Paul Coelho

An author who seems to continuously inspire me and so many others was born on the August 24, 1947, in the city of Rio de Janeiro and would grow up to write books that would touch millions of lives. His name was Paulo Coelho. Even as a youngster this child was different. He was fascinated with the spiritual world starting at a very early age. In fact, this quest led his to travel extensively, and he learned about secret societies, Oriental religions, and just about anything else he could put within his grasp.

Coelho’s first book, Hell Archives, published when he was 35, went completely unnoticed. But the very next year came The Alchemist, and with this book a bright young star had broken across the horizon.

There is so much wisdom contained within the pages of this little book. The most important one, perhaps, is to enjoy every minute of your life. In fact The Alchemist has been hailed by many as the most important literary phenomenon of the 20th century. Coelho gave to the world what none of the great writers before him had. He gave us hope of a kinder and helpful universe as opposed to Shakespeare and Thomas Hardy, who had us believing man is in a perpetual battle against the forces of the universe and of destiny that are out to destroy him. Coelho for the first time told the world that "when you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true".

The Alchemist reaches the first place in best-selling lists in 74 countries and so far has sold 35 million copies. This book was translated in 67 languages, which is a Guinness World Record.

The impact of the philosophy of this book can be gauged from the fact that a Norwegian community, Arendal, gave copies of The Alchemist to all its civil servants as a way of stimulating a new type of thought.

Even educators recognized the power of this book in shaping young minds, and consequently many schools in France, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Taiwan, USA, Spain and many more have adopted it as part of the curriculum.

Such is the appeal of Coelho that in 1998 Pope John Paulo II bestowed upon him the rare honor of welcoming him in the Vatican.

Coelho, in fact, has even managed to capture the fancy of the World Economic Forum. He has been awarded the body’s most prestigious prize, the Crystal Award.

In March 2000 the French government gave to the author its most prestigious title, "Chevalier de L'Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur." In January 2001 Paulo Coelho became member of the board of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, a foundation which favors social projects.

Paulo Coelho is more than just an author. He is a phenomenon who is giving people hope and touching their lives in many ways. If you are looking to expand your reading list to include some of the most inspiring and engaging authors, I would encourage you to add Paulo Coelho to your list.

Until next time, embrace your inner wisdom.

Namaste,
Karen