Writer to Know: Paulo Coelho

I don't know why I hadn't heard of Paulo Coelho before I did.

He has sold millions of book around the world and is a celebrated international speaker. Yet it was only last summer while looking for an audio book that I came across The Alchemist at my local library. I checked it out right away for two reasons. First, because it triggered some memory in me. Had I heard in mentioned in a podcast recently? Had someone recommended it to me? Second, because the book was read by Jeremy Irons.

The book drew me in with its simply story about a boy in search of his treasure. It made me think with its sections on meaning, choice, and purpose.

I then devoured most of the rest of Coelho's writings (luckily most of which were available from my library) including:

He has written several other books which have been translated into English (Coelho is Brazilian) and several that have not. He is also extremely active in social media, has fully embraced it as part of how he communicates with his fans. He has almost 5 millions facebook "fans" and his blog entries often have thousands of comments.

He is a Christian, but not of the orthodox kind. He is not like any Christian I ever grew up knowing: liberal, mystic, narrative rather than linear, Catholic, participatory, dark, light, embracing tension and mystery. You could read his books and believe he is "new age" or generally but vaguely spiritual. I love his books and recommend them, especially The Alchemist and The Fifth Mountain.