The Alchemist
25th Anniversary Edition
Irony or Intuition
Ironic that a book in which a common thread is following the omens, I would come to read this book after seeing both it and the author’s name trend frequently over the course of a couple weeks. In fact, when I purchased this book, I had no clue what it was about, nor did I know it was a fictional novel. Fiction aside, the tale that is told is one that weaves in powerful messages related to following one’s dreams as it follows the journey of a “boy” in pursuit of his “Personal Legend”.
Key Insights
- Sometimes the treasure we seek is exactly where we are.
- The opportunity to learn surrounds us everywhere.
- We all have a calling, however we do not all take head.
- It is impossible to know what we want until we know who we are.
- A great example of The Hero’s Journey.
Who's story is this?
Throughout the boy’s journey, his lessons and revelations become our own. "The Alchemist" is a story of adventure, overcoming fears, faith, love, resilience, intuition, and spirit to name a few of the themes. All in all, I found it captivating, enough so that I was torn between finishing the book each time I opened it and pacing myself. In the end, I ended up pacing myself and reflecting on each day's read.
I couldn’t help but to often think of The Hero’s Journey as popularized by Joseph Campbell. As such, I often found myself reflecting on my own hero’s journey as I turned the pages. Despite the events in the book taking place in a time and land foreign to me, it all seemed so familiar. The boy’s story was my story. His treasure is my treasure!
A few of my favorite quotes from the book!
When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.Melchizedek, the king of SalemPaulo Coelho : The Alchemist
This wasn’t a strange place; it was a new one.The boyPaulo Coelho : The Alchemist
Creatures like sheep, that are used to traveling, know about moving on.The boyPaulo Coelho : The Alchemist
People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want.Camel driverPaulo Coelho : The Alchemist
When you can’t go back, you have to worry only about the best way of moving forward.Camel driverPaulo Coelho : The Alchemist
Love never keeps a man from pursuing his Personal Legend. If he abandons that pursuit, it’s because it wasn’t true love. The AlchemistPaulo Coelho : The Alchemist
One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for lovingFatimaPaulo Coelho : The Alchemist
You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it's better to listen to what it has to say.The AlchemistPaulo Coelho : The Alchemist
… in the language of the desert, one ‘dies of thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon.'The AlchemistPaulo Coelho : The Alchemist
Every search begins with beginner’s luck. And every search ends with the victor’s being severely tested.The AlchemistPaulo Coelho : The Alchemist
There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure. The AlchemistPaulo Coelho : The Alchemist
When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too The AlchemistPaulo Coelho : The Alchemist
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