Life

by Paulo Coelho

A treasury of selected quotations from one of the world's best-loved spiritual writers. * Paulo Coelho is seen by millions as an alchemist of words. The ideas and philosophies in his internationally renowned books touch the aspirations of readers searching for their own path and for new ways of understanding the world. * This uplifting compilation of Paulo Coelho's most perceptive and enlightening quotations offers extracts from his bestselling titles, including The Alchemist, The Pilgrimage and Eleven Minutes, as well as insights from interviews and previously unpublished sayings. * Beautifully illustrated in colour throughout, with Life you can start each day with inspirational guidance from one of the most loved and influential authors of our time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Philosophy, Inspirational, Poetry, Reference

96 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

The Brazilian author PAULO COELHO was born in 1947 in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Before dedicating his life completely to literature, he worked as theatre director and actor, lyricist and journalist. In 1986, PAULO COELHO did the pilgrimage to Saint James of Compostella, an experience later to be documented in his book The Pilgrimage. In the following year, COELHO published The Alchemist. Slow initial sales convinced his first publisher to drop the novel, but it went on to become one of the best selling Brazilian books of all time. Other titles include Brida (1990), The Valkyries (1992), By the river Piedra I sat Down and Wept (1994), the collection of his best columns published in the Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo entitle Maktub (1994), the compilation of texts Phrases (1995), The Fifth Mountain (1996), Manual of a Warrior of Light (1997), Veronika decides to die (1998), The Devil and Miss Prym (2000), the compilation of traditional tales in Stories for parents, children and grandchildren (2001), Eleven Minutes (2003), The Zahir (2005), The Witch of Portobello (2006) and Winner Stands Alone (to be released in 2009). During the months of March, April, May and June 2006, Paulo Coelho traveled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his pilgrimage to Saint James of Compostella in 1986. He also held surprise book signings - announced one day in advance - in some cities along the way, to have a chance to meet his readers. In ninety days of pilgrimage the author traveled around the globe and took the famous Transiberrian train that took him to Vladivostok. During this experience Paulo Coelho launched his blog Walking the Path - The Pilgrimage in order to share with his readers his impressions. Since this first blog Paulo Coelho has expanded his presence in the internet with his daily blogs in Wordpress, Myspace & Facebook. He is equally present in media sharing sites such as Youtube and Flickr, offering on a regular basis not only texts but also videos and pictures to his readers. From this intensive interest and use of the Internet sprang his bold new project: The Experimental Witch where he invites his readers to adapt to the screen his book The Witch of Portobello. Indeed Paulo Coelho is a firm believer of Internet as a new media and is the first Best-selling author to actively support online free distribution of his work.

Reviews

[Nahed.E · Rating 2 out of 5]

حين لم يصبح لدي ما أخسره ، حصلت علي كل شئ



حسنا .. إذا لم تقرأ لباولو كويلو من قبل ، ربما تحب هذا الكتاب .. ولكن ..
إذا قرأت له الخيميائي .. أو كالنهر الذي يجري .. أو مكتوب .. ستعرف جيدا ان هذا الكتاب قد وُجد من لا شئ
الكتاب جزأين : الجزء الاول مجموعة من الروايات القصيرة التي وُجدت من قبل في كتب باولو كويلو كبدايات أو مقدمات
الجزء الثاني : تجميع لاشهر الخواطر ، أو العبارات ، أو الاقتباسات من مؤلفاته كلها .. وكأنه يريد أن يُذكرك بأشهر عباراته حتي لا تنساها
!
من وجهة نظري هذا الكتاب لا يُعد أضافة لباولو كويلو .. ولكن ربما يصلح لمن يريد أن يتعرف علي قلمه للمرة الاولي ، أو من يرغب في كتاب يجمع فيه الكثير الكثير من اشهر اقتباساته مرة واحدة

بالنسبة لي .. لم استمتع بالاقتباسات لسبب واحد .. ليست هذه الاقتباسات التي اعجبتني في مؤلفاته
ربما هي الأجمل أو الأهم من وجهة نظره ... ولكن كان من الافضل أن يدع كل قارئ يختار من كتبه ما يفضله
....

