Unfortunately I read Narcissus and Goldmund before this book, so I was not as impressed as I may have been otherwise. Demian is Narcissus and Goldmund's less experienced little brother; both books explore the same ideas about education, sprituality, and individual will, but N&G is much longer and more developed, spanning the entire lives of its main characters, whereas I felt Demian ended abruptly with too many questions left unanswered. If you are going to read this, read it before Narcissus and Goldmund. ( )