Product Description

A transversal cut in the anatomy of Paulo Coelho's literary work, Be like a
river flow compilation of tales, opinions and ideas constitutes a beautiful
reflection of the wide creation of the Brazilian writer. Rescued from
different periods and publications, the current collection draws the
sensitive line followed by the eyes of the creator, stopping on those
details of reality and contemplation which distill the subtle philosophy of
one who observes existence with the same placidity of gazing at a river.
Undoubtedly, with a clear intention of approaching and revealing the
mystery and the ways in which a man walks through life. Telling the story
of human beings, with their numerous edges, is what Paulo Coelho considers
his mission. Telling what they are and how they are, without necessarily
bonding to what they want or to what they pretend. Almost like instant
pictures of life. Brief and intense pieces of writing that show us a tiny
eternal moment of someone's living. Just like a boy who writes on his
notebook with more awareness of his pen than the content of his tale,
simply because everything will depend on the way we look at things. These
are delicate and pure reflections about literature, history, the art of
love or the way to become an archer, when repetition turns into intuition,
extolling the capacity of the senses. Or about books and libraries, where
the ordinary act of choosing contents can project to life in all its most
various shades.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11860 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Synopsis
A breathtaking collection of reflections from one of the world's best loved storytellers, Paulo Coelho. In this riveting collection of thoughts and stories, Paulo Coelho, the author of 'The Alchemist', offers his personal reflections on a wide range of subjects from archery and music to elegance, traveling and the nature of good and evil. An old woman explains to her grandson how a mere pencil can show him the path to happiness...instructions on how to climb a mountain reveal the secret to making your dreams a reality!the story of Ghengis Khan and the Falcon that teaches about the folly of anger - and the art of friendship!a pianist who performs an example in fulfilling your destiny!the author learns three important lessons when he goes to the rescue of a man in the street - Paulo shows us how life has lessons for us in the greatest, smallest and most unusual of experiences. 'Like the Flowing River' includes jewel-like fables, packed with meaning and retold in Coelho's inimitable style. Sharing his thoughts on spirituality, life and ethics, Paulo touches you with his philosophy and invites you to go on an exciting journey of your own.

From the Author
When I was fifteen I wanted to be a writer: I wanted to use
glasses, walk with untidy hair and study Hegel, to smoke Galois and spend
half of the time in a rage and the other half depressed, to be
misunderstood by my generation, to use words like epistemology and to read
Ulisses. To write incomprehensible and brilliant books.

Until one day a rock singer asked me to write his song lyrics, retired me
from the search of immortality and returned me to the path of the common
people. And I became a writer.

This made me travel across many regions, meet innumerable people, visit
countless countries, sleep in many places... The pages of this book "Like
the Flowing River" are stories of moments I lived, tales I was told, or
reflections I pondered on at each moment I travelled certain stage of the
river of my life.

They are not new pieces, as they were published in newspapers and magazines
in different countries all over the World, but I have now compiled them and
revised them. They are part of my existence and my experience, and I offer
them to you, my readers.

About the Author
Paulo Coelho was born in Brazil and has become one of the most widely read
and loved authors in the world. Especially renowned for The Alchemist and
Eleven Minutes, he has sold more than 85 million books worldwide and has
been translated into 63 languages. The recipient of numerous prestigious
international awards, amongst them the Crystal Award by the World Economic
Forum and France's Legion d'Honneur, Paulo Coelho was inducted into the
Brazilian Academy of Letters in 2002. He writes a weekly column syndicated
throughout the world.

Customer Reviews

Great book - I want to share it!!
This is the first book I have read by Paul Coelho - what a great introduction. i read it in one evening, but it would be great for browsing as well - I want to send copies to my friends and family - it is really inspirational

Enjoyable if you've never read him before
There are plenty of enjoyable tales and memoirs in this book, but if you've read most of the writer's other books you'll have a sense of having heard it all before. Easy enough to read, but because it's just more of the same it seems rather trite to me.

Simplicity and serinity at its best
It was a very easy read. I found it a very good book for bedtime reading. Paulo Coelho's collection of inspirational stories helps you sleep with a serene feeling and a positive feeling for the day ahead.