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A few weeks ago, crazy ol' Jarhead pointed out that the above book was available for free as an audible book on iTunes. I'll be honest, I had never heard of it. But as much as I'll throw money at problems to make them go away, I also love free crap. So I clicked on the link.
I listened to it on Friday and Saturday. That's all it took to complete it.
I'm still thinking about it. I'm still bugged by it. I may be falling in love with it.
It's about a Spanish shepherd boy who basically throws everything away to follow his dreams to get the Egyptian pyramids - because his instincts have told him to go there. It has its flaws, but it has its gold. A lot of gold.
Some selected quotes:
"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself," the alchemist replies. "And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity."
"The world's greatest lie is that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate."
And the book's undying theme: "When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream."
15 comments:
I don't understand today's usage of the word "alchemist". It's used out of context so much that it almost makes me not want to read it.....or listen to it.
'Follow your bliss'
Joseph Campbell
What's with all the thoughtfulness and introspection lately, BG? Have you had an epiphany? Is the next step to buy a Corvette and find a trophy wife?
(j/k...I read and enjoyed The Alchemist last year myself.)
......and this year wordkyle is winking at some little hottie from the driver's seat of his red...... station wagon!
Wordkyle, maybe Barry is trying to bring a bit of balance to his blog.
He still has the best one around.
Have you guys gone gay? Sheesh
The founding fathers were more Rage Against The Machine and less Charlie Daniels.
I know this doesn't apply but, I just thought of this and I think I'll be smoking quite a bit today so I may forget.
And yes I know they WERE 'The Machine'.
Sounds like eastern mystic gayness to me. I've never been associated with ANY form of gaydom.
Ah, Barry, from your post on 8-1-08, "I am Back from the Dark Side of the Moon, if those two Babes were there what in the "H" are you doing here? Have you lost your mind Man!!! Retreat, go back, return to the Dark Side, return to base camp then give us a shout and let us know how everything turned out. Just a thought. O.K. thanks Bro.
I truly enjoyed The Alchemist. I did not agree with everything in the book but one thing is true, especially, in todays world; people need to figure out what they want out of life and do what what is required to achieve their dream/goal. Too many people are miserable with what they have merely because they do not know what they want.
"Regret for things we did can be tempered by time; it is tregret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable." ~ Sydney J. Harris
New Age up in herre! Time to slow time and find your center and chi.
Jarhead, did you first read this book in the New and Improved (tm) Marines? Sounds like spending all that time on a ship surrounded by seamen really had an effect on you.
Napoleon Hill, 1937: "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, man can achieve."
As much as every generation wants to believe that it's special, human nature doesn't change.
It's not so much the destination that matters, as the quality of the journey.
Oprah Winfrey,19?? If you can dream it, you can achieve it!
Got it yesterday, started reading last night, hope it picks up...maybe it's a "guy read"...just my thoughts thus far.
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