Welcome back to The Editor Series! The women behind She Reads are truly inspired by books and every now and then, we come across one that really changes us, makes us feel something or leads us down a new path in life.

In this new addition to the series, our She Reads Editor Allyson talks about the magical and insightful The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

You know that popular ice breaker question – “If you were stranded on an island what book would you bring?” Hands down I would bring The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. An international bestseller with over 80 million copies sold worldwide, there’s no doubt that to this day, Coelho is still making a worldwide impact on people’s lives. Curiosity struck me at the right moment a few months ago when I stumbled upon the 25th-anniversary edition of this book at my local Barnes & Noble; I’m forever grateful that it did. The Alchemist truly is one of those books that will stick with me forever and here’s why.

This book is simple, yet so profound. The Alchemist is a beautiful tale about discovering one’s destiny and never losing faith. The main character is a shepherd named Santiago who sets out to discover his personal legend by embarking on a journey to find an unknown treasure that has been showing up in a reoccurring dream. Every encounter that Santiago makes during his journey serves as a pivotal moment in helping him achieve his personal legend. Ultimately, by listening to his heart and letting his intuition guide him, he discovers much more than just treasure.

Let’s start out with me saying that The Alchemist is arguably one of the most (if not the most) quotable books ever! I’m a big believer in fate and manifestation. My favorite line from the book that gave me all the feels was “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

I love this book because of the infinite amount of life lessons that fill its pages. I’ve even journaled all of the inspirational lines which resonated to me. It’s one of those books I felt no regret after reading because it was time well spent. The Alchemist reinforced this desire in me to never be afraid to think big. Santiago’s journey never came without its challenges, but he never gave up. In a way, we are all like Santiago, on our own journey of self-discovery. If there’s any book that will inspire you to drop everything, dive head first into your fears, and take chances it’s this one. The Alchemist is a quick, enjoyable read and is filled with profound meanings. It’s given me a new perspective on my life’s purpose. If you’re into self-help books or consider yourself to be a spiritual person, I urge you to read The Alchemist. And who knows, maybe giving The Alchemist a read while stranded on an island will help inspire ways to get off the island. So if you were stranded on an island what life-changing book would you bring?