2008 Woodie Awards
A Fable Speaks to All Cultures
Classic novel tells inspiring story of adventure and the will to live out your dreams
Ashley Baldon
Issue date: 4/27/05 Section: A&E
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The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, is a classic novel of adventure, destiny, and having the strength of will to live out your dreams.
This inspiring story, first published in Brazil in 1988, has sold more than 52 million copies in 117 countries and has been translated into more than 50 languages, all because of its ability to speak to the heart of every culture.
The Alchemist follows Santiago, a humble shepherd boy who leaves his native Spain to pursue his own 'Personal Legend' into Egypt to find a treasure he has only dreamed about.
Along the way to his destiny he meets several spiritual guides and encounters many omens that encourage him to pursue his destiny despite many obstacles.
One of the first spiritual guides whom Santiago meets is a man who claims to be a king. The king explains to the Andalusian shepherd that a Personal Legend is a desire that you have always wanted to realize.
A Personal Legend is something you inherently know as a child. But as children grow up mysterious forces keep us from our Personal Legends and tell us that they are impossible or unimportant.
After his encounter with the enigmatic king Santiago sets off on his journey into the desert. He relies on the omens which he believes are the universe's way of speaking. It is the Language of the World.
"When you want something," the king tells him, "all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."
Toward the end of his journey, Santiago meets his ultimate mentor, the immortal alchemist, who teaches Santiago how to listen with his heart to the Language of the World.
With that knowledge Santiago begins to understand the complexities of life and how everything, whether it is the wind of the desert or a shell in the sand, exists in a web of interconnected destinies.
Knowing the Language of the World Santiago begins to comprehend the Soul of the World, the force that speaks to all things in creation with love and guides them to their destinies.
"Love is the force that transforms and improves the Soul of the World," Santiago realizes "It is we who nourish the Soul of the World, and the world we live in will be either better or worse, depending on whether we become better or worse. And that's where the power of love comes in. Because when we love, we always strive to become better than we are."
While a fable, The Alchemist achieves a much greater destiny with its pure simplicity. The humble hero takes the reader on an inspiring journey with its philosophy that teaches the reader to heed destiny, to love, and to never give up on our dreams, for at the moment when we lose all hope, we may find salvation.
This inspiring story, first published in Brazil in 1988, has sold more than 52 million copies in 117 countries and has been translated into more than 50 languages, all because of its ability to speak to the heart of every culture.
The Alchemist follows Santiago, a humble shepherd boy who leaves his native Spain to pursue his own 'Personal Legend' into Egypt to find a treasure he has only dreamed about.
Along the way to his destiny he meets several spiritual guides and encounters many omens that encourage him to pursue his destiny despite many obstacles.
One of the first spiritual guides whom Santiago meets is a man who claims to be a king. The king explains to the Andalusian shepherd that a Personal Legend is a desire that you have always wanted to realize.
A Personal Legend is something you inherently know as a child. But as children grow up mysterious forces keep us from our Personal Legends and tell us that they are impossible or unimportant.
After his encounter with the enigmatic king Santiago sets off on his journey into the desert. He relies on the omens which he believes are the universe's way of speaking. It is the Language of the World.
"When you want something," the king tells him, "all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."
Toward the end of his journey, Santiago meets his ultimate mentor, the immortal alchemist, who teaches Santiago how to listen with his heart to the Language of the World.
With that knowledge Santiago begins to understand the complexities of life and how everything, whether it is the wind of the desert or a shell in the sand, exists in a web of interconnected destinies.
Knowing the Language of the World Santiago begins to comprehend the Soul of the World, the force that speaks to all things in creation with love and guides them to their destinies.
"Love is the force that transforms and improves the Soul of the World," Santiago realizes "It is we who nourish the Soul of the World, and the world we live in will be either better or worse, depending on whether we become better or worse. And that's where the power of love comes in. Because when we love, we always strive to become better than we are."
While a fable, The Alchemist achieves a much greater destiny with its pure simplicity. The humble hero takes the reader on an inspiring journey with its philosophy that teaches the reader to heed destiny, to love, and to never give up on our dreams, for at the moment when we lose all hope, we may find salvation.