Hey, Shorties! I recently read The Alchemist. I had a brief discussion with a friend who had a negative reaction to the book. She really poo-poo-ed it, which I can appreciate as everyone is entitled to their opinion, and it really kind of cracked me up because I was in the middle of it, and already thoroughly enjoying it! For me, I found The Alchemist to be in-flippin-credible of a story. It’s a book that takes courage and an open mind to read, I will say that. However, I think if you can dig deep, allow yourself to become open to the story, you may find yourself reaching a higher level of awareness of consciousness from reading this unique story.
And, I have a blog. So I can write about whatever I want.
Reminds me of a great scene from one of my favorite movies, The Wedding Singer…
If all else, read it because so many have read it around the world. Perhaps a topic of discussion at a cocktail party? Or, read it just to argue with me about it, ha!
As a self-proclaimed self-help book junkie, sure, I felt pretty open to what The Alchemist would be about. In one of her Super Soul Podcast episodes, Oprah interviewed Paulo Coelho, the author of The Alchemist, so I knew it had to be a book about life, making choices, finding your calling, etc. If you are not interested in that sort of thing, then this book is going to be more of a struggle for you. But even still, I think it’s a pretty cool story. It feels like a timeless tale to me.
The Alchemist is a story about a boy’s extraordinary journey to reach his potential. In order to do so, he has to make difficult choices, recognize signs, and resist fear from pushing him from his path. He meets various individuals that teach him important lessons on his way.
Here are my thoughts about The Alchemist:
- It is beautifully written. Poetic prose, simplistic, like a parable. It is art.
- It talks about the stuff of life. Wake up, increase your awareness!
- This book is incredibly quotable, so many life lessons throughout the book, and much is usable as mantras and inspirations.
- The story teaches about finding your destiny, which is done by listening to your spirit/God/signs/the force greater than us all, and making conscious choices. You get one life and it’s up to you and the choices you make to realize your potential. This book is about living. Wake/Pray/Slay kind of living! Fear, self-doubt, ignoring the signs, acting foolishly- these are all things that the protagonist learns will keep him from his higher goal.
- One of the central themes of the book is something I feel more and more strongly about: the universe is conspiring not against you, but for you! It’s all about having the right perspective, and you can see how the universe works in your favor.
- With that last point, another theme throughout the book is how interconnected we are to the world. Is this hippy dippy baloney? Or could it be true? Either way, the protagonist’s journey involves this concept throughout, in a central way.
- Like any piece of literature, what can you learn from it? Are you resistant? Why? What about it was an aha moment for you, and what about it do you really fight with? I’d love to hear those sides: favorite quotes and parts, as well as what you are rumbling with.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from The Alchemist:
“People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.” (25)
“When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
“No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn’t know it.”
“When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.”
“Every blessing ignored becomes a curse.”
“To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only obligation.”
Thoughts?