Let's Talk Paulo Coelho

We all know the novelist Paulo Coelho. He became a household name after his 1998 novel 'The Alchemist' became an international bestseller.

Today, I decided to look into his life journey because, as a self-published author on Amazon, I wonder what it takes to succeed in sales.

I am not new to writing. I’ve been writing online for 15 years. I wrote in Blogger for eight years, I create content in LinkedIn, and have published over 2,400 articles on Medium. Despite having a Ph.D. and two Master’s degrees in biosciences, I struggle to sell my books. I wondered what makes an author stand out.

As I read about Coelho on Wikipedia, I was shocked to discover some of the darker aspects of his life.

As a Hindu, I had read how Valmiki, the author of ‘Ramayana’ turned a sage from a robber. Similarly, Paulo Coelho had his share of struggles and controversies. Let’s see:

Coelho’s parents committed him to a mental institution from which he escaped three times before being released at the age of 20.

He dropped out of law school, disappointing his parents.

He lived as a hippie, traveling across countries in the 1960s and experimenting with drugs.

Coelho started as a songwriter in Brazil, delving into occultism and mysticism, elements that appear in The Alchemist.

Some of his songs were even accused of being rip-offs of foreign works.

He was arrested for his rebellious activities, and tortured by the ruling military government.

In 1986, Coelho walked the 500-mile Road of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, during which, he got spiritual awakening. He wrote about it in his autobiographical work, 'The Pilgrimage'.

He published 'The Alchemist' with a small Brazilian publisher, and the book initially didn’t perform well. It was only after HarperCollins decided to publish it in 1994 that the book gained international fame.

Though raised as a Catholic, he was influenced by Sufi traditions and believed in Pantheism, a philosophy that identifies divinity with nature. Interestingly, I came across Pantheism earlier today.

He has been writing since 1974 till now! That’s how long it takes to make one’s mark.

I’ve read 'The Alchemist'. I often write how I felt disappointed because I didn’t know how a sycamore tree looks like. Now, I live in a place surrounded by sycamore trees.

There’s even a mountain near my house, the highest peak of which is Santiago, the namesake of the protagonist in 'The Alchemist'.

Let’s end this story with some of Paulo Coelho’s most profound quotes:

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”

“The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.”

“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.”

“Don’t waste your time with explanations: people only hear what they want to hear.”

Of all the quotes, 'When you want something, the universe conspires to help you achieve it, resonated with the masses', is the most famous.

Let’s see it from a different angle. This year I had decided to spot a hummingbird nest. They are very rare to find, but my neighborhood has an abundance of these birds, so their nests must be nearby.

Today, I was sitting in my front yard and saw a tiny hummingbird nest on the driveway, barely a few feet from my feet. I would say, the motivation to find the nest, and my mindfulness to not let an opportunity pass by, attracted my attention to this inconspicuous thing.

We call it the Universe helping, but it’s really our relentless motivation and mindfulness that rewards us with our desired thing.

Anyway, his words gave hope to many. Have you read his works?

I have another book by the author 'Warrior of the light' on my table, waiting to be read.