The Valkyries

From the title i was not expecting to find what i found inside the pages of this book. But i'm glad i decided to read it. I think every man shoud read this book to understand women better, and women shoud read it to understand themselves better, like i did. Thank you Paolo Coelho! You're awesome!

It's a very bare description of a prostitutes life. I was depressed at the beginning but at the same time I enjoyed the first half more. The book is a good travel read. I like his writing style but this is different from the other novels of Paulo coehlo. It's less spiritual and more about the sexuality. Nevertheless, I would not repent reading it. I learned about life again, that how similar and different it can be for all of us, no matter what the profession, something he is good at portraying in all his stories. So enjoy the book.

Totally disappointed with this book. Not what I expected to read from Paulo Coelho. Had to stop reading it. I practically threw the book into trash. I even did not want it to be included in my library or anyone I know read it.

This is a good one, but do not ever expect it to be like "The Alchemist". This one is something like a memo, a brief sequetial set of characteristics. This is uplifting, if you like this style, or waste of money, if you are expecting another "The Alchemist".

This book reminds me the technique used by sitcoms to pull flashbacks from a whole season of episodes, stick an opening and closing on each end and call it a new show. For that reason, I did not feel it was quite as enjoyable to read as The Alchemist. Stylistically, Alchemist is like an Old Testament narrative where Warrior is like reading Proverbs. There were, however, some wonderful "nuggets" of pure gold that I find myself reading over and over - even commiting to memory. It is a worthwhile volume to have and would recommend it to any reader who enjoys Coelho's work.

I've been a Coehlo fan for years and have read at least a half dozen of his books. I strongly feel that this is a wonderful book of great advice, but I do prefer his messages laced through his poetic and creative storytelling. I made the mistake of purchasing the audible version of this book and I think this is one to appreciate at a slower pace in hard copy form to better digest and correlate with your own "life stories". The book is indeed called a Manual and one that invites personal introspection and application.

Coelho brings together body, mind, and spirit in ways that surprise until the last page of the novel. Love triumphs simply and profoundly. I want to reread it with more awareness of its brilliant artistry.

I am not a reader on a regular basis, so I recently joined a book club to change that and this was the fist book chosen. I couldnt put it down. Its not for everybodys taste, but if you can look past her just being a prostitute, I think everyone can find a way to relate to the book.

This book is not a 'story' but rather a collection of thoughts about what a Warrior is. I was disappointed because I was expecting a story and although it has many insightful and thought provoking messages it does not have the magic of an adventure. I read this book after reading The Alchemist which is an extraordinary story of a Shepard and his journey to his Personal Legend illuminated with the perennial philosophy of basic life truths.

Whoa this is definitely a horrible book. If this were a novice writer this wouldn't have been published, but Coehlo's name probably got it pushed through. The whole book switches between him and his wife's perspectives about finding angels... and then a motorcycle gang is involved. Its absolutely terrible, not even written well. Their discussion of angels is hokey, and not spiritual. Its cheap as all get out. Seriously, if you have any respect for the Alchemist don't pick this book up; I threw it out not going to lie.

I can't believe that the same man wrote this and the Alchemist. Silly and pointless!!! Don't waste your time or money.
The story could have been cut in half.
One silly example is the claim that leaving husband and CHILDREN in search of love and God. BS!!!!!
Waste of paper!!!!

I found this elementary at best. Nothing profound and enlightening in it. I have been trying to understand why this is such a great seller for the author and then it struck me. It was written to speak to the novice of metaphysics not someone who has studied for decades. Not that I am a master yet, but it was a basic guide only. I was very disappointed.

The book wasnt one of the best I have read but not bad. It was slow, story O.K. What I did enjoy was that there were some strong messages within the story. Not alot of them but what there were were powerful. Worth the read short and easy.

Its was good
For people who loves to read psychiatry n psychology books u must read this
Especially the part if marias diary

Love comes to people who still believe it
N for her age she is cunning
N no matter what is. Agirl's profession all needs to be respected n love

This book was not easy for me to get through. You are being told that it is a true story but parts seem extremely hard to believe. Not that he isn't telling the truth but maybe it just wasn't being told in the best possible way for you to find it believable. Maybe there wasn't a message for me to get out of this book. And maybe there will be a message for you to get out of this book. Coelho's books are always sprinkled with messages. As a fan of his work I was compelled to read it. I may read it again in the future and who knows I might think it is the most brilliant book written.

the book it self is not in a good condition, the paper was cut in such a horrible way, the ending of the pages are badly damaged,

for the content the book is good, it's been written by Paulo Coelho and that is enough for me
one thing to mention: BE ALERT! this is not a novel!

I really enjoy Paulo Coelho so I figured this book was a no-brainer for me, something I would pick up and enjoy right away. But it is not a story like so many of his other novels, it is just a series of quotes and thoughts on how people should choose to live. Part of my frustration and disappointment stems from my own expectations, I was hoping for a fun story about a character's path to light and their travels and struggles and how that shaped them as a person, this book has none of this. Had I known it was a series of quotes and mottos, I would have avoided it altogether.

This novel starts out with a hooker of an opening paragraph and declines from there. It was given to me as a "life-changing read" but I could hardly wait for it to be over. Terrible writing, by the way.

After reading The Alchemist I purchased this book with immense expectations but unfortunately it is really dissapointing. I would not recommend this to anyone who has read The Alchemist and want to buy another book of Paulo Coelho. I would say that just stick with The Alchemist and dont even think of buying it. The reason is this book goes page by page by saying The Warrior of Light does this does that thinks this thinks that and goes on like that every page. I could not find a continuity and connection in some parts of the books. Every page is a new topic and you can't make a whole picture of scenario.

Coming from one of my very favorite authors, this collection of common place and banality is really depressing.
This book tries to be a modern Bushido but it doesn't reach the level of Bushido's knees.
Bushido took almost three centuries to be perfected, maybe Master Coelho had to give his Warrior a little more time. Light is a very powerful entity, it shouldn't be treated like a fast money making commodity.

That is all.

How does this book sell like it does? It is terribly written, no plot, co character development, not even a clear setting.

I hate Maria. She is far from being a likeable character.

OMG I dont have words to describe how awful this book was!!

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS! Borrow it from someone.

3.5 Stars

This book is an all-purpose manual for life, a spiritual and mental self-helper for those looking to walk a virtuous and self-fulfilling path. Every Paulo Coelho book I've read comes with moral lessons (it's kind of his thing); sometimes they're hidden between the eloquently crafted lines, sometimes they reach out from the pages and smack you in the forehead with their obviousness. Either way, Coelho's messages are encouraging and relatable. Warrior of the Light is no exception. But with the lessons spelled out so clearly here, page after page, I started to realize another truth...and I'm still deciding whether or not it disheartens me.

In many ways, the lessons in this manual (and in similar, and sometimes ancient, writings) have much in common with the crystal ball predictions of a carnival fortuneteller. They are just vague enough to sound significant to the personal circumstances of your average truth-seeker. They pander broadly to our hopes and dreams as skillfully as they expose our general weaknesses. Ever question the meaning of the life you're living?--so does a Warrior of the Light. Do you have obstacles impeding your dream?--so does a Warrior of the Light. Do you need to acknowledge harsh truths about yourself?--so does a Warrior of the Light. Do you want to realize your full potential?--so does a Warrior of the Light, and he WILL because now he's been told the secrets of the universe, and doesn't it feel so warm and fuzzy and good? Sure it does. And we leave the book (or the gypsy's tent) feeling rejuvenated and full of hope.

And, hey, what's wrong with a little hope? What's wrong with feeling empowered? I say nothing. While I recognize the triteness of much of what Coelho has to say about the actions and thoughts of a warrior, I am also able to apply those lessons quite fluidly to my own personal goals and struggles. His words did in fact inspire me, and I finished the book feeling empowered and motivated. I came here seeking affirmation, and I got it. And that, I suppose, is the beauty of spiritual self-help manuals and gypsies alike.