[zahra haji · Rating 2 out of 5]

الكتاب عبارة عن قصص قصيرة في جزئه الأول أما الثاني فيحوي مجموعة
من الاقتباسات من كتب عديدة للكاتب
أهم نقطة ذكرت في قصة " أنا رجل حر " (والتي تعبتر سيرة ذاتية مختصرة
للكاتب) أصل روايته الشهيرة " الخيميائي "ومن أين استوحى فكرة الراعي الذي
يسعى خلف حلمه
قبل عامين قرأت الخيميائي وأعجبتني فكرة الرواية جدا ثم كانت الصدمة بعدها بعام
لأكتشف أن تلك القصة الشهيرة موجودة في كتاب " ألف ليلة وليلة " وكانت معرفتي
من خلال كتاب لخورخي لويس ذكر فيها قصة مشابهة للخيميائي ونوه في نهاية القصة
أنها مأخوذة من كتاب ألف ليلة وليلة
ومن ثم تكرر الموقف بمجوعة قصصية من التراث الإنكليزي
ما لم استوعبه هو عدم ذكر بابلو لأصل القصة وحتى فكرت بتغيير تقييمي للكتاب
وهنا في هذا الكتاب وتحديدا في ص 26 يذكر بابلو أصل حكاية الخيميائي

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paulo Coelho's quotes are things we are well aware of nowadays but what's so special about it is how his words flow exactly how you want to them to be. It's like he tries to reach in your heart because he knows each and everyone of us has gone / will be going through those things at one point in our lives.

[Mohamad Dahrouj · Rating 2 out of 5]

هذه الرواية على جزأين الاول يحكي قصة امرأة في حياة رجل وتبقى القصة بلا نهاية لا اعلم لماذا لكن يتخيل لي انها قصته هو نفسه . اما الجزء الثاني فهو عبارة عن مجموعة حكم أخذها من كتبه الاخرى ويشير الى مصدر كل حكمة

[Mihai Cotea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aranjat astfel, volumul de/cu citate al lui Coelho mi se pare o colecție de truisme. E a doua carte de-a sa pe care o citesc și, chiar dacă voiam să abordez și ”Alchimistul”, voi zice pas. Mi-au ajuns citatele prezentate aici pentru a ajunge la concluzia că nu mă regăsesc în scrisul autorului.

[Emily]

finally read the book i’ve been using as a coaster since age 19

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this in the new book section of the public library, and I decided I had to take check it out. This small volume is a collection of quotes from Coehlo's various writings. The book is organized by themes. It is a quick read, but it is one that invites reflection and thought. I usually read Coehlo in Spanish, so I will try to see if this book is made available in Spanish to buy it for myself. I think fans will definitely enjoy it. People who have not read his works might this a nice introduction. I also think it might make a good present for someone. Definitely recommend it.

[Ian Galloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really a book to sit and read in one go...more reference, a memory jogger for all multitude of life enriching quotes that are peppered through all of Paulo's books.
Split into 8 inspiring sections that are easy to simply "dip into" it also reminds the user of the literary source; personally I find this makes me want to go and immediately re-read the books.

[♥ stellar · Rating 3 out of 5]

not all best quotes are quoted in here. yeah this book isn't a bible, though. :)

[Aim · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When we postpone the harvest, the fruit rots, but when we postpone our problems, they keep on going." - THE FIFTH MOUNTAIN

[L.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations of Anne Kristin Hagesaether are fairy-like compositions which unravel the warm and mild soul of an artist-child. The intense chromatic mix is most impressive. Some images seem to be unfinished rhapsody, based on the obvious touch line, but this is counter-balanced by painstaking insertions. The effect is a magical world, which has a peculiar dynamism that incorporates the viewer. I seem to be attracted more by the cold pictures.

==================================

Am cumpărat Viaţa (o colecţie de citate) de Paulo Coelho atras fiind de formatul acestei cărţi într-o superbă prezentare de la Humanitas: copertă cartonată cu supracopertă texturată. Ilustraţiile au fost realizate de Anne Kristin Hagesaether, un artist grafic din Norvegia. Am rămas impresionat de aceste desene care dau viaţă cărţii.

