The Archer

Paulo Coelho's other works I've read have their fair share of platitudes but The Archer takes the cake there. Which isn't to say it's not worth reading, in fact, I think the way Coelho correlates archery with life and draws parallels between the sport and life is very well done.

This isn't a story you read once, or even twice. It's not even really a story. It's a self help manual (poorly) disguised as a story and to comprehend all of the lessons and comparisons would take dozens of re-reads. Thankfully it's short enough that that's not a problem!

It was really interesting to read the book (which I loved) and then read the reviews, lol.

As another reviewer mentioned, that process kind of left me questioning my experience. Am I crazy? Ha! (Maybe that illustrated the point of the book, too. Hmm.)

I literally picked up the book knowing nothing about it aside from that it was written by the author of _The Alchemist_, another book I loved. Maybe that and my superficial skim of the inner flap helped; my expectations were low and I was basically a blank slate.

The book's illustrations are probably my favorite part of the book. Beautifully and simply done.

I found the wisdom imparted to be thought provoking and intriguing. Just a few highlights:

"You know how to shoot when all the show more circumstances are favorable, but if you are on dangerous ground, you cannot hit the target. The archer cannot always choose the battlefield, so start your training again and be prepared for unfavorable situations. ... remember that a good, accurate shot is very different from one made with peace in your soul." (7)

"We should never judge people without first learning to hear and respect them." (10)

"Stay away from those who affirm truths, who criticize those who do not think like them, people who have never once taken a step unless they were sure they would be respected for doing so, and who prefer certainties to doubts." (21)

"The way of the bow is the way of joy and enthusiasm, of perfection and error, of technique and instinct.
"'But you will only learn this if you keep shooting your arrows.'" (121) show less

As someone who has practiced the art of archery for most of my life, Paulo's descriptions of each component and action felt insightful and intimate. A lovely depiction of the zen-like balance necessary for archery, which can also be applied to life. Beautiful illustrations and short chapters encourage the reader to pause while reading and meditate on the message. Loved this book.

This is a short book with cool art and little motifs that are applicable to life as you think of the bow, arrow, target, and shooter. I enjoy how simple Coelho's writing is and how deep you can dive into each part.

Very simple analogy of life using archery. Almost childlike but so well organized and analyzed that it clearly displays its message in the simplest form.

A young boy takes life lessons from a master archer who gave up the practice of archery to lead a life of wood-working. Broken into short bites of knowledge, The Archer conveys wisdom and understanding that can be applied to each person's life. Loved this book.

Short and sweet book. I enjoy archery, so the chapters were fun to remember how to shoot a bow and arrow. Not sure if I walked away from this book as enlightened as I was with The Alchemist. Ok, I didn't.