Best Lines (chosen randomly since there are so many): "It is not the Warrior's responsibility, however, to judge the dreams of others, and he does not waste time criticizing other people's decisions."

"He knows that his words are stored in the memory of the Universe, like a testimony of what he thinks."

"When you defend your ideas in public, you then have to make an effort to live accordingly."

"Those who look on other people's misery with indifference are the most miserable of all."

"There is such a thing as emotional rubbish; it is produced in the factory of the mind. It consists of pain that has long since passed and is no longer useful."

I bought this book a few years ago but only recently started to flip through it and actually receive the message than just reading a page. Whenever I feel the Pull to I randomly choose a page and wherever I land is.... always.. and never fail to be The On I needed to read that day. This book is full of wisdom. My only qualm is that I wish there were more pages. Paulo Coelho is also one of my favorite authors of all time. His spirit is just something I resonate with so profoundly. Thank you.

Like all of his books, I could not put this down until I was finished. The Valkyries is an authentic metaphysical tale of Paulo Coelho's mesmerizing experience with the Light and the Darkness. In part, he speaks through the voice of a mentally ill woman, as he tells you of his face-to-face meeting with Darkness, and where his search for the Light took him. Everyone has a personal angel, and Paulo, being extremely sensitive and spiritually aware, journeys to find his own. The Valkyries were a group of women who had dialogues with their personal angles, that they encountered face to face in the desert. Paulo is no stranger to the battle of Darkness, and has diligently worked to use the Light that he found to make amends where he had to. This is a very spiritual book, and is centered on the themes of self-discovery, courage, light, darkness, love, faith, passion, and forgiveness. Reading it is transformative, and it will have you contemplating your own life, in light of the rich ideas discussed. In my book: "Trauma and Transformation: A 12-Step Guide", I fully explore the spiritual side-effects of trauma, and how the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous is a powerful systematic approach for the trauma survivor seeking a spiritual solution.

-Rivka Edery, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Author of: "Hear Me Sing: Book I" (2016)
“Trauma and Transformation: A 12-Step Guide” (2013)

Best known for the globally renowned classic The Alchemist (1988), Coelho is fascinated by the battle between forces of light and darkness that operates outside of the realm of traditional ethical codes. In contrast, this is very traditional indeed, as a quite literal rendition of Joseph Campbell's monomyth with all of the typical elements: the call to action, trials, supernatural helpers, and the completed task. Coelho is assigned by his teacher the task of speaking with his guardian angel, and he dutifully departs with his wife to the Mojave Desert to initiate contact. After a bout with severe dehydration, Coelho's desert retreat is characterized by "encounters with strange men and beautiful women, all with an aura of enormous vibrating sensuality." Primary among these is Valhalla, a leather-clad ex-banker and fellow member of the same secret society of magi. She leads a band of desert sirens on horseback. Valhalla teaches Coelho a few choice spiritual truths, which gives rise to a subplot in which he becomes torn by passion for her and love for his wife, which the two women resolve in a peculiar spiritual combat at the end of an absurdly theatrical Ritual to End All Rituals. This is one of Coelho's more forgettable titles.

I read this novel in two days, which is a long time for a Paulo Coelho book, but then again I am a slow reader.

I found this novel on the bookshelf of a hotel overlooking the "highest navigable body of water in the world," almost four thousand meter high Lake Titicaca, on the Bolivian/Peruvian border. At the time of the reading I was in the town of Copacabana. My hotel window was flooded with light, and I had a great view of the lake, which shone blue like a mirage everyday.

Eleven minutes is the story of a young, pretty Brazilian woman who goes to Europe to make money and find (who knows? Sucess?) Along the way she meets all sorts of strange people, works as a high class call girl, and manages to eke out a year in one of the most spiritually empty places on Earth~~Zurich, Switzerland. Never for a second does she forget her humble origins in remote, interior, undeveloped Brazil, to which she eventually returns. This is the account her thoughts and feelings, her fears and hopes, her loves and more developed over one year of life in Europe. It is a good read, as are all Paulo Coelho books.

Four stars. Rick says check it out

This was seriously one of the worst books I've ever read. Nothing in this book captivated my attention. It is simply a collection of clichés. The story has no depth whatsoever and left me with the impression that the writer didn't even try hard enough (like one of those books authors write just because they have a contract with a publisher or something). Reading Eleven Minutes felt like a chore

...by the collected works of Brazilian author Paulo Coelho. He seems to have hit a certain note in his writings that promises to ring true forevermore. His is not a linear style, folks. ELEVEN MINUTES: A NOVEL is not a formulaic novel of "first this happens, then that happens, then something else happens." You can jump into any part of this story and basically live life at its finest. Life at its most complex and inscrutable and pleasurable--the pleasure within the deep pain, do you know what I'm talking about? Coelho writes his meandering tale as the game of life itself generally occurs: it has twists, stops, starts, and all sorts of gaps in between. Things don't stop when they're supposed to stop. Things don't start where they're supposed to start. And matters also don't proceed according to plan. Rarely will you notice that what is supposed to happen, happens. Here's a good analogy: think of how your mind works at the best of times, how it assaults you with mile-a-minute calculations and considerations. Imagine how you run your typical day, and the process via which you go about making decisions.

It's never a straightforward process, is it?

One moment you can be lolling in the doldrums, without a clue, then something can smack you in the face and make you wonder just how deeply you'd managed to slip into that funk of yours, feeling sorry for yourself, imagining where you can take the first exit to Check-Out-of-Life Land, buying yourself a one-way express train ticket to hell...then you suddenly realize it was all a Grand Test, papito. That there was more to it, and the Great One, Whomever It May Be For You, was merely pressing your corporeal buttons, wanting to see how much you can take. To basically see what you're made of. To see if you can walk the walk as well as you tell your friends how godfearing and believing of a person you really are.

There were some of the thoughts that were racing through my mind, Indy500-style, as I blew through page after excellently-translated (from the Portuguese) page of Coelho's latest installment.

Coelho's example in life further indicates to me that some of the best scribes and novellists on this planet are the ones who have stared the face of Hell dead in the eyes, and have lived to tell the tale. The ones who have managed to face down their most dastardly demons, and who have the scars, the tattoos, the breast implants, the Botox, the piercings, and the expensive quick-fixes to show it. Not to mention the thousand and one lovers (paid or otherwise). The ones who have dared to "go there," against all the odds and conventional wisdom...who'd one day decided to cast their lot in with the Fates, not caring for that one very moment whether or not they lived or died or say the next bowl of weeties in the morning.

Because it's there, on the cusp of such indecision, where the fruits of the vine can be deliciously picked. It's there, where you can feel the gusts of hot backwind gushing up from the abyss, drawing you downward with their complex convenction currents, that you--so mortal and so very afraid--are unable to resist its powerful yank, Frank.

Know this, my dear readers...some of the best (and therefore the most successful people, from a lifestyle standpoint, which also generally equates to the "game of life" standpoint) in the world are the one who've faced down such adversity. I'm not surprised that someone like Maria was able to overcome her fears, and overcome her provincial inner-jungle background to achieve the very best of what there was in life in a land where people from the outside are shunned with as much love as a bout of the stomach flu. I believe this is also the dream of many city dwellers, those who were born and raised in large metropolises, to be able to come to the aid of their families...it's a romantic notion indeed. I salute people like Maria.

In fact, the best experience is the one you engage in and create all by yourself, not the one which is handed down to you third-hand. Those are the people we drool over, the ones who populate the pages of some of our best novels, the ones who form the bases of our most memorable fictional characters, the ones who cause films and books to climb to the tops of the bestseller charts.

But where do these people come from? I say to you, friends, that they breathe and live. They TRULY exist.

Rolf is also quite true to form. In our age of rapid advancement, with cheaper airfares, plentiful business opportunities to deceive and be deceived, massive advances in technology which continue to set us apart from one another, the fact that someone can become burned out with life at such an early age (in their 30s) is really possible. Godhonest. That Rolf is looking out for something totally different, and that he finds his passion and solace in Maria...someone so lambasted by the mainstream and the System...we shouldn't be in the least bit alarmed. Artists go looking for their daily inspiration (which for them is their daily bread) in all the so-called darkly mysterious places. They go digging into the muck to pull out the pearls, and sometimes the muck is more than six-feet deep, the metaphor being a significant one, Jack.

