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| The Alchemist: A review by Herndon L. Davis |
The Brazilian author PAULO
COELHO was born in 1947 in the
city of Rio de Janeiro. Before
dedicating his life completely to
literature, he worked as theatre
director and actor, lyricist and
journalist.
Coelho wrote song lyrics for many
famous performers in Brazilian
music, such as Elis Regina and
Rita Lee. Yet his most well known
work has been done with Raul
Seixas. Together they wrote such
successes as Eu nasci há dez mil
anos atrás (I was born ten
thousand years ago), Gita and Al
Capone, amongst other 60 songs.
His fascination with the spiritual
quest dates back to his hippie
days, when he travelled the world
learning about secret societies,
oriental religions, etc.
In 1982 Coelho published his first
book, Hell Archives, which failed
to make any kind of impact. In
1985 he contributed to the
Practical Manual of Vampirism,
although he later tried to take it off
the shelves, since he considered it
“of bad quality”. In 1986, PAULO
COELHO did the pilgrimage to
Saint James of Compostella, an
experience later to be documented
in his book The Pilgrimage.
In the following year, COELHO
published The Alchemist. Slow
initial sales convinced his first
publisher to drop the novel, but it
went on to become one of the best
selling Brazilian books of all time.
Other titles include Brida (1990),
The Valkyries (1992), By the river
Piedra I sat Down and Wept
(1994), the collection of his best
columns published in the Brazilian
newspaper Folha de São Paulo
entitle Maktub (1994), the
compilation of texts Phrases
(1995), The Fifth Mountain
(1996), Manual of a Warrior of
Light (1997), Veronika decides to
die (1998), The Devil and Miss
Prym (2000), the compilation of
traditional tales in Stories for
parents, children and grandchildren
(2001), Eleven Minutes (2003),
The Zahir (2005)
He also adapted The Gift (Henry
Drummond) and Love letters of a
prophet (Kalil Gibran).
To date, Coelho has sold a total of
75 million copies and, according to
the magazine Publishing Trends;
he was the most sold author in the
world in 2003 with his book
Eleven Minutes – even though at
the time it hadn’t been released in
the United States, Japan or 10
other countries!
PAULO COELHO entered he
Guinness Book of Records as the
author that signed more books in
different editions (October 9th
2003, at the Frankfurt Book Fair).
A Norwegian community, Arendal,
gave copies of The Alchemist to
all its civil servants, as a way of
stimulating a new type of thought.
Many MBA courses, such as the
one from The Graduate School of
Business of the University of
Chicago recommends the reading
of The Alchemist to its students.
This book has equally been
adopted in schools in France, Italy,
Portugal, Brazil, Taiwan, USA,
Spain, etc.
PAULO COELHO has managed
to have three titles at the same
time in bestselling lists in France,
Brazil, Poland, Switzerland,
Argentina, Greece, Croatia, and
Russia. His work has been
translated in 62 languages, and
edited in more than 150 countries.
The pope John Paulo II welcomed
the author in the Vatican in 1998.
COELHO was born in 1947 in the
city of Rio de Janeiro. Before
dedicating his life completely to
literature, he worked as theatre
director and actor, lyricist and
journalist.
Coelho wrote song lyrics for many
famous performers in Brazilian
music, such as Elis Regina and
Rita Lee. Yet his most well known
work has been done with Raul
Seixas. Together they wrote such
successes as Eu nasci há dez mil
anos atrás (I was born ten
thousand years ago), Gita and Al
Capone, amongst other 60 songs.
His fascination with the spiritual
quest dates back to his hippie
days, when he travelled the world
learning about secret societies,
oriental religions, etc.
In 1982 Coelho published his first
book, Hell Archives, which failed
to make any kind of impact. In
1985 he contributed to the
Practical Manual of Vampirism,
although he later tried to take it off
the shelves, since he considered it
“of bad quality”. In 1986, PAULO
COELHO did the pilgrimage to
Saint James of Compostella, an
experience later to be documented
in his book The Pilgrimage.
In the following year, COELHO
published The Alchemist. Slow
initial sales convinced his first
publisher to drop the novel, but it
went on to become one of the best
selling Brazilian books of all time.
