“Dreams are made to be followed. Life is meant to be lived. Some books are meant to be read, loved and passed on. The alchemist is one of those books”.
-The Alchemist
In the context of this book alchemy refers to a journey of transformation. By living a life of courage and bravery Coelho suggests that we will discover our unique and personal journeys. We will find hidden treasures in the different seasons of life and if we are present we will find pockets of happiness.
Background
This book is a classic and has received many esteemed awards. It has been translated into 88 languages and more than 320 million copies have been sold worldwide. In this book we follow the life of a Shepherd boy by the name of, Santiago. Who is from the Spanish region Andalusia on a quest to discover his treasure in the exotic markets of North Africa.
My impressions about the book
Rating: 5 stars!!
I am so glad I picked up this classic. This book is about purpose, spirituality and self-discovery. It made me feel like I was filling my cup every time I picked it up. There are many lessons to be learned from the book and it is relatable.
Coelho made sure the book would be relatable to almost every person who reads it. These were his words, “I am Santiago the shepherd boy in search of my treasure, just as you are Santiago in search of your own. The story of one person is the story of everyone, and one man’s quest is the quest of all of humanity, which is why I believe The Alchemist continues all these years later to resonate with people from different cultures all around the world, touching them emotionally and spiritually, equally, without prejudice."
Who is the book for?
1. Anyone who is on a self-discovery journey.
2. Anyone who is looking to start reading, it’s an easy read. Not too bulky and very relatable.
3. Anyone who has lost hope and looking for encouragement and a story that will inspire them to keep going.
Lessons I learned from the book
1. Understand that everyone is on their own journey with their own treasure waiting to be discovered.
No two journeys will look the same and to focus on another man’s pursuit will delay or derail you.
2. Listen to the whispers of life.
3. God will send you helpers along the way, they will all look different.
4. Fear and faith cannot co-exist.
5. Following your dreams is scary, daunting, lonely and often costly but it is part of your purpose and highest calling.
6. God has equipped us with all that we need to fulfill our destiny.
7. God is the master of the universe.
8. Life is a journey.
9. Celebrate the sweet things in life.
10. God is a part of everything.
11. What is a blessing in one season can be a burden in another season.
12. Nothing happens by chance, "it is written".
Conclusion
A must read. A great gift.
I look forward to reading more of Paulo Coelho’s books!
