Recommended by: Lawrence Esso, Owner, JL Esso LLC www.jlesso.com/ 

Paulo Coelho has sold over 65 million books worldwide and The Alchemist is arguably his most famous. Many famous names in business, politics, sports and entertainment - Bill Clinton, Will Smith, Julia Roberts, to name a few - have pointed to this book as one of their favorite books on success. It has been translated into 56 languages and sold over 20 million copies!

Unlike most books in this library, this is a fictional story, and one of the most popular and inspirational novels ever written. The simple but powerful story about transforming dreams to reality like an alchemist is worthy of a place in every business book library.

It's a very simple but profoundly insightful story of a young man, a shepherd boy named Santiago, who leaves his homeland of Spain in search of a treasure in Egypt. Santiago's parents want him to become a respectable priest. But he knows this is not his calling. So he chooses to follow his passion and become a shepherd in order to travel with his flock of sheep and see the vast beautiful world outside his village. 

Santiago has a recurring dream about a hidden treasure at the pyramids of Egypt which is far away from his homeland of Spain. He encounters a Gypsy woman who interpretes his dream and instructs him to go to Egypt in search of this treasure. In exchange for interpreting his dream, she asks for a tenth of the treasure he finds.

On his journey, he meets an unusual man who calls himself a king. This wise old man seems to be able to read the shepherd boy's mind with ease and knows his past as well as his search for the treasure. He tells the boy he'd help him find the treasure in exchange for a tenth of his flock of sheep. The king encourages Santiago to keep heading toward his dream - the right encouragement at the right time; a sign he's on the right path.

With a little nudging from a king, Santiago drops everything in search of his treasure. Throughout his journey, he applies the lessons he learned herding sheep. But disappointment, defeat and setbacks plague his trip. He almost gives up more than once to return to his comfortable life as a shepherd. But some more words of encouragement from an alchemist who comes forth at the right time keep him moving forward.

As happens with everyone who has ever left their comfort zone to bravely go out and pursue a dream, Santiago found his treasure... but not where he expected it to be.

A brilliant story that has been read and re-read all over the globe in so many languages. Enjoy!

Reviews:

"This Brazilian wizard makes books disappear from stores." - The New York Times

"[Coelho's] books have had a life-enchanting effect on millions of people." - London Times

"Beneath this novel's compelling story and the shimmering elegance with which it's told lies a bedrock of wisdom about following one's heart." - Booklist 

"As memorable and meaningful as Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince." - Austin American-Statesman

About the Author:

Paulo Coelho is one of the bestselling and most influential authors in the world. The Alchemist along with his other books have sold more than 65 million copies in 150 countries and have been translated into 60 languages.

Recommended by: Lawrence Esso, Owner, JL Esso LLC www.jlesso.com 
JL Esso LLC is a Minneapolis-based retail company that offers an eclectic collection of stylish footwear for both men and women.

Category:  Personal Growth