Best Books By Paulo Coelho Everyone Should Read

Being an ardent fan of him, I have listed down here the best books by Paulo Coelho which have been liked by a large number of people around the world.

Paulo Coelho de Souza is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist, best known for his novel The Alchemist.

He employs rich symbolism in his novels which often depict the spiritually motivated journeys by its characters.

Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, he was a rebellious child and was even committed to a psychiatric hospital for a while.

He dropped out of law school, traveled through Mexico, South America, Mexico, North Africa, and Europe, before coming back to Rio and start working as a lyricist.

It wasn’t until the age of 40, that he wrote his first book, O diário de um mago which was later published in English as The Pilgrimage in 1995.

But the real gem was his next, The Alchemist, which has been on the bestsellers list since it came out in 1988.

Best books by Paulo Coelho:

1. The Alchemist

An Andalusian shepherd travels from his homeland to the Egyptian desert across North Africa in search of treasure. And he finds the treasure within!

The underlying theme is to pursue your dreams by following what your heart desires.

During his journey, the shepherd learns to listen to the heart and to follow the language of omens. Though it may sound a little preachy, the book isn’t.

Here are some famous quotes from the book:

“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting. And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

Related:

Powerful quotes from The Alchemist

2. Eleven Minutes

This novel is a philosophical exploration of sexual love through the protagonist Maria’s diary entries. The young Brazilian prostitute recounts her experiences and journey of self-realization through sexual experience.

Here are some famous quotes from the book:

“When I had nothing to lose, I had everything. When I stopped being who I am, I found myself.
Now that she had nothing to lose, she was free.”

“I can choose either to be a victim of the world or an adventurer in search of treasure. It’s all a question of how I view my life.”

“Anyone who is in love is making love the whole time, even when they’re not. When two bodies meet, it is just the cup overflowing.

They can stay together for hours, even days. They begin the dance one day and finish it the next, or–such is the pleasure they experience–they may never finish it. No eleven minutes for them.”

3. Aleph

This novel came in 2011 and is based on his own epiphany during the journey across Asia on the Trans Siberian railway in 2006.

The author spent 4 years researching and gathering information for this novel and wrote it in just three weeks.

Notably, Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, with many mystical meanings associated with it.

Here are some best quotes from the book:

“It is possible to avoid pain? Yes, but you’ll never learn anything. Is it possible to know something without ever having to experience it? Yes, but it will never truly be part of you.”

“I’ve never been as happy as I am now because I followed the signs, I was patient, and I know that this is going to change everything.”

“It’s what you do in the present that will redeem the past and thereby change the future.”

“The world has never been as divided as it is now.”

4. The Witch of Portobello

It is the story of a mysterious woman Athena, told by those who knew her well or knew her hardly at all.

Building a character sketch of a girl who was considered a witch offers a very interesting read.

Here are some of the best quotes from the book:

“You are what you believe yourself to be.”

“Reason lost the battle, and all I could do was surrender and accept I was in love.”

“If there is any possible consolation in the tragedy of losing someone we love very much, it’s the necessary hope that perhaps it was for the best.”

5. Brida

This is the story of a young Irish girl and her quest for knowledge. Her search leads her to people of great wisdom, who begin to teach Brida about the spiritual world.

The story ventures into the world of occult and magic; with a glimpse of the life and beliefs of enlightened people, often referred to as ‘witch’ and ‘magus’.

Here are some notable quotes from the book:

“When you find your path, you must not be afraid. You need to have sufficient courage to make mistakes. Disappointment, defeat, and despair are the tools God uses to show us the way.”

Nothing in the world is ever completely wrong. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.”

“Accept what life offers you and try to drink from every cup. All wines should be tasted; some should only be sipped, but with others, drink the whole bottle.”

“Feelings do not grow old along with the body. Feelings form part of a world I don’t know, but it’s a world where there’s no time, so space, no frontiers.”

6. The Zahir

The Novel is a journey from marriage and love to the search of the unseen and at the same time increasing love between two souls.

The story revolves around a novelist whose wife, who is a war correspondent, disappears along with a friend who may or may not be her lover.

He later comes to know through her friends that she left in search of peace as she had trouble living with her husband.

Here are some of the best quotes from the book:

“When someone leaves, it’s because someone else is about to arrive.”

“The wise are wise only because they love. And the foolish are foolish only because they think they can understand love.”

“Love is an untamed force. When we try to control it, it destroys us. When we try to imprison it, it enslaves us. When we try to understand it, it leaves us feeling lost and confused.”

“Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worse kind of suffering.”

Have you read any of those books? If no, you must read at least one of them, you will fall in love with his writing style like me.

And if you have read any of them, let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.