The Alchemist, Paolo Coelho

The most translated book in history, much loved and cherished across the world, but it was Carson's one word recommendation that got me to read this 174 page classic: 'brilliant!'

It occured to me recently that there must be many follwers and copiers of Coelho; I was talking to a colleague who described the book 'The Secret.' The 2 books have similar messages, that if you want something hard enough, things will fall into place and either the universe will conspire to help you, or it will come to pass because you create your own luck. I think I'll go with "The Alchemist" since it is fiction, and still packs a great message without preaching.

It is a pretty religious book though. I liked it a lot although I am not sure it will change my life, as many have stated it has. I must say though, that there have certainly been times when I think that I wanted something so badly that I made it happen through sheer will and positive thinking, even when the odds were not in my favour.

Coelho has had an interesting life as documented in "Paulo Coelho: A Warrior's Life," by Fernando Morais.