Ilustraţiile ei sunt compoziţii feerice, care îţi dezvăluie sufletul cald şi blând, de copil, al artistului. Impresionează mixul cromatic intens. Aparenta nefinisare a imaginilor, dată de tuşa evidentă este contracarată de inserţiunile migăloase. Efectul este crearea unei lumi magice, de basm, a unui dinamism al imaginii care îl cuprinde şi pe privitor. Pare că sunt mai atras de compoziţiile reci.

[Hawraki · Rating 3 out of 5]

لست هنا لأحكم على سيرة حياة الأديب كويلو، أعجبني الجزء الأول من الكتاب كونه أتى بقصة شخصية لكويلو وهي القصة التي بنى عليها رائعته الزهير.
استطيع القول إن أغلب ما يتبقى من هذا الكناب "تجميع" بعض القصص من ثقافات مختلفة، بالنسبة لي فإن قصة "سر السعادة" قصة مما قرأت قديماً لكن لا أذكر أين.
بعض النقاط قرأتها في مدونة كويلو أو حسابه الشخصي.
دعوني اتحدث عن الجزئية الأخيرة من الكتاب، هي بالضبط مالم أحبه، فما أدرج في الصفحات الأخيرة اقتباسات من روايات كويلو المختلفة، وشخصياً قرأت كل كتب كويلو فلم تضف لي هذه الجزئية جديداً. ولو رغبت في الحصول على اقتباسات فإن حساب الكاتب الشخصي في تويتر وتلك الحسابات التي ينشىها المعجبون كفيلة بذلك.
لن أقول بأنه لا جديد في الكتاب، لكني أجده كتاب زائد. لو اقتصر على القصص الأولى دون اقتباسات.. أو لانتظر الكاتب وأدرج مزيداً من الأعمال في الكتاب لكان أمتع.

وبالمناسبة، الغلاف العربي لنسخة (المجمع الثقافي المصري) غير جذّاب كلياً كلياً!

[Matthieu Wegh · Rating 2 out of 5]

? Als kleine voorbereiding op een goodreads leeskring over The Alchemist van dezelfde auteur...
🤔 De citaten verwijzen naar allemaal verschillende boeken van Coelho. Tja, sommige citaten zijn wel aardig, maar ik ben er zeg maar niet warm of koud van geworden...Er zijn weinig uitspraken die me echt aanspreken dus...
=> Mijn volgende boek wordt dus een roman, ik ben nu wat minder enthousiast over deze roman, maar misschien laat ik mij blij verrassen ;-)
MW 8/7/22

[Tirza Laluyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The front cover explains a lot about the wonderous of this book, and so does the back cover that include a nice quotation from eleven minutes:
"Everything tells me that I am about to make a wrong decision, but making mistakes is just part of life. What does the world want of me? Does it want me to take no risks, to go back where I came from because I didn't have the courage to say "yes" to life?"

It's all about LIFE, dedicated to those whose in love with life...

I must say thanks to Mita, my dearest friend, who give this book a gift... it's an awesome gift, indeed...

[T.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in my local library and it was the book that led me to other works by Mr. Coelho. It is a wonderful introduction and led me to keep reminders of his quotations on my office wall. If you're looking for inspiration then this book could be for you..if not at least you've read it.

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read the Alchemist and Eleven Minutes a long time ago but I don't remember anything about it. I can see how some people would appreciate this book but I just can't relate to most of Paulo Coelho's selected quotations.

[Jennifer Sokia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE Paulo Coelho and find myself wanting to highlight his books while I am reading them. This book is quotes from many of his books. I love to open it and read one and it starts my brain!

[Nada Khaled · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Love is looking at the same direction from two different angle" <3

[فاطِمة]

النصف الأول قصة ثم عناوين واقتباسات من كتب باولو الأخرى لماتبقى منه .. لابأس به لكن لن يضيف اي شئ لمن قرأ اي كتاب آخر لباولو.