I'm sure any one of us who have enjoyed this particular novel have met more than our fair share of Rolfs over this lifetime, have we not? If you haven't, then it's coming, toots. When you meet your potential Rolf, please don't judge him too harshly...

In all--and as I haven't read the other reviews on this site, though I'm sure they're all, for the most part, complimentary to the author (and rightfully so)--I'd have to say that each and every one of us is going to derive something different from our reads. We're going to zero in on the thing which pulled most stridently at our heartstrings, and overemphasize, perhaps, that which others might find somewhat trivial. I can give you examples, but you've got other books to read, have you not?

No matter.

There's enough inside the pages of this book to tease and tickle almost any human...regardless of gender, regardless of nationality.

Coelho does it again, and in this way I feel that he's truly gifted with something that he was born to do. It's such a sweet sensation reading a piece of literature which rolls off the fingertips of the greats.

I can't wait for his next cut.

Hand on the heart,

ADM from Prague

I found Paulo Coelho's The Valkyries a bit of an enigma. I suspect the author at least partly intended it to be so. In a nutshell, the author seeks to discover new aspects of his psyche, to develop new angles on his existing skills. After a consultation with his mentor, he and his wife set off for a jaunt in the Mojave Desert to find what it is that they seek. Our author is in engaged in a quest, a search for his personal Angel. The reader, I am sure, will be convinced from the start that she accompanied him throughout.

They wander off in full sun one day, take their clothes off (for some reason) and have to be rescued by Gene, who has seen it all before. He reassures the travellers that they will find their valkyries. And they do. They turn out to be a band of leather-clad women on motorbikes, ladies who have profound mystic powers which they practise amidst their regular partying.

I was a bit perplexed by the narrator who claimed to have trained as an engineer in one breath and then discussed the existence of the universe in terms of ancient Greek elements. I suspect that the high performance motorbikes relied on a rather more complex analysis of matter. But honing the skills of a magus apparently requires the application of ancient knowledge, no matter how wrong, whatever the context. And sure enough the revelations come flooding in and lives are duly transformed. I have just a suspicion that there is something in the observation that no matter what one does with reality, spirituality is necessarily a personal experience, its significance purely internal, even when shared with others.

The Valkyries has all the Paulo Coelho elements. There are short scenes presented in a variety of literary shorthand. The text is suffused with magic, religiosity and self-realisation set in an earthly medium. It's a quick and easy read but ultimately a satisfying one, even for someone like myself, who cannot suspend belief long enough to share in the book's experiences.

But Paulo Coelho is a magus and a magician of the highest order. He has sold over 90 million books and, as a writer myself, I will read more of his books in the hope that I might discover his magus touch, his waft of a wand that will reveal his secret. Even without sympathy for the detail, it's a lovely, rhythmic read.

Don't shy away from this novel just because the topic of sex can be taboo. Or because the main character is a prostitute. It is not an overtly graphic depiction of Maria's sexual encounters. Coelho deftly turns Maria's experience into a reflection on what it is to love and how coupling is a manifestation of joining souls.

Convinced she will never find true love, Maria leaves her homeland of Brazil for Geneva, Switzerland to seek opportunity. When her quest for fame and fortune ends, she determines that the best way to make money is to sell her body. She justifies her choices in a philosophic way. She doesn't even enjoy sex! But when she meets a painter who intrigues her, she is forced to reconsider the ideas of love and loss, pain and pleasure. Sure, there are some erotic scenes, but nothing too scandalous. It is Coelho's skill at exploring something so fundamental that makes this novel approachable.

Paulo doesn't know how to write women. Not only does he do a terrible job writing about women's sexual experiences, he also does a terrible job describing how women talk to each other in general. It seems the way he writes is what he imagines or fantasizes about women through a male lens, not the actual reality. Even though I enjoyed the alchemist, and this book is an easy read, i wouldn't recommend it.

The was a very intriguing book. It seemed to go more into depth on many of the ideas presented in The Alchemist. As a non-religious person who's not exactly sure where he stands on the subject of God or other deities I sometimes became frustrated with the way some of the ideas were presented but that's based on my own viewpoints and life and should not and does not take way from the fact that Coelho presents wonderful and thought provoking ideas that if applied to ones life could help them begin the shift and/or improvements that they're looking for. No matter your background, if you open the first page with an open mind I would venture a guess that you'll get something wonderful from this book.

At one point, the detailed S&M encounter reminiscent of something you might read in a trashy, romance novel, I was about to toss this book in the bin. But, I perservered and was glad that I did because it changed course on a dime afterward, instead of descending deeper. However, in all honesty this book creeped me out... a sort of creepy, dark version of The Alchemist, a book I loved so much that I bought several copies just to pass out to my friends. Part of the problem, aside from the S&M and prostitution, is that the main character, Maria, speaks with the way too intellectual and spiritually wise voice of an elderly, Brazilian man... perhaps Paulo Coelho?! Both her inner dialogue and her diary entries were far too wise and spiritual to feel authentic coming from a 20-something-Brazilian-bumpkin-turned-prostitute and she just came across as a vehicle for Mr. Coelho to share his thoughts, and perhaps to hide behind. Maybe it's time for Mr. Coelho to write something from the point of view of an aging hippy, spiritualist author instead of a main character so unlike himself, but who somewhat incongruously, speaks with his voice. Also, I have to say I laughed at the "five orgasms" part... only a man would write something like that! This book really only felt like about 3 stars to me, but I'm giving it 4 because of the good intentions of the message that Paulo Coelho is trying to share with his readers.

I admit it - I don't like surprises. When I go to a restaurant, I always order the same thing. After all, if I know one thing is good, why try something else? Surprise parties? I hate them - they scare the crap out of me. Plot twists in movies? I think they're so rarely done well, they only annoy me.
So when I saw Paulo Coehlo's new book, Eleven Minutes, on the bookshelf, I knew I had to get it. After all, I adored the other book I had read by him, The Alchemist. I reveled in the idea of curling up on my couch with an old friend - how I equate reading books by authors I like.
Eleven Minutes is a book about sex. You can cut it other ways, but that's what it comes down to. The title itself refers to the length of time it takes to commit the act. The world we live in revolves around sex, no matter how much people try to disguise or argue that fact. Rather than dispute it or make sex ugly, Coehlo presents sex as a beautiful lesson to be mastered as one gains experience.
Maria is a prostitute from a small town in Brazil who gets convinced to move to Geneva, Switzerland, to become a stage sensation. Doing Brazilian dances at a sleazy bar does not bring the fame Maria wishes so she gets out of her contract and tries to fend for herself in Geneva. With no money and little knowledge of the language though, she ends up working as a prostitute.
While Maria's entrance into prostitution is probably pretty typical, she is not who one imagines when they think of a sex worker. She visits the library religiously and during downtimes at her workplace, she reads and takes notes on matters of psychiatry, love, sex and farm management. She learns to provide for her clients physical and mental needs. She saves her money and she has adventures while she bides her time until her return home to Brazil.
Coehlo makes an astute choice in having the main character in his book, which honors sex, be a prostitute. Through Maria we are able to see some of the ugliest sides of sex. But it is through her development as a character that we are able to appreciate the beauty of the act of sex.
In his celebration of sex and love, Coehlo is a success. Sadly though, in Eleven Minutes, Coehlo is a victim of his own style. In The Alchemist, a book worth anyone's time, he tells a good story that has a tendency at points to become preachy, but the story itself wins out and the novel is excellent. In Eleven Minutes, Coehlo seems unable to resist his tendency to preach and much of the book becomes his opinion - his take on how things are and should be.
I read the book Eleven Minutes quickly - I ate it up and when I had to take a break, I couldn't wait to start reading again. All said and done, though, I would rather curl up on my couch with The Alchemist, as it's a much more loyal friend.

