Paulo Coelho, the Warrior of Light and Writer of Spiritual Parables
Paulo Coelho is a widely read writer of self improvement books that are presented in parable form. He is most noted for "The Alchemist," which has sold millions of copies and holds the world record for number of language translations of a book by a living author.
Three of his books are autobiographies and describe his spiritual journey. Others are fictional books, yet deliver important and life changing messages to his readers. His books are widely popular and have been adapted into television shows, stage presentations, and movies.
Background of Paul Coelho
Paulo Coelho was born on August 24, 1947 in Brazil. He wanted to be
a writer from an early age, but his family did not appreciate his
ambitions. He was introverted and determined to follow his own path,
but that got him committed to a mental institution by the time he
was sixteen years old. He escaped from there three times before he
was finally released when he was twenty.
Agreeing to obey his
parents' wishes, Coelho gave up his dream to be a writer and went to
law school instead. He lasted about a year until he dropped out,
became a hippie, and traveled throughout the world.
In 1986, Paulo Coelho walked the Road of Santiago de Compostela in Spain and that changed the course of his life. He experienced a spiritual awakening and later wrote of his experiences in his book, "The Pilgrimage." He decided to finally pursue his dream of being a writer and his career took off quickly and won him worldwide recognition and acclaim.
Paulo Coelho Books - Books by Paulo Coelho
• "The Alchemist" is an allegorical novel about a
shepherd's journey to Egypt in search of treasure. The philosophy
behind the book is that when you want something, the universe
conspires to help you obtain it. The theme running through the book
is the importance of finding one's destiny. While it tells a
fictional story, this is considered to be a self improvement book
because of the lessons it teaches. It has won much acclaim
throughout the world. A successful stage production was based upon
the book in India and there are plans to turn it into a major motion
picture in the U.S. This work by Paulo Coelho was published in 1988
and is available as a book, ebook, and audio book.
• "The
Pilgrimage" was published in 1988 and is available as a
book, ebook, and audio book. This is a parable by Paulo Coelho about
the need to find one's path in life. Coelho shows that the most
profound aspects of life are found in the simple acts of every day
people. It is in part autobiographical, and an account of some of
Coelho's experiences during a pilgrimage across Spain to Santiago de
Compostela. It also includes self improvement advice and exercises
that he was taught during that time to enhance his spiritual
progress.
• "Brida" was published in 1990
and is a book, ebook, and audio book. Brida is a young Irish girl
who is in search of her destiny. A wise man teaches her how to
overcome fear and a woman teaches her to tune into the music of the
world.
• "The Valkyries" was published in
1992 and is a book, ebook, and audio book. It is an autobiography
that is told in the third person. The story centers around the
relationship between Paulo and his wife. It is the tale of his trip
into the Mojave Desert with his wife to meet the Valkyries, and his
guardian angle.
• "Warrior of the Light: A Manual"
was originally published in 1997 and is a book and ebook that
contains a collection of essays and philosophical stories that
inspires readers and guides them towards spiritual development.
• "By the River Piedra I
Sat Down and Wept: A Novel of Forgiveness" was published in
1994 and is a book, ebook, and audio book. It is part one of the "On
the Seventh Day" trilogy. This book tells the story of a young girl
seeking meaning in life. She teams up with a childhood sweetheart
and sets off on a spiritual quest through the French Pyrenees.
• "Veronika Decides to Die: A Novel of Redemption"
was published in 1998 and is a book, ebook, and audio book. The
story draws from events in Coelho's own life, particularly his
experiences in mental institutions. This is the tale of a 24 year
old girl who seems to have it all, but decides she is going to kill
herself. It is a story of individuals who do not fit into society's
molds of normal. This is part two of the "On the Seventh Day"
trilogy.
• "The Fifth Mountain" was
published in 1996 and can be read as a book or ebook. This book by
Paulo Coelho has a religious tone. It is the story of Elijah from
the Bible and deals with concepts such as rebelling against God,
thinking for oneself, human self-confidence, and self-fulfillment
through serving others. Coelho suggests that through his advanced
level of spiritual awareness, Elijah was able to have a powerful
experience with God.
• "The Devil and Miss Prym: A
Novel of Temptation" is part three of the "On the Seventh
Day" trilogy. In this work Paulo Coelho deals with good vs. evil and
whether people are naturally bad. The story characters deal with
everyday life choices and the consequences of them, as they struggle
with temptation and fear. This book was published in 2000 and is
available as a book, ebook, and audio book.
• "Eleven
Minutes" is a book by Paulo Coelho that explores love and
pain through the eyes of a young girl who was crushed by love and
turned to a life of prostitution. She must eventually decide if she
will turn her back on the dark path she has chosen, let her inner
light shine, and risk her heart on love. This book was published in
2003 and is available as an ebook, book, and audio book.
• "The
Zahir" was published in 2005 and is available as a book,
ebook, and audio book. It is the tale of a pilgrimage and deals with
loss, love, and obsession. It draws on events from Coelho's own life
and explores the meaning of life and love as the narrator travels
from Paris to Kazakhstan.
• "Witch of Portobello"
was published in 2007. It is a book, audio book, and ebook. This
story is about a woman who was orphaned and then later adopted by a
wealthy couple. It is about the search for one's true self and
opening up to the energy of the world. It touches on the goddess
religion, love, and the feminine Divine.
• "Life:
Selected Quotations" was published in 2007. It is a
beautifully illustrated book that is filled with quotes and insights
taken from other works by Paulo Coelho. It makes a nice gift book
and is ideal for self improvement enthusiasts who want to understand
Coelho's work a little better.
• "Aleph" was
published in 2010 and is available as a book, ebook, and audio book.
This work is about transforming your life and rewriting your destiny.
It is an autobiographical tale of Paulo's attempt to deal with a
crisis of faith. He embarks on a journey of spiritual renewal and
travels through Asia and Europe on a mystical voyage that transcends
time and space.
Achievements of Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho has influenced people all around the world through the self improvement advice he offers in his books. He has received numerous awards.
Some of the most prestigious include being named a UN Messenger of Peace, being named to the Board of Shimon Peres Center for Peace, receiving the Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur from France, being a special counselor for UNESCO, being named to the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, and being named to the board of the Doha Center of Media Freedom.
Paulo Coelho Today
Paulo Coelho continues to live in Brazil where he founded the Paulo Coelho Institute that provides financial support to disadvantaged children and elderly living in Brazil. The funds come from the royalties earned from his books and from donations.
With over 90 million of his books being read in over 150 countries, Coelho has had a huge impact on spiritual seekers around the globe.
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