Other titles include Brida (1990),
The Valkyries (1992), By the river
Piedra I sat Down and Wept
(1994), the collection of his best
columns published in the Brazilian
newspaper Folha de São Paulo
entitle Maktub (1994), the
compilation of texts Phrases
(1995), The Fifth Mountain
(1996), Manual of a Warrior of
Light (1997), Veronika decides to
die (1998), The Devil and Miss
Prym (2000), the compilation of
traditional tales in Stories for
parents, children and grandchildren
(2001), Eleven Minutes (2003),
The Zahir (2005)
He also adapted The Gift (Henry
Drummond) and Love letters of a
prophet (Kalil Gibran).
To date, Coelho has sold a total of
75 million copies and, according to
the magazine Publishing Trends;
he was the most sold author in the
world in 2003 with his book
Eleven Minutes – even though at
the time it hadn’t been released in
the United States, Japan or 10
other countries!
PAULO COELHO entered he
Guinness Book of Records as the
author that signed more books in
different editions (October 9th
2003, at the Frankfurt Book Fair).
A Norwegian community, Arendal,
gave copies of The Alchemist to
all its civil servants, as a way of
stimulating a new type of thought.
Many MBA courses, such as the
one from The Graduate School of
Business of the University of
Chicago recommends the reading
of The Alchemist to its students.
This book has equally been
adopted in schools in France, Italy,
Portugal, Brazil, Taiwan, USA,
Spain, etc.
PAULO COELHO has managed
to have three titles at the same
time in bestselling lists in France,
Brazil, Poland, Switzerland,
Argentina, Greece, Croatia, and
Russia. His work has been
translated in 62 languages, and
edited in more than 150 countries.
The pope John Paulo II welcomed
the author in the Vatican in 1998.
According to Publishing Trends, The Alchemist was to be found in the 6th place of world sales in 2003.
Eleven Minutes topped all lists in the world, except for England, where it was in second place. The Zahir,
published in 2005, was in third place of bestsellers according to Publishing Trends, after Dan Brown’s The
Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons.
The Alchemist was one of the most important literary phenomena of the 20th century. It reaches the first
place in bestselling lists in 18 countries, and so far has sold 30 million copies.
The book has been praised by different personalities ranging from the Nobel Prize Kenzaburo Oe to the
singer Madonna, who considers it one of her favourite books. It has equally inspired many projects – such
as a musical in Japan, theatre plays in France, Belgium, USA, Turkey, Italy, Switzerland. It is also the
theme of two symphonies (Italy and USA) and had its text illustrated by the famous French artist Moebius
(author of the sceneries for he Fifth Element and Alien). The illustrated edition of The Alchemist, made by
the artist Moebius, has already been released in many countries.
The book has been adopted in schools in more than 30 countries, offering special editions to students.
Eleven Minutes topped all lists in the world, except for England, where it was in second place. The Zahir,
published in 2005, was in third place of bestsellers according to Publishing Trends, after Dan Brown’s The
Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons.
The Alchemist was one of the most important literary phenomena of the 20th century. It reaches the first
place in bestselling lists in 18 countries, and so far has sold 30 million copies.
The book has been praised by different personalities ranging from the Nobel Prize Kenzaburo Oe to the
singer Madonna, who considers it one of her favourite books. It has equally inspired many projects – such
as a musical in Japan, theatre plays in France, Belgium, USA, Turkey, Italy, Switzerland. It is also the
theme of two symphonies (Italy and USA) and had its text illustrated by the famous French artist Moebius
(author of the sceneries for he Fifth Element and Alien). The illustrated edition of The Alchemist, made by
the artist Moebius, has already been released in many countries.
The book has been adopted in schools in more than 30 countries, offering special editions to students.
|
| Quick Facts About The Alchemist |
How many of you have been caught suffering in angst, straddling between the status quo of your daily lives
versus shining brilliantly in the beauty of your dreams? How many of you have lived a full natural life but
without ever obtaining genuine joy and peace, knowing without a doubt that your life was meant for more
than to work to pay your bills?
Confronting these dilemmas is the initial focus of The Alchemist. Seeing them portrayed through characters
such as the ones in this book is safer than confronting them dead-on in our lives but eventually we must.