I'd say one sentence from one of the Editorial Reviews sums up this book best: "The volume preserves the basic spiritual tone of The Alchemist, but readers expecting comparable depth and substance will be disappointed."

That's pretty much it. First off, if you haven't read Paulo Coelho at all, I'd suggest the best place to start would be "The Alchemist." And if you like that book, this one would be a good "companion." But the depth and substance don't quite match up, as the other reviewer said.

It is difficult for a book that uses "simple words" and simple situations to be powerful, and Coelho pulled it off in "The Alchemist." In this book, he didn't.

The book is a collection of expanded aphorisms, truisms, profundities, all in a kind of mixed bag. They seem to follow no particular pattern - there is no build-up that I can see. You can pretty much open to a random page and read that page, and then a different page the next time. Some of them make a lot of sense, some are profound, yes, but at the same time, some are lacklustre. Also, the use of the "warrior" theme is not always conducive to the carrying of the message. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.

I give "Manual" 4 stars because even if a fourth of the material is worth reading, it's worth having read the whole.

For years The Alchemist has been gathering dust on my bookshelf, and on a whim one day I decided to buy and immediately read Eleven Minutes. First, off, it is difficult to give a fully informed opinion of Coehlo's writing style. The translation and editing was deplorable. I found too many grammatical mistakes and literal translations to count. Therefore, I couldn't determine if the tone of the novel was truly the author's or an error in translation. Whatever the case, this review is based on the English translation by Margaret Jull Costa.

Eleven minutes is yet another modern day fairytale smothered over a thin slice of preachy philosophy. Honestly, two transcendental orgasmically instigated enlightening moments are annoying (the first physical, the second spiritual). The day to day renderings of Maria's life were convincing enough that I almost felt like most of the book was ghostwritten by the real "Maria". It is in effect, a fairytale. As all fairytales are, they are simple. Barely is there a lesson. Maria goes on a journey, meets various characters (the librarian, the artist, the sado masochistic John) and throughtout the journey she morphs from pariah and prostitute to sacred mother and wife (in spirit). The few accounts of sexual liasons are not in the least bit shocking, even if they were intended to be. They just were, what they were... eleven minutes of sex. Its a lovely story, if you can get beyond the author's protracted philosophical ramblings.

"Eleven Minutes" is a moving tale about a young Brazilian woman who, at the behest of a complete stranger, travels to Europe to become a "famous" Samba dancer. Woven into the story are her personal journals, which serve to tie the novel together while seducing the reader into a suspension of disbelief over her sometimes incredible actions and decisions. They are what we pay most attention to, and they are the threading that binds "Eleven Minutes." The reader will personalize this dialog because it speaks a universal language that all of us face' particularly during times of vulnerability, when we feel overwhelmed, or when cynicism jades our process of growth. While the set-up may be simple, the emotional and intellectual roller-coaster is anything BUT. All of us can tell you about a trip to, say, the dry cleaners, but rarely do you hear about the oftentimes complex inner dialog along the way, i.e., Is my marriage salvageable? Have I sold out on my ideals? Why can't I have an orgasm with my husband? Do I have an affair?...etc. This is not a lighthearted read. But it is intensely passionate, sensual, blatantly erotic, and intellectually rewarding. For example, there are a series of scenes that explore the nature of Sado-Masochism and its corruptive use of guilt to exploit pleasure. The scenes are as titillating and seductive as they are revealing of the influences behind such behavior. Fundamentally, it lavishes upon the reader volumes about the nature of both love and sex and, most importantly, sex in the context of love [Sacred Sex], and what it means to live life without fear in order to achieve it. There were moments when I was shaken by the writer's extraordinary insights and impassioned dialog, and came away from the experience feeling the need to revisit [yet again] my own inner dialog on Sacred Sex. I rated the book 5 stars because of its depth - in spite of the fact that I was often distracted by the writer's voice. Whether Eleven Minutes is a personal dissertation on the nature of sex and love using a story as a vehicle, or just a coming of age love story about the foibles of youth told, ultimately, through a series of intimate journals, you'll have to decide. Regardless, it is a must read for anyone who embraces self-discovery.

This was written in a very assumptive manner and is neglectful in accrediting the sources by which he draws premature conclusions and advice he purveys. Paulo Coelho and Deepak Chopra (another charlatan out there who sells to the simple minds who think a 123 page book can change your life) share many of the same assumptive and false ideas about the human spirit.

There's a lot of wisdom and truth presented here in this book. The question is, will you or can you understand it? I admit that several places in the book, I would go back and have to reread something, and still not totally get it. But a little further and BAM! -This beautiful piece of writing would pop out and be clear as can be. I am thinking that what you get out of this book most likely depends on several things, like how open minded you are, where you are in your life and where you are spiritually. It's a metaphor people! (to those reviewers who didn't get it so they wrote negative things about it, which makes me think of how a lot of times we [some/most?] are quick to condemn that which we do not understand?) The things that you don't conciously understand, you most likely (hopefully anyway) sub-conciously get. Get it? - Course that may not be the case for all.

Book club choice? This book would make for interesting group discussion between the right people, -an open minded group who's not so quick to judge by skimming the surface. I think open discussions about this could bring a lot of hidden meanings out in the open because for example, one part that I didn't get could be clear as a bell to somebody else.

I loved this and am planning to read it again. And I feel sure that I'll probably read it several times throughout my life. That's the kind of book this is.

So, if you read it and don't understand, maybe it's not the right time for you? So many times, I have been drawn to exactly the books I needed for what I was going thru at that time. This proved that to me, once again.

Paul Coelho's "Warrior of the Light: A Manual" has been translated from Portuguese by Margaret Jull Costa. The copyright page notes that the book was first published in Brazil in 1997, and an author's note notes that most of the material in the book was first published in a newspaper column.
"Warrior" is a guide to living a balanced and meaningful life. The text takes the form of a series of inspirational verses bracketed by a parable-like story. Coelho's approach is interfaith and multicultural: along the way he cites the I Ching, John Bunyan, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Gandhi, Arabic proverbs, and others. God is often mentioned, but not in a religion-specific sense. Along the way such topics as faith, meditation and prayer are dealt with.
Quite a bit of the book seems rather obvious and feels like I've read it before; at times the tone is a bit too "New Age-y" for my tastes. But there are also some really thoughtful and striking passages, and a welcome touch of wit. The book is sometimes paradoxical. "Warrior" is a contemporary text that reminds me of the tradition of the Dhammapada, Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations," and other such spiritual/instructional texts. It's a hopeful and generous-spirited book.

I absolutely love this book. The quest to not just talk to his guardian angel, but to see the angel as well with his own eyes. And along the way his wife is pulled into her own calling of spirit. Sometimes we are searching and sometimes spirit calls us. Anyone on their own personal spiritual quest is likely to fall in love with the story and raw emotions the author shares in his books. He is genuinely fascinating for me to read. I look forward to reading everything Paulo Coelho is willing to write and share.

There were times while I was reading this book that the things he wrote spoke to things that I had felt so well that I started underlining them. Other parts I was so confused and really disturbed by the things that were written (and in a way that condoned the same) that I really wished I had never started reading.

It talks in depth about making a pact with yourself to fail when success is within reach. I see that in myself. Not so much a fear of failure but a lot of fear of success too. So I liked hearing that idea mentioned. The struggle to feel at peace with what you have achieved or to feel at peace with achievement in general.

At one point a group that he is traveling with "the valkyries" starts up a sidewalk show where they are preaching to passersby telling them to be true to their hearts and follow their dreams. Some of the people object that they have obligations and families that tethered them to the lives that they were living. One of the characters "Valhalla" says that family never kept anyone from living their dream. As I read that I thought "wow that's awesome, we shouldn't just sit back and excuse ourselves from doing what we love because we have obligations. We should do them anyway, even especially because of our families. kinda like "Set the example for those we love" that we can still follow our hearts even when our hearts are knit together with those around us. Like "hey don't puss out and live a wo-is-me life cause you got "bogged down" with responsibilities. Find a happy medium or just recognize that your family should feel like your great work and highest achievement.

