The Alchemist

Is one of the bestseller for a reason. Nikki was kind enough to give me this book when I CSed at her place. I would seriously ask everyone of you to read it NOW. Not that the story was interesting (but seriously, is really interesting), but the motives that is transpires behind this book, is more noble than great, and the results could be really heaven. It may take 4-5hours of your time now, but it definitely will save 20-40 years of uncertainty.

Reading this book just refresh oneself. As least that is how I feel. Not that I needed it, but at least I know what I have been doing for some part of my life, and I seriously feel is enlightening. Please, I beg you, read it. It does 1000% and 0% harm.

Some parts that I would love to share with everyone... Not that I wrote this myself, but is good to read something better than what I write, but is exactly how i feel too. :)

If one really wants to fulfill his/her Personal Legend, the whole universe will conspire to help make it happen.

Fate Vs. Will
Fate is constantly intertwined with will, and a key theme of the book focuses on how much in life is under one's control, and how much is controlled by fate. The old king states that the world's greatest lie is that "at some point during our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate." While this point of view strongly supports that will has a stronger hold on one's destiny, later events, such as Santiago and the alchemist being caught by warring tribes, demonstrate fate's hold on one's life. However, in every situation where fate does take over, the characters are capable to excavate themselves from the situation.

Love
Love is described as a part of the Soul of the World. Love occurs in life and Nature, as everything supports each other, they love each other. There is true love, a brief definition given by the alchemist; "True love is love that allows you to reach your Personal Legend."

Controlled Luck
The theme of controlled luck is prominent in this book, Coelho refers to this as the idea of "beginner's luck", or the concept of favorability. Santiago is blessed with beginner's luck.

Spiritual Enlightenment
In The Alchemist, a kind of spiritual Enlightenment is accomplished by fulfilling one's Personal Legend, and adding to the Soul of the World, which is the "light" of most religions (as described in Coelho's Beliefnet Interview).

Omens
Being able to observe and read omens is a key motif throughout the book.

Personal Legends
The Personal Legend is a being's reason to live. Everything in the world has a Personal Legend, and by reaching one's Personal Legend, they add to the Soul of the World, the purity of the world. The Personal Legend of a person surfaces at childhood, and one can never find true happiness without fulfilling it.