The Alchemist
The Alchemist – a book recommendation.
What books do you think should be shared, recommended and reviewed on this website? One’s only pertaining to Suicide Prevention and Research or would you find other genres helpful as well?
I have read and re-read Paulo Coelho‘s book The Alchemist and had a desire to share it with you for over a year now.
I saw that it was the 25th Anniversary of the book. Heard that Oprah Winfrey was doing a special Super Soul Sunday interview with Paulo at his home in Geneva, Switzerland. Then I posted a quote on the ASH facebook page from Paulo, “I have seen many storms in my life. Most storms have caught me by surprise, so I had to learn very quickly to look further and understand that I am not capable of controlling the weather, to exercise the art of patience and to respect the fury of nature.” A dear friend of mine shared that Paulo was her daughter’s favorite author, under the post. At that point I decided I would share with you the books I have found on this journey of life that have helped, healed, entertained, distracted and uplifted me.
The Alchemist is a mind opening, easy read. It is entertaining while imparting the reader with secrets of the universe. At 163 pages, it is a book I have savored for over a week as I pondered and highlighted favorite passages; and also a book I have devoured in a day when I was longing for the story. A few of my favorite quotes are:
“Whenever we do something that fills us with enthusiasm, we are following our legend…There comes a time when our personal calling is so deeply buried in our soul as to be invisible. But, it’s still there.”
“So why is it so important to live our personal calling if we are only going to suffer more than other people? Because, once we have overcome the defeats – and we always do – we are filled by a greater sense of euphoria and confidence. In the silence of our hearts, we know that we are proving ourselves worthy of the miracle of life. Each day, each hour, is part of the good fight. We start to live with enthusiasm and pleasure. Intense, unexpected suffering passes more quickly than suffering that is apparently bearable; the latter goes on for year and without our noticing, eats away at our soul, until, one day, we are no longer able to free ourselves from the bitterness and it stays with us for the rest of our lives.”
“‘What’s the world’s great lie?’ the boy asked, completely surprised. ‘It’s this; that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world’s greatest lie.'”
“When each day is the same as the next , it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives everyday that the sun rises.”
“Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there…there had been days times that his heart spent hours telling of its sadness, and at other times it became so emotional over the desert sunrise that the boy had to hide his tears.”
“When you possess great treasures with in you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed.”
“‘Don’t give into your fears’, said the alchemist in a strangely gentle voice, ‘If you do you won’t be able to talk to your heart.'”
What is the top reason I think you should read this book? It speaks to the fear, longing, challenges, triumphs, dreams, hardships, love, lessons, loyalty, and secrets of life, while being an entertaining read.