Then further on in the reading it is revealed that the same character "followed her heart" by abandoning her husband and two children to sleep with high rollers at casinos for money to support her biker gang. So.... yeah I guess i felt like either I wasn't getting the message or the message was just a bunch of "if it feels good do it" B.S. "Take no thought for how your actions will affect those around you in the end your only really responsible for yourself".

Honestly after reading the Alchemist I was excited to read this but if this is really the way the author feels then I feel sorry for him. He's not only confused but he's propagating that confusion to millions. It's like mixing 75% awesomeness with 25% dog S#!+ and expecting the people eating to just smile and wolf it down like gravy train.

This is one of those little tomes that you can open to any page and find inspiration, if not direction...sort of like the I Ching, though not quite as dense. It took me awhile to get an English version, having first unconsciously ordered it in Portugeuse. Now having "read" it and "studied" it some, I find it necessary to return to it again, as this is one of those books that can be read and reflected upon many many times as we come out of the darkness that, I think, many of us have been living in for oh so long. I can see this little book, if read with intent, contributing to some upheaval in the life of the reader. Not that there is a dark side to this book...one would do well to remember that Mr. Coehlo is, among other things, an adept magician; and, in my opinion, the process of coming into one's own is likely to be, especially when aided by the "magic"(energy) of this book, accelerated. So, if movement is on your agenda, be prepared.

Was there a story here? If there was then I missed it. The plot is extremely lacking or (at best) very difficult to decern. The conversations are boring as the characters jabber on about nothing consequential. I'm being generous in giving it even 1 star. Ugh, just not a good book.

Wow. At first glance this book, a story of a young Brazilian prostitute and her adventures and trials in Switzerland, seems to simply be about sex, kink and the degrading underbelly of civilazation. Then, just as the characters themselves in the book do, so much more is revealed.

This book contains so much insight in to true human nature, in to love and the meaning of life that sometimes parts of the book and in particular the parts that are exerpts of Maria's diary smack you in the face and wake you up from a dream. They almost made me cry. The characters in this book become so wise and one sees how easily it is to get stuck in patterns and to think (or more accurately not think) of the things in life that are possible if one can just break out of certain patterns.

Beautiful, sensual, sexy, raw, amazing. A passionate story that shows that life isn't just always looking and feeling good and being like the pages of a high fashion magazine, but that overwhelming heart-wrenching joy is possible after all.

I feel as if I want to, no I MUST read absolutely everything by this author.

This is a story about Maria, I have to say Maria does exist, so this is basically a real story with the names changed and probably some details too. Anyhow Maria suffered some heartbreak not a big deal really, but she decides that's enough and shuts her heart off, she is just 22 years old, she is bored of the life in her small town somewhere in the countryside in Brazil and travels to Rio de Janeiro where she meets a man who offers her employment as a samba dancer in Switzerland, she accepts, and the book unfolds in Switzerland, however wherever she goes, the life become monotonous. Maria is a woman who has high expectations of life and is no content with routine or mediocrity, the opinions of the people of her town are important to her too, she doesn't want to be a losser, whatever that is in her opinion, she wants to be economically succesful. She becomes a prostitute while in Switzerland, but you'll have to read the book for the whole story.
What I got out of this book is that people can do crazy things when they get fed up with routines and life doesn't meet their expectations, life can become monotonous and we can become disenchanted with reality, but we can be either constructive or destructive in search for a new meaning in life, however if we do mess up, there is always second chances and the gift of redemption.
This book is not for everybody, its content is very strong. It does has a positive message, and tips to deal with self destrutive behaviours.

There are two reasons why I chose this book to read. Reason number one is because Paulo Coelho wrote it, and I became a fan of his work when I read "The Alchemist." The second reason is because I first heard of the Valkyries on a televison show. I had hoped to sit down to a reading of immense enjoyment. I was disappointed.
I believe in order to fully understand and enjoy "The Valkyries", you must be on a different level of spiritual enlightment and be open to strange expressions of faith and of hope and of love. Paulo writes of his experiences in the Mojave Desert searching for his angel through first a young man and then leather wearing, biker running women. Will you find love, faith, and hope with these types of elements? I have no idea. For each person, I suppose it is different.
For me this novel left unexplainable ideals. I wanted more of a description of the channeling, the rituals. What were they feeling? Describe what the second mind is in more detail. Is it the conscious, is it deeper, did I miss the description all together? I didn't find it fullfilling, and I was extremely disappointed.
I will add this, the "The Valkyries" is a true story according to Paulo Coelho. He admits to adding two fictional details in his accounts, but overall it is a true story. If you like to read about soul searching journies, this will do it.
Joy.

Having read Coelho's "The Alchemist" and now "Eleven Minutes," I have two words to describe his work: trite and beautiful. "Eleven Minutes" (which refers to the average duration of the sexual act) reads like the Julia Roberts movie spin-off, now transferred to exotic locations (Brazil and Geneva). This script's star is Maria, a naive Brazilian secretary, who seeks adventure, money and a husband but ends up a prostitute in a Geneva men's club. For the most part, Maria's forays into paid sex sound more like dating in any large city. Of course she just "falls" into the scene when she signs up to be a model and earns a pretty sum sleeping with a potential employer. Figuring out this is an easy way to make money, Maria ditches her regular job and becomes a lady of the night. We only hear of her adventures with two young, rich, good looking clients, one of whom opens up her world in a sexual way, and the other (also rich, echoes of the Pretty Woman movie here) she falls in love with. Hate to be a spoiler, but this isn't the whole story. It's really about Coelho and his sympathetic view of prostitutes as just regular women (aren't most of us after adventure, money and love) or, more cynically perhaps, we are all just whores. As a novel, it is better written than many on the shelf; fast paced and easy to read, it doesn't eat up all your time. Unlike Pretty Woman, Maria never gets roughed up, nor is she prey to the drugs, abuse and exploitation of most of her skin trade sisters. Although a titillating post-modern fairy tale about the oldest profession, Coelho's fantasies might better have been kept to himself.

It appears to me that Paulo explores feminine sexuality through the lens of it being a unification with God. it is interesting to observe a man exploring a woman's sexuality in such a spiritual light. This is unique and I wish more male authors would do the same. Female sexuality is deeply rooted in the spiritual, and when that gets taken away, covered up, robbed, hidden, etc, so much pain, perversion, and suffering results. Paulo explores that as well, in such an eloquent and creative manner.

-Rivka Edery, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Author of: "Hear Me Sing: Book I" (2016)
“Trauma and Transformation: A 12-Step Guide” (2013)

The best thing I can say about reading this book is that when it was done, I wanted to read more.

It's not "Moby Dick." It's not "100 Years of Solitude." You will not feel you're reading a dictionary (or a thesaurus, for that matter). Quite frankly, I believe there's a time and place for all well-written books. And this is definitely one of those, with an appeal to a wide range of audiences.

Mr. Coelho's candid simplicity allowed me to open my eyes in my own life, and not many books have done that for me. I would highly recommend it for anyone who can be open-minded about sex and love (the book has some sexually charged moments and it's certainly not puritanical). Interesting stuff. After the opening line, and knowing Mr. Coelho's previous writing, I wasn't sure about this one -- but within pages, he had drawn me in. Again.

The book made me consider how open I am to new experiences. Whether I have the faith in myself to leap, to trust that I'll come out okay on the other side. Whether I'm afraid to take risks. Whether I'm consciously blocking parts of my life out of fear. And no, I'm not talking about sex -- the decisions Maria makes (or doesn't) somehow became an interesting parallel to other parts of my life. It's definitely something I'll keep on my bookshelf and open again for another read in the future. In fact, I've suggested it to my boyfriend already.

