Maktub
An Inspirational Companion to The Alchemist
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3.8 • 5 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
An essential companion to the inspirational classic The Alchemist, filled with timeless stories of reflection and rediscovery.
From one of the greatest writers of our age comes a collection of stories and parables unlocking the mysteries of the human condition. Gathered from Paulo Coelho’s daily column of the same name, Maktub, meaning “it is written,” invites seekers on a journey of faith, self-reflection, and transformation. As Paulo Coelho explains, “Maktub is not a book of advice—but an exchange of experiences.”
Each story offers an illuminated path to see life and the lives of our fellow people around the world in new ways, allowing us to tap into universal truths about our collective and individual humanity. As Coelho writes, “a man who seeks only the light, while shirking his responsibilities, will never find illumination. And one who keep his eyes fixed upon the sun . . . ends up blind.” These wise tales offer the perspective of talking snakes, old women climbing mountains, disciples querying their masters, Buddha in dialogue, mysterious hermits, and many saints addressing the mysteries of the universe.
Following the path of his previous internationally bestselling works, this thoughtful collection of short, inspirational pieces, introduced in a foreword by the author and illustrated with black-and-white line art throughout, will engage seekers of all ages and backgrounds.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Novelist Coelho (The Pilgrimage) gathers an eclectic array of the parables, musings, and ephemera he published from 1993 to 1994 in a daily column for the Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo. Inspired by Pablo Picasso ("God is an artist.... He was never trying to follow a style; he was simply doing whatever he felt like doing") and St. Francis of Assisi (the spiritual journey "is, above all, a challenge... anyone who uses it to escape from his problems will never get very far"), Coelho meditates on creative and spiritual quests; the power of a disciplined mind (negative thoughts "can't harm you as long as you don't allow yourself to be seduced by them"); and how unconditional love for others "transforms the Universe around us." The parables for which the author is best known are carefully wrought even if they convey standard messages, as in a story about a servant who misinterprets his master's instruction to "entrust everything to God" by failing to tie up their horses, which later run away (the takeaway being that God can appear in unlikely places, including within humans). These brief nuggets of wisdom are conveyed in evocative prose ("God acts as the echo of our actions") and enrich the themes of faith, destiny, and spirituality running through Coelho's most famous works. The author's many fans will find much to appreciate.
