R&W: Activity 6 - Book review

"The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho is an inspirational story of Santiago, a youthful Spanish shepherd in a
place called Andalusia, who leaves his flock and his land to pursue his dream. His parents' life is
associated with struggle in a country where people from far away fantasize but for them, it's not a place
of dream and charm. This story tells us that happiness, contentment, peace & joy of one’s life lies within
his journey towards his dream of life.

Story starts with a dream followed by a series of adventures which ultimately leads to resolution. He
mostly uses his time herding, reading, and dreaming of traveling. He keeps getting the same dream over
and over again that there is a treasure lying underneath the Egyptian pyramids. An encounter with a
gypsy woman for consultation of his dream gives the story a new turn of events. He gets to know from
her how to follow omens. As the story goes, the events get more connected. Santiago's quest for
treasure, soon his lucky encounter with the old King who strengthens his beliefs about living his destiny,
coming across mishaps and encounter with Fatima, a desert girl; all this leads him to personal legend
that converges the idea of 'conspiring universe'. Personal legend is the key to living a successful and
satisfying life as it is the destiny which one dreams of. He receives assistance from an alchemist who
helps him understand his quest for accomplishing his dream. By time, his belief grows and satisfaction
nourishes as he is on right path. He comes to know "when you want something all the universe
conspires in helping you to achieve it".

One of the dangerous hindrances described in the novel is fear. The fear of failure which stops us living
our destiny. Overcoming this is a great victory as Coelho quoted "tell your heart that the fear of suffering
is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of dreams
because every second of the search is a second encounter with God and with eternity".

All the ideas and concepts which Santiago learns in his journey were perfectly inspiring but to me, the
most important one was the idea of love without ownership, the concept of love as distinct from
possession. He loves a girl of desert, Fatimah, who proves that true love is the one which encourages
you to pursue your dreams and destiny because true love does not demand possession or ownership.
It’s always there no matter where you are.

Overall, the book tells us that we must not run away from our destiny. This book is full of ideas about
spirituality, destiny, and dreams. A highly recommended book for people aspiring for high aims and
chasing their dreams as its conclusions directs it solves the purpose to make the readers understand
having faith in destiny which ultimately leads to achieving it.