For the full review: http://lovewritingadventure.com/2014/06/30/review-eleven-minutes/

As a reader, you have to go into this novel with the right mindset. If you are looking for complex, realistic characters, go elsewhere. If you are looking for believable plot and dialogue, go elsewhere. If you’re looking for an exploration of sensuality and the meaning of human physical relationships and don’t mind a strong dose of authorial judgment, this is the book for you. One thing Coelho does well, and that all of us writers can take away from his writing is sex scenes. In Eleven Minutes there are a couple of explosive scenes (including some BDSM) that never once struggle for ways to say “penis” or “vagina”. He *gasp* uses the actual words. It was also interesting to see a focus on sexual technique and a discussion of how plenty of women struggle to experience orgasm from penetration (a nice change from the more idealistic versions of sex many romance novels present). This may be the only realistic part of the novel, however.

The Valkyries is a metaphysical tale, very much in the spirit of James Redfield, only this epic tale is authentic.
This is Paulo Coelho's astonishing true story of his encounter with darkness, his search for the light, and the seeking of his personal angel. He chronicles his journey from Brazil, with his wife Chris, and their 40-day sojourn in the Mojave Desert, seeking the Valkyries. The Valkyries were rumored to be able to speak and to see their angels. Having fought a battle with darkness, Paulo has redeemed his life and is a seeker of the light. Paulo was also told that "people wind up killing what they love most" as he seeks to rectify certain, if not all, areas of his life.
This book is journey of faith, of trust, of forgiveness, of love, of self-discovery, and of battling the darkness within ourselves, and wanting to change. As Paulo states, "Faith is a different conquest, and it requires daily combat in order to maintained." His faith is tested to the very end, as he seeks contact with his angels. His journey within transforms him as well as transforming his wife at the same time. Their two soul journeys will inspire you.
"We are responsible for everything that happens in this world. We are the warriors of the light. With the strength of our love and our will, we can change our destiny, as well as the destiny of many others." In this age of angel sightings, angel occurrences are happening with intense frequency. It is as if God is sending his messengers with a message and that message if one of love. The stories being written give hope to those in need of hope and bring home the message that there is another way - love.
"If on the other hand, we accept all that is wrong about us - and despite it, believe that we are desiring of a happy life - then we will have thrown open an immense window that will allow Love to enter. Little by little, our defects will disappear, because one who is happy can look at the world only with love - the force that regenerates everything that exists in the universe."
This is an amazing book, which will cause you to think and revaluate parts of your life. I read the book in one sitting and had to keep going with it till the very end. If you are on a spiritual journey or even on a transforming journey at this point in your life, this is one book that you will want to read. As Paulo says, "God is love, generosity and forgiveness; if we believe this, we will never allow our weakness to paralyze us." I highly recommend this book.

Its the most easy-to-gasp and the simplest among those many feel-good books that I've read. Definitely a must read! Anyone of any age can relate. This book is about a young girl from a Brazilian village Maria, Maria's first innocent brushed with love leave her heart-broken, convincing her at a tender age that "love is a terrible thing that will make you suffer." When a chance meeting in Rio takes her to Geneva, she dreams of finding fame and fortune. Instead, she ends up working as a prostitute. Drifting farther and farther away from love, she develops a fascination with sex. But her despairing view of love will be put to the test when she meets a handsome young painter and must choose between pursuing a path of darkness - sexual pleasure for its own sake - or risking everything to find her own "inner light" and the possibility of a "sacred" sex in the context of love.

Paulo Coehlo is one of my favorite authors. His understanding of the human condition is second to none and he has a way of making the weighty existential angst most of us go through but are chagrin to share pleasurably seductive to read. But with "Eleven Minutes," he overshoots his mark.

Coehlo does explore the nature of sex and love, as promised, but doesn't really nail down a opinion or point of view on either. This book is best as a generator of thought, a key to unlock your own musings on sex and love. But unfortunately, Coehlo doesn't add as much to the dialog as just repeat ideas that have already been voiced. However, he does this in his typically lovely, lyrical, and heady way that it's hard to take objection to such a well-crafted echo of things that have been said before.

And this isn't to say there isn't value in "Eleven Minutes" for there is. For me, the most memorable parts were when protagonist Maria explores a sado-masochistic relationship and how it seduces and calls to her, and her true love Ralf's admonitions about associating pain with love. This is a welcome warning and to me, perhaps the most important point in Coehlo's book.

My second favorite device/theme in this book is how Coehlo details Maria's journey away from innocence, beginning with lost opportunities, lost love, and unrequited love. The powerful forces these unfulfilled emotions have on the human heart can not be understated. The first third of the book explores these themes.

Eleven Minutes is an adequate and lovingly crafted treatise on one woman's journy from innocence to sexual exploration to jadedness to hope. I recommend this book, as it's a quick and lovely read. I rated it three stars because in my opinion it doesn't match the majesty of Coehlo's other output.

Although I consider The Alchemist as one of the best books I have ever read, Coelho's effort with The Valkyries disappoints me somewhat. The story of him and his wife Chris crossing the Californian desert in search of their individual angels is told in a truthful, heartfelt way. The story is beautifully told as only Paulo can.
I appreciate the honesty and openness Paulo demonstrates by sharing his true story with us. I don't belong The Tradition, and don't profess to know its secrets. Fundamentally I disagree with Paulo in this book. The main point I do disagree with is that he states that only angels can show us the way to paradise, no one else can. I think if Paulo read the New Testament a bit more carefully, he would realise that this is not necessarily so. Angels are indeed real, they are messengers, they minister us, we do get angels of Death and Wrath, they fight for what is right, etc. Yet Paulo also mentions that in the kingdom of angels there is no good and evil. But, since they are fighting for us, how can this be true? Since angels fight in the spiritual world, there must be a good and evil side. There are a lot of basic truths that I agree with Paulo, and I think that those make the book worthwhile. Unfortunately it does not compare to the quality of The Alchemist. I found this a tedious read, even though I'm very fond of his writing.

"For the Warrior there is no such thing as an impossible love."
"The spiritual energy of the Path uses justice and patience to prepare your spirit."
"accumulating love brings luck, accumulating hatred brings calamity. Anyone who fails to recognize problems leaves the door open for tragedies to rush in."
"The Warrior of the Light gives before he is asked."
"Convince your enemy that he will gain very little by attacking you. This will diminish his enthusiasm."
Warrior of the Light - by Paulo Coelho, inspires us to embrace the unexpected and uncertainty in life, and to follow our dreams!
Warrior of the Light best read together by The Alchemist - by Paulo Coelho

Maria is a young woman that desperately wants to find love and be loved but has no idea how to make this a reality. As Maria enters womanhood, she learns life and love are full of risks and choices. She finds herself in precarious situations and satiates her curiosity while trying to find her true essence. As her journey continues she discovers and comes to term with her sexuality and has a better understanding of the woman she is and the woman she could be. Maria has held herself hostage for so long she has to break down the walls so she can find happiness and fight off loneliness her walls have caused her. You witness Maria's fears subside as she metamorphoses into a woman that surrenders and embraces herself and all that life has to offer. Maria learns that life's foundation is based on risks and choices.

This was an ok book. I feel for Coelho, tough to follow The Alchemist - in my opinion, everything seems to fail in comparison.

Maria was more than a prostitute. The story was more than the sexual nature if you initially perused the pages. The book was really about self enlightenment and that life as a whole is about risks and choices.

Add this to your TBR list and see what you discover after reading its entirety.

Unfortunately, I don't think this book is as great as The Alchemist or Veronica Decides to Die. In general, I am a great admirer of Paolo Coelho's work. I enjoy the simplicity of his style a lot and the topics he chooses for his novels. But while this book is interesting and challenging, it is too mystical for my taste.

The book is even more fantasy oriented than the Alchemist, introducing us into an unbelievable world of angels and saints. Here, the author sets himself on a journey to see and talk to his guardian angel. He is accompanied by his wife, who balances Paolo's faith, as she is skeptical about her husband's practices and faiths.

We are introduced into an occult world, a context full of mystical rituals, some of them quite frightening. In the Mojave Desert, Paolo meets the Valkyries, a band of bold women dressed in leather riding on motorbikes, who spread the word of angels.

