The Pilgrimage

by Paulo Coelho (Goodreads author!)
The Pilgrimage  
published 1999 by HarperCollins
first published 2005
binding Paperback
isbn 0722534876   (isbn13: 9780722534878)
pages 240
description

Here Paulo Coelho details his journey across Spain along the legendaryroad of San Tiago, which pilgrims have travelled since Middle Ages. On this c...more

date added
12-05-06



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Paulo Coelho gives his readers the possibility of reading all of his books online! 1 03/14/2008 12:59AM
Paulo Coelho gives his readers the possibility of reading all of his books online! 1 03/14/2008 12:59AM
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Kristan
Read in March, 2008
This is the 4th Paulo Coelho book I've read, and my least favorite so far. Not that there's anything wrong with it, per se, but I can definitely see his evolution as a writer from this, his 1st, and The Witch of Portobello, his most recent and one of my faves.

For me, this book was slower, less relatable (if only because very few people are on this kind of a mystical quest) and just less smoothly written overall. I also had a hard time sympathizing with the protagonist.

Now, that's not to ...more
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Cameron
Cameron rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
08/01/07

Read in July, 2007
It was kind of a wierd read. It's a book about his pilgrimage to Santiago in Spain. He has some really wierd experiences, and he believes some pretty far out things--that is, if those parts are not fictitious. I don't think they are. At one point, he and his guide are convinced that a certain dog is an embodiment of Paulo's demon. So at one point, he feels he actually has to physically fight the dog to defeat it. He also believes that he can move things with his mind and predict the future. That...more
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Mad
Mad rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
04/26/08

Read in April, 2008
I enjoy every book by Paulo Cuelho that I've read (5 to date) and this one, his first, has touched me in tha same way the Alchemist did. Perhaps it's the common theme of searchig for a way a path a meaning and th efact that I can empathise strongly with the sentiment. The mysticism in some of the events of the journey, with hindsight, are a bit too far of a step for me personally but the whole journey of the pilgimage to Santiago and the learning and growth acheived by the author do strike a ch...more
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Rochelle
Rochelle rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
01/17/08

bookshelves: general-fiction
Read in January, 2008
This was a really slow read for me. I had difficulty staying focused and found myself going back over paragraphs because I had not really read them. But at the end I feel like I just don't get it. I would call this a modern-day parable-just not what I would want in a parable. At the end of the book he finds his sword, but keeps the purpose a secret. And the journey is so confusing. Often the lessons he learns are conflicting. I felt that the author had some interesting, thought-provoking i...more
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Jenn
06/17/07

bookshelves: borrowed
Read in January, 2007
A friend recommended and allowed me to borrow this book after having read The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield. I had heard good things about another book by Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist, so I was pretty excited to read it. And wasn't at all let down.

It's a bo...more
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Ling
Ling rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
09/02/07

Read in January, 2007
recommends it for: everyone who needs encourage to persist
I fell in love with Coelho when i read The Flowing River thanks to a friend's recommendation. This Brazilian has a way with words, even if he's writing in Spanish and the books are translated into English.

The Pilgrimage talks about his journey on the road to Santiago. there were many challenges and hiccups but he persisted, sometimes less willingly.

It reminded me of being persistent and standing firm in our pursuits/quest. The goal is just a step away from being reached. don't give up ...more
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Alex
Alex rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
08/31/07

Read in August, 2007
The student of the ancient order of RAM, nearing what he believes is the end of his trials, and will thereby receive his sword is deemed as yet unworthy. He is told he must walk the road to Santiago de Compostella, Spain. On this road he meets a variety of characters and undergo a new-to-him, but age old series of trials that force him to realize that his pursuit is not one that avails itself to only the intellectual, but to all. That the destination alone matters not, but the purpose of the des...more
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Clark
Clark rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
01/24/08

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in January, 2008
I got this book for Christmas and I read it right away. I guess I had time. It was easy to read -- a quick read, but based on my religious beliefs I did disagree with some ideas in the book. But it was interesting, so I had to finish the book.

This is one of those books where it has exercises that the main character has to do to reach a new level of understanding or spirituality. I couldn't bring myself to do the exercises but I imagine they are described so as to make them available to the ...more
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Darby
02/04/08

bookshelves: favorites, inspirational, novels, own
Read in November, 2004
Coelho's books were recommended to me by a good friend. Each time I have went to go get a book of his I ask her what she thinks would be a good one to read next.

I liked The Pilgrimage because of again the spiritual journey Coelho takes us (the reader) on. The journey for me was important for me - at this point - in my spiritual journey. Some tasks he does on his journey -- I have done and they helped me.

The journey of the simplicity of life...awareness of life.
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Chloewiley
Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in January, 2007
recommended to Chloewiley by: Amanda Callais
recommends it for: all
Man o Man....this book is another classic from Coelho. He has to be one of my favorite authors of all time. Very inspiring and enlightening. One of those quotable/deep life thoughts books.

