“I’m alive. When I’m eating that’s all I think about. If I’m on the march, I just concentrate on marching. If I have to fight, it will be just as good a day as any to die. If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man. Life is the moment we are living now.”
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a poetic story of humanity and fate. An Andulasian shepherd boy, Santiago, has simple ambitions, but a recurring dream and advice from a self-proclaimed king convince him to set off for the pyramids, where he hopes to find the treasure he sees in his sleep. On his way to seek his fortune, Santiago is met with tragedy and kindness, strangers that rob him and others who offer him words of wisdom and a place to sleep. He discusses and learns more about the motives of man, the spirituality of the world, and the hand of God guiding every person down their fated path. He meets a crystal-seller hoping to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, an ambitious Englishman searching for the secret to alchemy, an Alchemist with an abundance of both secrets and knowledge, and Fatima, who Santiago believes he is fated to be with. He learns about the Personal Legend, the achievement of goals an individual sets for himself. He grows and gains knowledge of Soul of the World, the bindings of all parts of this world – the spiritual ties between the common and the ineffable. As Santiago pursues his path and explores the world, he begins to understand that everything is connected by an unseeable force, and that people are in charge of their own destinies.
“I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the same hand, and we have the same soul.”
Coelho delivers a stunning novel that brings into question human nature, prophecies, and fate’s plan. He asks and answers difficult questions about faith, God, and the motivation a person has to make certain decisions and live a certain way. The prose is ephemeral; carefully written and carelessly insightful. Santiago’s journey of growth and treasure-seeking takes you to places you’ve never been – the peaceful Andalusian mountains, surrounded by nothing but clear skies and sheep’ the busy markets of Tangiers, rife with dust and thieves; and the quaint, simple oasis where Santiago finds love and knowledge that take him down two different paths. Santiago learns to connect with the elements around him, to reach for what you want and hold on tightly, and to always listen to your heart, for it will never steer you wrong. You will be forced to question your own mind and soul, and while this story will leave you with many questions, it will also give you a few answers to the secrets of love, happiness, and fulfillment in your short, precious, eternally beautiful life.
“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.”
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