"There is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It's your mission on earth."
-Excerpt from The Alchemist
Theme: Finding yourself
Book: The Alchemist
Copies Sold: Over 50 million in 150 countries.
Fun Fact: Melbourne, Australia's The Herald Sun has listed it as one of 5 novels frequently stolen from bookstores.
Alchemy: The process of transforming something common into something special.
Summary: Originally released in Portuguese in 1988, Brazilian author Paulo Coehlo recounts the fable of a young Spanish boy named Santiago who was raised to become a clergyman, but abandons his family's expectations in search of a greater destiny. With golden coins his father found, Santiago purchases a flock of sheep and travels the lands where he grew up until one night he has a dream he cannot shake. After meeting a gypsy woman and a man who calls himself King, Santiago sets off on a pilgrimage to find the treasure of his dreams and, ultimately, his reason for being.
Our take:
"Every college student needs to read this book when they're in need of a bit of inspiration. It's a quick read, 3 hours or less, about a young boy unsure of his place in the world who moves forward blindly in search of his life's purpose, with only a dream he once had to keep him going. It may sound cheesy, but it's worth the reading time. It may even be enough to convince you all is not lost."
"This book speaks out to those who have dreams, who have lost touch with their dreams, or are realizing them for the first time. Coehlo's simple prose touches on much deeper concepts, getting at the heart of a decision that we all must make - what do I want to do with this life I've been given? If you need to be shocked into reestablishing the path you're on or need help abandoning your safety net, this book certainly does the trick."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