"The good fight is the one we fight because our heart asks us to."- The Pilgrimage

I lost my highlighted copy somewhere in the many moves of my day. I bought a new copy in Spain this summer- hopefully I will get around to reading it soon and re-highlighting my favorite parts.
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Debbie
Debbie rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
06/16/07

bookshelves: close-to-my-heart
Read in January, 2006
this book holds a particularly special meaning for me. in fact, i find it much more poignant than Coelho's "Alchemist". Why? He wrote the Pilgrimage before the Alchemist (if I am not wrong) and I find the story more raw and 'tentative' if you'd have it, than the mystical polished-gleam of the alchemist.

it deeply questioned my direction and purpose, and also my journey. or "the good fight" as it is referred to in this book, as quoted from the Bible several times.
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Shakirah
Read in February, 2008
This one of the best books i have read so far. Paulo's description of the places, experience and emotions which he went through during his journey was vivid. I can almost feel myself alongside him on the journey. I wonder if I am right right to say that the message Paulo is trying to convey is that the physical journey can be likened to the journey of life itself. And one can achieve one's greatness by paying attention and seeking one's meaning of life.
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Jennifer
Jennifer rated it: 1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars
01/02/08

bookshelves: truly-atrocious-tripe
Read in November, 2007
recommends it for: philosophy majors
I really hated this book. In fact, it is the second worst book I've ever read (first being the Voyage of Somebody the Sailor). The story made no sense, and key parts of it were left unexplained (what is RAM? what is The Tradition?). I suppose you might get some philosophical value from it, but I didn't really think any of it was earth-shattering or even worth a raised eyebrow. The only redeeming quality was that it was short and went quickly.
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Tina
07/13/07

Read in January, 2006
recommends it for: Coehlo lovers
I read this after the Alchemist, and although I did like it, is my least favorite of all his books. Does make me want to do a Camino De Santiago myself. I guess it was too "out there" in terms of metaphysical ideas, but it still has some great daily living advice that you can take from it, well written as always, and like I said, now I will plan a long spiritual (not Religious) pilgrimage myself in Spain...
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Art
Art rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
06/02/08

this author made an initial statement with "the alchemist" and for me has become less and less interesting. i read this book and enjoyed parts of it, but it's tedious for such a simple story. it lacks the simple direct charm of "the alchemist" and begins to become a little pretentious about being a cool meaningful story...which for me is characteristic of his other work.
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Shilpa
Shilpa rated it: 1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars
11/04/07

..but for the one concept of one manifestation of love as enthusiasm; and the lack of it almost a sin. But guess our own philosophy says that better; so also what i thought was a twisted version of the concept of destroying / finishing the self in the most supreme state of love. Twisted version of what i see as THE concept - the sufi concept of absolute self-negation.
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Heather
Heather rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
11/15/07

I LOVED this book!!! This is Coelho's tale of his journey on the pilgrimage to the Santiago Compostela, which is a pilgrimage route from France to the western edge of Spain. Coelho walked the entire path and recounted his experiences on the journey. Excellent read and a small look into Coelho's life.


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adam
adam rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
03/05/07

Good inspirational book about self-actualizing inner-power. The plot has to do with some dude looking for a sword in Spain because he's part of secret-cult called RAM, and there's a big black dog that fights him and he does all this crazy stuff, but in the end it's pretty good and he comes out a changed person. I liked it.
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Alexandra
Alexandra rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
08/09/07

I garbage picked this book in Park Slope, along with _The User Illusion_ (a fave) and _100 years of solitute._

It's cheesy, especially the Knights Templar initiation scene at the end, but I like the meditation exercises. I also enjoyed reading about his fight with the dog. The whole thing is tripped out in a good way.
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Joe
Joe rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
02/24/08

bookshelves: non-fiction, philosophy-and-religion
Read in January, 2008
I don't really buy the mystical elements of this story as non-fiction, and I find the secret societies he names to be pretty unsubstantiated by any other source, so I had a hard time believing that as non-fiction as well.
This book didn't seem so much as a diary of a journey, but more as a guide to mystical teachings.
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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 3.61 (1159 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 3.59 (810 ratings)
number of reviews: 92






other editions

The Pilgrimage (Paperback)
The Pilgrimage: A Contemporary Quest for Ancient Wisdom (Paperback)
Pilgrimage, The (Paperback)









quote

"When we both experienced the love that consumes, we shared in the Absolute. The Absolute shows each of us who we really are; it is an enormous web of cause and effect, where every small gesture made by one person affects the life of someone else. This morning, that slice of the Absolute was still very much alive in my soul. I was seeing not only you but everything there is in the world, unlimited by space or time." more quotes »