Despite the many unbelievable experiences which give you the feeling that the book is only for the "initiated ones". I still believe it is enchanting; a lot of this charm comes from the fact that is it very personal.
I recommend this book only to the very mystical personalities.

As a writer myself, I am amazed by the talent and brilliance of Coelho. I do not believe you can learn to write like this. It is pure inspiration writing from a higer source that Coelho is in touch with. This book was certainly a masterpiece and enjoyable every second of my reading. Couldnt wait to come back to it after putting it down. 11 minutes discussed and explores the biggest area in all our lives sex and love. The story is enlightening and exquisitely crafted by the best writer that I have ever come in contact with. Thanks again Paulo, wish I had what you have. Perhaps it will come along in my search for excellence in writing. Highly recommended. Im now reading Coelos latest book. Ive read them all and will keep reading as long as he keeps writing.

Young woman travels from northern Brazil to Rio and is immediately "discovered" by a man who invests thousands of dollars in sending her to Switzerland even though he gains nothing from it. Despite her provinciality and lack of education, she learns nearly fluent French within six months and is somehow earning $1000 a day.

It was hard to understand the point of this book, except that Coelho apparently has some need to show his understanding of how a woman feels about love and sex, probably in hopes to bed down some of them in his increasing old age. (He very inappropriately dedicates this X-rated book to an 11-year-old girl he has never met.)

Coelho's characters and plot are shallow and not at all believable, or even interesting, and his writing style is beyond awful - tacky, hackneyed, and full of unrelated parenthetical digressions in which he tries to insert some factual trivia. If there has ever been a worse writer in the history of the known universe, it would be interesting to know who it is.

There are some great insights into the human condition, much like in The Alchemist, but this story is bizarre to the point where its bizarreness detracts from the message being conveyed.

In The Alchemist the storyline served as a vehicle to convey deeper human truths, and these truths were the point of the book. In The Valkyries, the storyline itself seemed like the point. It seemed like Coelho wanted the world to know the weird magic/drugs/psychedelic jaunts he's been on; it's 187 pages ripped out of his personal journal with no real point. The deeper human truths felt like a literary afterthought.

If you haven't read The Alchemist, read that first. This book would have spoiled me on the author. I'd give it a pass.

This is the first Coelho novel I've read. I had been meaning to pick up the Alchemist, but during a flight from Toronto to Seattle a friend on the plane loaned me this book. It is an easy read (I was done the book before we landed), but I think I may have gotten more out of it if I hadn't sped through it so quickly. The book is a mystical and spiritual journey of a man who heads into the Mojave desert with his wife in search of an answer - how does one talk to and see their gaurdian angel. Sounds weird - right? Well I thought so too. I kept changing my mind as to whether I thought this whole book was a bunch of gobley-gook to thinking that perhaps this could be real. I remember having the same mixed feelings while reading the Celestine Prophecy. But, I wasn't quite hooked by this book - after finishing the book, I can't say that it has had any sort of lasting effect on me that I've been told it has had on others. I'd like to think I read it with an open mind (which is definitely required) but, as I said before, perhaps I just sped through it too quickly not giving enough thought to some of the ideas being presented before me. So...do I think this is a Hokey Tale or a Spirtual Guide?....I think I'll need to read this book again to decide. All in all - this book is worth the read - read it and decide for yourself.

I must admit that I'm not a big fan of Paolho Coelho. I've read 'The Alchimist' and 'Veronica decides to die' and formed quite a negative opinion about the author although there were some good moments in these books. What I didn't like most was his preachy and simple style of writing. Furthermore most of his books are very similar, only the context of the story and the characters vary. 'Chasing the dream' could be a slogan for all Coelho's writings.

I decided to read his latest book '11 Minutes' because I was told it was different and that the main characted was prostitute, so I made associations that finally Coelho has focused on the dark aspects of 'chasing the dream'. I would say that I was mostly right - maybe that's one of the things that made me like this book.

Maria is an ordinary beautiful Brasilian girl that goes to Switzerland to become a dancer, model or what could help in fulfilling her dream. But in the end she starts earning money as a prostitute. From that moment on the reader has a chance to enter her inner world - her thoughts about morality, about men and woman relations, and mostly about sex. Some very interesting areas are explored like why a man is ashamed when he pays for love? Isn't it the woman who should feel shame because sells her body? And so on... Maria is very prone to fall deep into mastering her behaviour towards men so that she could become professional prostitute. She really has a great potential in that. But she stumbles upon an artist that she falls in love with. That is one of the things that a professional prostitute shoud not let happen. This is the main crossroad for her - which one to choose - the profession which could help her earn enough money to go back home and buy a farm for her parents or to accept the true love? This is not an easy choice for her and it takes her quite a lot of time to take it.

What astonished me pleasantly was the depth to which Coelho explores a woman's character and soul - much successfully, I think. Words about his knowledge of woman's heart prove to be not only empty talks.

It was definately interesting to me to read this book despite some moments that I find little boring.

I loved "The Alchemist". The idea of pursuit, and ultimate achievement told in fable manner generated both optimism and hope for me. ANd the theme of the story "When You Know What You Want, The Whole World Conspires With You To Achieve It" is one of life's most beuatiful lessons.
"Warrior of the Light" expands on the themes Coehlo set forth in "The Alchemist", providing everyday lessons for reaching the enlightened status of The Warrior. It's a convenient to carry pocket sized manual, and is great to pick up for a moment's inspiration in the pursuit of dreams. The style of the manual is more of a meditation than The Alchemist, and the book is broken down into short paragraph form, allowing the reader to take a lesson, think over its implications and incorporate the action into daily living. Among the many lessons covered in "Warrior" are the value of failure (a key to all of Coehlo's writings), respect for the universal elements, living through your dreams, and acceptance of nature.
I keep two copies of "Warrior" handy - one on my desk at work, and one on my nightstand at home. It is a great book to simply open, absorb and meditate on. And the lessons of the Warrior make for great living on a daily basis.

This was my first book by Paulo Coelho. A friend let me borrow his copy and so I really had no expectations.

Mr. Coelho's writing, in this book, moves along very smoothly and I never once was bored.

The story is not about a prostitue, though that is what the main character does for a living. The story is about making choices, about searching for love and refusing to search for love. This story is about taking risks, some calculated, some spontaneous.

In the end love does indeed conquer all reason because it is the only reason. Why run away from love just because it hurts sometimes. The pleasure is worth the pain.

At the end of this book I felt very encouraged and happy. Yes, there was a happy ending, though the plot was not exactly predictable. Either way it was a very good book and I recommend it to anyone.

I can accept this book as either a novel and a fictional fable - or as a non-fiction and true life experience - but not both. The back cover leads me to believe that it is a fable (Quote from The Detroit Free Press)It is said to be a "novel" by Booklist - yet, inside my hardback cover jacket, is a message from the author telling me it is a true life story and a real experience. Inside the book reads like a novel. I am not sure what I am lead to believe; fact or fiction? It cannnot be both. If it is a novel then I give it five stars for being creative and bold - if it is non-fiction I give it three stars for an enlightening but very strange life story - but as for being listed in both genres - I have to rate it no higer than three stars because I have no clue what I read.

I enjoyed certain parts of the book regardless - but I think whoever is marketing it needs to take a stand and list the book as to whatever it is and make it loud and clear for the readers. I am sorry - but I was confussed. There are just too many authors out there right now not telling us what fact and ficton is. So - what is this really - do any reviewers or readers have an answer for sure?