So for those who have ever dreamed of reaching for the stars but never went any farther than your own
backyards, this book is for you. For anyone who has allowed others to discourage you because you were not
spiritually strong enough to step out on faith and genuinely believe it yourself, this book is for you.
And for those who are jaded and filled with negativity dealing with the harsh realities of life and see no light
at the end of your tunnel, then this book most definitely is for you!!!
versus shining brilliantly in the beauty of your dreams? How many of you have lived a full natural life but
without ever obtaining genuine joy and peace, knowing without a doubt that your life was meant for more
than to work to pay your bills?
Confronting these dilemmas is the initial focus of The Alchemist. Seeing them portrayed through characters
such as the ones in this book is safer than confronting them dead-on in our lives but eventually we must.
So for those who have ever dreamed of reaching for the stars but never went any farther than your own
backyards, this book is for you. For anyone who has allowed others to discourage you because you were not
spiritually strong enough to step out on faith and genuinely believe it yourself, this book is for you.
And for those who are jaded and filled with negativity dealing with the harsh realities of life and see no light
at the end of your tunnel, then this book most definitely is for you!!!
The Alchemist speaks greatly of our becoming aware of the signs which speak to us; to understand the
conversations that the Spirit seeks to have with us; and to comprehend the guideposts that the Creator has
constructed for us to encounter.
Opportunities exist all around us; we just have to become aware in order to see them with our spiritual eyes
and not with just our physical eyes. Through meditation, which is often described as listening to God are we
able to receive guidance, instruction, and direction.
For those who say they don’t know where to start, stand still and listen. For those who say they have no
contacts or people in high places or positions to help them, stand still and listen. For those who say they
have no money, education, or skills to realize their goals and desires, stand still and listen.
A word from God can come in an infinite number of ways and methods. From a piece of dead wood, to a
mysterious dream, to a baby’s laughter, or a fleeting idea that barely registers in your consciousness, we all
must stand still and listen.
conversations that the Spirit seeks to have with us; and to comprehend the guideposts that the Creator has
constructed for us to encounter.
Opportunities exist all around us; we just have to become aware in order to see them with our spiritual eyes
and not with just our physical eyes. Through meditation, which is often described as listening to God are we
able to receive guidance, instruction, and direction.
For those who say they don’t know where to start, stand still and listen. For those who say they have no
contacts or people in high places or positions to help them, stand still and listen. For those who say they
have no money, education, or skills to realize their goals and desires, stand still and listen.
A word from God can come in an infinite number of ways and methods. From a piece of dead wood, to a
mysterious dream, to a baby’s laughter, or a fleeting idea that barely registers in your consciousness, we all
must stand still and listen.
The Alchemist also speaks to our heart and to our personal experiences of the fear of failure. In addition it
speaks to our resistance of risking and losing what we’ve already obtained in our lives in order to gain the
treasure that awaits us in the future.
As you continue to read through the book, everything vividly comes to life as it forces you to reflect upon
your own life and experiences. More and more you will find yourself continuing to emotionally invest in
the main character’s travels and travails. But, most importantly, this book will remind you that we are
one. We are one organism of humanity needing one another, supporting one another, and seeking to
become better than what we were before.
Our purpose in life is the conduit that drives us to this point. Where our treasure is located also is where
we will find our heart. Using our gifts, talents, and skills for what we were designed and created to do is
the catalyst that will one day bring us to our own individual and personal treasure.
Herndon L. Davis is an author, lecturer, and TV/Radio Host. He can be reached directly at www.
herndondavis.com
speaks to our resistance of risking and losing what we’ve already obtained in our lives in order to gain the
treasure that awaits us in the future.
As you continue to read through the book, everything vividly comes to life as it forces you to reflect upon
your own life and experiences. More and more you will find yourself continuing to emotionally invest in
the main character’s travels and travails. But, most importantly, this book will remind you that we are
one. We are one organism of humanity needing one another, supporting one another, and seeking to
become better than what we were before.
Our purpose in life is the conduit that drives us to this point. Where our treasure is located also is where
we will find our heart. Using our gifts, talents, and skills for what we were designed and created to do is
the catalyst that will one day bring us to our own individual and personal treasure.
Herndon L. Davis is an author, lecturer, and TV/Radio Host. He can be reached directly at www.
herndondavis.com