[1unaaaaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. start to do something. That way, time will be an ally, not an enemy.
- The Fifth Mountain

2.There are moments when troubles enter our lives and we can do nothing to avoid them. But they are there for a reason. Only when we have overcome them we will understand why they were there.
- The Fifth Mountain

3. The warrior of light knows that intuition is God's alphabet and he continues listening to the wind and talking to the stars.
- Manual Of The Warrior Of Light.

4. The warrior of light tries to establish what he can truly rely on. And he always makes sure that he carries three things with him : faith, hope and love.
- Manual Of The Warrior Of Light.

:)

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coelho has gathered brilliant quotes from his own works. Among my favorites are:

“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change.” from The Devil and Miss Prym

“I discovered that searching can be as interesting as finding - as long as you overcome your fear.” from Brida

“Those who never take risks can only see other people’s failures”. from Eleven Minutes

“History will only change when we are able to use the energy of love, just as we use the energy of the wind, the seas, and the atom”. from The Zahir

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

I moved country but didn’t have some items sent until several years later. This was one of those items. I’ve read many of his books in the past and liked them. I didn’t think the quotes in this book were anything spectacular and got bored with all the references being about god or to the male gender, and the other 50% of the population of women not included. I also found the quotes to be quite pessimistic and a lot of them were statements on how one feels or thinks, which is a complete individual connection, not a collective one.

[Neeraj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't read any of Paulo Coelho's works, and am not sure if I ever will since am not into philosophical fiction, or fiction for that matter.
So, deliberately chose this one to get the crux of his work.
Must say, Paulo Coelho is truly the Alchemist of words.
You have to re-read every life quote a few times to get to the essence.
Words flow, establishes the hard facts, and gets you thinking. Inspiring.

[Ally (AllyEmReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of philosophical quotes from Paulo Coelho's most popular works, paired with beautiful abstract paintings, I feel that Life is a must read for anyone feeling a little lost. Even though this is very short, and we only get snippets of much larger stories, the quotes picked for this collection really dig into you and bury themselves inside your heart and head. I don't doubt that I will return to this collection many times in the future.

[Hiba · Rating 2 out of 5]

لعلني لو لم اطالع معظم اعمال الكاتب باولو كويلو وترسخ رايي باعماله بشكل ثابت غير قابل لاي تعديل كان من الممكن ان يكون تقييمي لهذا العمل افضل . لكن مجددا هذا التكرار يبعث الملل للقاريء ويستهلك الكاتب نفسه وافكاره بتكرارها والعمل يشمل قصة عمد الكاتب لجعلها بلا نهاية محددة ، والجزء المتبقي اعادة سرد نصوص تضمنتها بقية اعماله

[Eva S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirativní výbor z citátů o podstatě života, o lásce i o lidském osudu z pera nejoblíbenějšího autora naší doby Paula, doprovázený působivými ilustracemi.
Já jsem knihu dostala od kolegyně a moc ráda si v ní čtu se sklenkou vína hlavně na podzim a zimě po večerech 😍 A ilustrace uvnitř jsou kouzelné.

[Monika Rygol Moloney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much! It is a collection of quotes from many Paulo Coelho’s books. I read them daily depending on what issue I am struggling with at the time but they definitely help with mental health and with positive thinking. I highly recommend this book for people who battling with their emotions.

[Muhammad Nawawy Arasy Padil · Rating 4 out of 5]

The warrior of light is not afraid
to weep over ancient sorrows
or to feel joy at new discoveries.
When he feels the moment has arrived,
he drops everything
and goes off on some long-dreamed-of adventure.

MANUAL OF THE WARRIOR OF LIGHT

[Michelle López González · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5. Me gustan sus citas aunque los apartados no los entiendo muy bien, la sección “misterio” está repleta de citas relacionadas con la religión y no creo que sean las únicas de misterio de las que dispone el autor.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ability to support and confirm through the written word is truly a gift. To read and remember that gift you have been given means it had been done successfully. I always enjoy receiving these gifts.