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR