BOOK OF THE Moment
november / december 2021
the alchemist
by Paulo Coelho
For the next two months we’ll be celebrating self-help classic, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
We’ll be sharing insights and unpacking the hidden meanings in this allegorical tale as we journey through the fields of Andalusia and the deserts of Africa with intrepid shepherd Santiago.
We’d love you to read along with us and on this page you’ll find all the info you need to get started.
Each week we’ll be sharing content to explore the themes of the book and other self-help lessons via Instagram, Facebook, our newsletter and blog.
And we’ll also be supporting your reading with a series of online meetups and events, including our signature Zoom book clubs.
Join us!
“How far would you go to realise your personal legend?”
WHY I CHOSE THIS BOOK AS BOTM
by shelf help. founder Toni
ABOUT THE BOOk
Author Paulo Coelho shares inspiration with his 2.3million followers on Instagram
Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. This is such a book - a magical fable about learning to listen to your heart, read the omens strewn along life's path and, above all, follow your dreams.
This is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who dreams of travelling the world in search of a worldly treasure as fabulous as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangier, and from there into the Egyptian desert, where a fateful encounter with the alchemist awaits him. With Paulo Coelho's visionary blend of spirituality, magical realism and folklore, The Alchemist is a story with the power to inspire nations and change people's lives.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR, PAULo COELHO
Image borrowed from Paul’s Instagram - @paulcoelho
Paul is a Brazilian novelist known best for employing rich symbolism in his depictions of the often spiritually motivated journeys taken by his characters. When Coelho was 38 years old he had a spiritual awakening in Spain and wrote about it in his first book, The Pilgrimage. It was his second book, The Alchemist, which made him famous.
The Alchemist was written in 1987 over the course of one two-week spurt of creativity. The allegorical novel about an Andalusian shepherd boy attracted little attention at first, until a French-language translation suddenly leapt onto bestseller lists in France in the early 1990s. New translations followed, and soon The Alchemist became a worldwide phenomenon. The book has sold over 80million copies, and is now the most translated book in the world by any living author.
READING/EVENTS SCHEDULE
NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2021
The magic happens on Mondays at shelf help. and we suggest you follow the reading schedule below and check-in either at one of our signature Zoom book clubs (members) or via social media (free!) as a way to help keep yourself accountable.
* We always try and leave a little time at the beginning of the month to give people chance to get hold of the book and start reading before we dive in as a group).
** NB all of our page numbers are taken from the most recently published version of the book, The 30th Anniversary Edition
NOVEMBER
Monday 1st Nov: NEW Book announced, membership doors open!
[members event: Watch Party - The Miracle Morning Movie]
Monday 8th Nov: Reading target up to pg 24, MEMBERSHIP DOORS CLOSE
[Live Book Club/Meetup #1]
Monday 15th Nov: Reading target up to page 45
[Author Event: Why Woo Woo Works with Dr David Hamilton]
Monday 22nd Nov: Reading target up to page 67
[Live Book Club/Meetup #2]
Monday 29th Nov: Reading target up to page 83
[Men's Mental Health SPECIAL EVENT]
——————
DECEMBER
Monday 6th Dec: Reading target up to page 108
[Live Book Club/Meetup #3]
Monday 13th Dec: Reading target up to page 137
[shelf help. Christmas (pyjama) party]
Monday 20th Dec: Reading target up until the end
[Live Book Club/Meetup #4]