Alchemist

When my hands moved on the book ‘Alchemist’ by some said

“Hey this is a life changing book, don’t miss it” some said

“It is one among good philosophy books that will inspire your life” and

The negative comments are of no exception, who said “it’s the usual jaba-jaba….no use”. None of these comments stopped me or induced me to take the book with a perception on any side.

This is what I said to my mind when I started to read “any philosophy book requires reading it without prejudice and only this reading will reveal what kind of book it is for an individual”

The story starts by introducing a shepherd called Santiago and describes about the way he chose to go around the world and visit many places, the changes that happens in his life and how he finds his destiny and how he at last attains it by crossing many obstacles. The messages and moral are spun around the story of Santiago by Paulo Coelho.

I like stories with moral than plain moral. The book satisfied this feature till the end. The book left many incidents to the reader’s perception. The reader has to interpret what the author is trying to say. This gave room to interpret it in many ways when I read it each time with different mind set. This was advantageous because the reader have to search and get the meaning from the words rather than the author giving one particular interpretation.

The whole book moves around one simple concept “reaching ones destiny is tough and it requires dream and courage”. Paulo Coelho has shown his dexterity in writing especially in the way he has built upon the story step by step.

The book’s second half stresses that love will never stop a person from attaining his destiny. If it does so then it’s the mistake of the person’s and not because of his love.

The purity of love and the way Santiago and Fatima fell in love reminded me the incidents described by Valmiki about Rama and Sita’s first meeting.

The language of the World and Soul of the World is well described. Also the way to control our constantly speaking mind is put forth in a lay-man’s language.

To have a light reading and gain more.....Alchemist is the right choice