Intro
If you just finished The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, and you want more short, thoughtful books about purpose and meaning, this video is for you.
These are six spoiler free picks, from classic fables to modern adventures. Let’s get started.
The Little Prince
Number one is The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint Exupéry, from nineteen forty three. A pilot crashes in the Sahara and meets a small boy from another planet.
It is the book most often compared to The Alchemist. It is shorter and sadder, and its advice about what matters most has stayed with readers for generations.
Siddhartha
Number two is Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse, from nineteen twenty two. A young man in ancient India leaves his home to search for enlightenment.
It is more serious and more philosophical than The Alchemist, but it follows the same shape: a journey, a series of teachers, and a quiet realization at the end.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Number three is Jonathan Livingston Seagull, by Richard Bach, from nineteen seventy. A seagull decides he wants to fly for the joy of it, not just to find food.
It is a very short fable about chasing a dream when everyone around you says to be realistic. It is a great pick if you loved the encouragement in Coelho’s book.
The Prophet
Number four is The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran, from nineteen twenty three. A wise man is about to leave a city, and its people ask him about love, work, joy, and sorrow.
It is poetry in prose, and it is perfect for slow reading. If the quotable lines in The Alchemist were your favorite part, this book is full of them.
Life of Pi
Number five is Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, from two thousand one. A boy is stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific with a tiger.
It is a longer and richer adventure, with real danger and a big question about faith and storytelling. It is a good pick if you want a journey with more grit.
Man’s Search for Meaning
Number six is Man’s Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl, from nineteen forty six. It is a short nonfiction book by a psychiatrist who survived the concentration camps.
It is heavier than the others, but it is the most real answer to the question The Alchemist asks: how do you find a reason to keep going?
Where To Start
So which one first? If you want something short and gentle, read The Little Prince. If you want more philosophy, try Siddhartha. If you want an adventure, pick Life of Pi. Links to all six are in the description below.
Tell me in the comments which one you will read first, and thanks for watching.
