Book Of The Month: A Timeless Quest For Meaning: The Alchemist
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There are many self-help books, autobiographies, and both fictional and non-fictional works that tackle the paramount importance of pursuing one's dreams. The Alchemist, by international bestseller, Paulo Coelho, is treasured as one of the most simply-written and imaginatively-inspired selections among them.
Written as a fable, this allegorical narrative follows the “Personal Legend” of one humble boy and his individual quest for purpose, courage, and destiny. Along the way, he meets characters that change, challenge, deter, and fulfill him- just as we all do in life. The Alchemist is an inspirational story of magic and wisdom, and a quintessential spotlight on coming to terms with each of our own personal deepest dreams, apprehensions, and aspirations.
“““Why do we have to listen to our hearts?” the boy asked.
”Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you will find your treasure.” ”
The Alchemist
Originally Published: 1988
Pages: 167
Available on: Kindle, Paperback, Hardcover, Audiobook
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The Alchemist follows a young Andulasian shepherd named Santiago who, haunted by dreams of a faraway treasure in the Egyptian desert, leaves behind his home and flock to pursue the faintest whisper of destiny. He feels deeply called to follow, no matter the consequences or the risk.
In a mystical trek across the Arab desert, he encounters creative characters who shape and define his “Personal Legend”: a woman who becomes his great love, Arab caravans, and of course, an alchemist (one who can transform ordinary materials or metals into gold). Because the act of alchemy defies reason, it requires belief in something greater at work in the universe and a level of faith and hope that Santiago struggles to adopt.
““Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of dreams because every second of the search is a second encounter with God and with eternity.””
As Santiago treks through the Arab desert with the alchemist, this mysterious mentor challenges the young shepherd to live out a life more intentional and uninhibited than Santiago thought possible for himself. Slowly, through the journey’s mishaps and experiences, the young boy’s understanding of himself and of the world expands, and with that, his abilities to harness powers that he had never imagined. The conversations between the alchemist and the boy are not something to miss, and rife with the inspiring fundamental belief that if you fight to achieve your deepest aspirations, the universe will be there to support it:
““And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.””
He learns how to trust in himself, in other people, in the reinforcing manifestation of the universe, and in the natural resources of life—if you allow them into your life and forgo your fear of failure. The Alchemist purports that although every person’s triumphs and setbacks come in different forms, there is a universal struggle to break away from fear. Fear actively serves as a roadblock on the road to potential and to living a meaningful life in a way that only makes sense to the individual at hand.
““Don’t give in to your fears. If you do, you won’t be able to talk to your heart.” ”
The short novel culminates in a final trial of the boy’s lessons and struggles. Can he rise above the self-suppressing barriers and inhibitions that have held him back from true greatness; can he step into the best version of himself? Or will he let fear of failure tie him to the all-too-safe ground? Will he step into the unknown? There are no clear answers and no certainty of success, but Santiago is faced with an opportunity to embrace his struggles head on and harness the win—literally.
““When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.” ”
Spinning a fantastical narrative of magical realism, Coelho speaks in lyrical metaphors and with prophetic articulation. He explores the dual importance and relationship between the why and the how; the journey and the destination. The Alchemist illustrates the balance of having a final goal to make your most precious dreams a reality, but remembering to savor the process of living through the ups and downs along the way.
““Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.” ”
The great thing about The Alchemist is that it is a bite-sized wisdom. Life lessons, philosophy, and great themes make this short novel akin to a plunge in ice-cold water that revitalizes a reader’s mind and sharpens awareness of forgotten hopes and dreams that you may have lost sight of along the way. It is an “easy” read, but its startling depth has been touching readers since its publication in 1988.
With striking directness, The Alchemist is full of quotations that you will be scribbling down to adopt as your new motivational sticky note to post in the mirror or above your work desk. Try these on for size:
“The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.”
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
“People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.”
So if you’re looking for a book that could change your life in 163 pages and you’re tired of cut-and-dry self-help books, try The Alchemist. Every reader will glean a nugget of wisdom from its pages, and find some personal inspiration to take their life into their own hands, make better use of the present, and identify what has been holding them back on their individual journey towards happiness.
““The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.” ”
“Already written in my soul,” it required a scant two weeks for Brazilian author Paulo Coelho to write this international bestseller that has sold over 150 million copies. It holds the Guinness World Record for most translated book by a living author. If you enjoy this book, Coelho’s other works include The Archer, Brida, and The Pilgrimage.
““We are travelers on a cosmic journey,stardust,swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.” ”
More by Paul Coelho
Image: Amazon
Image: Amazon
Image: Amazon