Why The Alchemist – a tale of following your dreams is a Must Read?

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When you really want something, the entire universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.

Paulo Coelho

Bollywood buffs may also remember this quote from Om Shanti Om and it comes from my all time favourite book “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho.

Paulo Coelho doesn’t need any introduction. He is the all time bestselling Portuguese language author and his book “The Alchemist” alone has been translated into nearly 80 languages. It is in fact the most translated book by any living author.

I don’t mean to give a summary of the book here. What I really wanna talk about is Coelho’s message which he conveys through this beautiful tale of following one’s dreams. And in this context he brings out a few impressive points which may sound as fantasy, but are very much relevant when you begin your journey of following your dreams. These are what make the Alchemist a must read.

Signs & Omens

First, he talks about the signs and omens scattered all around you and what you need to do is just pick them up correctly. We are sometimes so enclosed in our cocoon that we fail to see these signs. And even if we do, we do not want to accept that our dream is calling upon us.

Beginner’s Luck

Next he talks about Beginner’s Luck. This refers to the success you get when you first begin a task. When you follow your dreams, the first success is destiny’s way to protect you from disappointment so that you do not give up on the very first attempt.

Believing in Your Dreams

After all of this is no doubt, the central theme of believing in your dreams and not giving up, come what may. We all know that is not easy. When we finally decide to walk on the path towards our dream, we have several factors pulling us back.

Fear which may be of failure or criticism or being mocked.

Love which may be of your family, friends or for that matter any special person in your life.

But Coelho also proceeds to emphasize on the point that True Love never pulls you back from following your dreams. If it does then it is not true.

Thus Coelho’s message in “The Alchemist” is relevant in each of our lives. According to me, it is a highly recommended read because inspiration is the word I associate with it.

Do check out my must read list of books by Sidney Sheldon.