“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.”
“You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say. That way, you’ll never have to fear an unanticipated blow.”
These are some of the poetic thoughts from the wonderful book, The Alchemist.
I am an avid reader and this is one of the first books that caught my attention. But, when I started to read this book, I couldn’t stop reading it. Reading is important as it help you with self-development because you get a lot of wisdom and knowledge. The alchemist is a masterpiece with beautiful storytelling.
About the Author
Paulo Coelho was born in Brazil in 1947 and he’s known for his deeply philosophical and spiritual works. Before he became an author, Coelho explored several career options from law to theatre and even songwriting. The Alchemist was originally published in Portuguese in 1988 but it became an international bestseller later and since then had been translated to several languages with a millions of copies sold worldwide.
Over the years, this book has inspired many individuals and celebrities too like Will Smith and Oprah Winfrey and have thus motivated them to follow their dreams.
Book Summary
The Alchemist tells a story of Santiago, a shepherd boy who lives in the hills of Andalusia and begins his journey in Spain to find the hidden treasure that he dreamt. However, as he embarks on his journey, his true quest turns into self-discovery. Along the way, he meets an alchemist who makes him realize that the treasure he seeks is much bigger than the gold he dreamt off. He also learns to trust his own instincts, follow the signs, recognize that every step of the journey is leading him closer to self-realization.
Paulo Coelho emphasizes on his philosophical idea of self-discovery and the power of dreams. The book also tells that there is connect between the universe and individuals, and that we need to follow our dreams as it is a way to realize our true potential. Additionally, the book also explores the power of dreams, intuition, and importance of perseverance irrespective of any obstacles we face. It is very important that we listen to our heart in the pursuit of fulfilling our dreams.
“People need not to fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want.” -The Englishman, The Alchemist”
My thoughts
What stood out to me the most in the book was the fact that we should listen to our heart. In todays world, we are faced with so many distractions and feeling of self-doubt. This book is a reminder that our instinct can sometimes act as a powerful guide. Additionally, this book also reinforces another aspect that when we follow our inner voice then the path ahead becomes much clearer even though its full of challenges. The Alchemist reminded me that the answers to all the questions lies within ourselves and we just need to look inside us. This book also taught me that the journey is more important than ever than the destination.
Conclusion
Therefore, The Alchemist serves as a powerful reminder of the important of listening to ones heart and following one’s dream. The journey that Santiago took, teaches us that pursuit of our personal legend is not just about achieving external success but also realizing our potential within us.
I encourage you to pick up this magical book and embark on your journey of self-realization. I truly hope that Santiago’s adventure will inspire you to chase your dreams, recognize the signs that the universe sends, most importantly, trust your instinct.
Amazon Rating: 4.6
Goodreads rating: 3.91