How amazing that Coelho purposefully went looking for the challenge to find the light through his own darkness. Most people stumble on this journey because of some event in their lives. Paulo goes seeking this challenge and ends up with a group of bikies. He knows how to make a tale interesting and not too confronting. The messages are there if you wish to see them, otherwise it can be just an interesting story. I feel Paulo is always pushing his own boundaries to see what he will discover for himself about himself. It takes courage to do that and it takes conviction and belief in the Divine.
Dr Gunta Krumins-Caldwell author of On Silver Wings

Whittling 15 down to 5...I propose that the top 5 quotes from this book are:

5. "A Warrior never picks fruit while it is still green." (p.40)

4. "[A Warrior of the Light] rarely discusses his plans [for] he knows that whenever he talks about a dream, he uses a little bit of the energy from that dream in order to do so...A Warrior of the Light knows the power of words." (p.98)

3. "[A Warrior of the Light's] soul is as free as the clouds in the sky, but he is committed to his dream. On his freely chosen path, he often has to get up earlier than he would like, speak to people from whom he learns nothing, make certain sacrifices...[but] he knows that an open oven bakes no bread." (p.47)

2. "The great victory, which appears so simple today, was the result of a series of small victories that went unnoticed." (p.123)

...and my pick for the No.1 quote is...

1. " `I've been through all this before,' he says to his heart.
" `Yes, you have been through all this before,' replies his heart. `But you have never been beyond it.' " (p.10)

From The Uncustomary Book Review.

As a pretty, young teenager in Brasil, Maria, partly by accident and perhaps partly by design, gets recruited for a prostitution ring in Europe. She works in a restaurant/bar with other prostitutes, earns some money, gains some independence but feels yearnings toward greater things. She becomes torn between someone she loves and someone who offers a strange,fascinating but dangerous area of sexuality and sensation. Ultimately she must choose. The book is based on conversations Coelho had with a woman who led such a life and the book reflects this authenticity and avoids the sensationalism of the subject for more thought-provoking ideas.

I have read two of Paulo Coehlo's books (The Alchemist was the other one) and that's about it for me. His writing is so simple and so limited in description that one does not get to know the characters and surely does not get to care about them very much. Eleven Minutes (the time for the sex act) traces (and I mean traces)the heroine from her pre-pubescent experiments to her full fledged prostition to her fairy book ending. It is not informative, not believable and not interesting. It makes one wonder if Coehlo ever had sex or was in the places he fails to describe adequately in the book.

Coehlo has become a very popular author so my second try at his work was intended to help me discover what I missed before. Both books were a waste of time. This is popular literature at its worst. It is the kind of paperback that sells well at airports and train stations. I wish I could find some redeeming features in his writing but I am afraid I can't. Goodbye, Paulo.

all coelho novels are full of pop-philosphy,they are all semi-didactic, thus, intended for young adults.i used to like him when i was in high school.but i kept on reading-i mean i read real literature, classics, potential classics, booker shortlisted contemporary marvels,almost none was a best-seller of course.but they enriched my mind-my soul.i grew with them.however, i cant say the same for coelho. his style is almost formulatic.boring,unlikeable, know-all characters (every single person appearing in the book, in the book is wise like jedi),uninteresting story.skip it- unless you are on a plane and got nothing else to do.

After having read "The Alchemist," "Veronika Decides to Die," and "By the River Piedra," I must say that I was rather disappointed by Paulo Coelho's latest "Eleven Minutes". All of his usual themes about adventure, living and loving fully are reiterated, but without new creative fire to give them ingenuity--they have become hackneyed. Yes, he does flesh out more fully his view of the sacred nature of sex and its possibility to become a divine experience for an individual or a couple, but he does it at a literary expense.

His characters are not believable, but are thin guises for Coelho's communication of his thoughts on the human condition. His attempts at irony are a bit too contrived, he rather mocks his readership with their jejune quality. And by this time as a Coelho fan you know that the ending will only bring an ending that resolves all dilemmas and gives one an uplifted view on life.

I am not necessarily saying that these sorts of resolutions are to be always criticized; indeed, the feel-good component of his work is what has led me back to him so frequently. However, when dealing with sex and prostitution and sadism, I think it is perhaps irresponsible of Coelho to make so light of these issues. His protagonist, a Brazilian sex workers named Maria emerges from her encounters with whips and countless sexual clients unscathed and even ebulliently instilled with love of life. How many prostitutes in a foreign land would be able to waltz out of a novel and proclaim themselves so free?

"That is why he is a Warrior of the Light, because he has been through all this and yet has never lost hope of being better than he is." -from the book.

I love how this book shows the good and bad of our human nature and blesses it all. We all have within us the light and the dark. Which one will we allow to guide us? We are whole because of both.

This book is encouraging and truthful, and full of wisdom. As you read this, you will take a look inside yourself and acknowledge what is there. This is a good book to keep out where you can pick it up and read something from it often. It's great to keep by your bedside for light reading before bed, or in the morning when you get up.

"In order to have faith in his own path, he does not need to prove that someone else's path is wrong." -one of my favorite passages from the book.

I hope you'll read and enjoy this too!

I had not heard of the author before a friend recommended this book. Books that move me to tears are few and far between, but this book did. Mr. Coelho has a spartan writing style that adds elegance to this work. He has a poignant way of addressing so many issues we must confront in life and love. His story has crystalized so many thoughts in my mind that I would not know where to begin describing them in print. In short, his book encompasses so much from love, to life to Rousseau to the juxtaposition of sex and love and the contrast between Switzerland and Brazil. Maria serves as an amazing character in leading us along the train tracks of this tale. His quote from Ecclisiastes near the end brings it all home.

This is a book full of words of wisdom, and from the very first page you realize that this is something everyone can relate too. In each of us there is a warrior of light, hiding from our deepest fears. We are all Warriors, whether we believe in it or not, because we are all longing to find our dreams. Here is another highly recommended book you must read Dream Energy 2012 (Dream Inception Series: Discover the secrets to unleash your dream potential.)

As I finished The Valkyries I find myself more and more disillusioned with Paulo Coelho. As I learn more and more about the man behind the books, through his own books, I find I don't like what I see.

He described it as The Hunter and The Farmer type people in Valkyries. It was in the words of his wife, but it was there. Thing is, even after seeing that reality in himself, I don't think he took the right message from it.

He sees himself as The Hunter--going off storming across the country, across the world on this nobel quest. He's spent his life trying to be a priest (Jesuit?) and stopping, getting into Wicca, into Knights Templar (seeing them as holy when many others see a much darker side), into the Tradition. He walks across Spain, he goes into the American desert seeking enlightenment, he hangs with biker chicks on a "holy" mission. And he continues to feel that "living" is running around doing these ridiculous rituals, many of which are made up by him or these weird groups. You could stand back and see him in the same way we look at the Incas, making human sacrifices as part of their sacred rituals---it is bizarre, puerile and misguided.

In short, he continues to confuse DOING with KNOWING. And to know, all you have to do is shut up, be quiet and realize what you already know. You don't have to run off anywhere to do it, you don't have to GO anywhere, you don't have to "fight the good fight"--there is no fight to be had, except within himself.

The lesson of the Hunter, him, and the Farmer, his wife--was that they were attracted to each other because they both needed to assimilate some of the other in themselves. HE needed to stop hunting and just be. SHE needed sometimes to be open to experiencing that which is put in front of her. And all of it was really HIM not seeing the lesson in front of him.

In Valkyries he kept indicating that Heaven (or his equivalent) would only be "open" for a certain time. And like many right now, he decided that only some of us, the enlightened few, would make it to the evolution of the planet, while the unenlightened masses would go through some sort of purging process.

If you understand Light and that it exists for us to see, to feel, for ALL, you couldn't entertain any idea of Us and Them. THEY wouldn't leave anyone behind because they aren't learning lessons fast enough. Any scenario that makes an Us and Them means you haven't yet seen that we all come from One.

On to his inability, unwillingness to deal with his own excessive appetites--for women, specifically, and probably for booze. He continues, through all the books, to acknowledge his own filandering, and then goes on to justify it in numerous ways. She doesn't really mind, they have an open marriage, guys are meant to "notice" other women, women and men are made to be attracted. He is always actively plotting the conquest of the next woman or women, falling "in love" with the woman of the moment. But somehow he still "loves" his wife in a special way and expects her to just accept that. He encourages his wife (and himself, of course)to sleep around, and never asked questions because he didn't want questions himself. The fact is, he has never come to terms with his own excessive appetites. These kind of issues block you from the Light, keep you from communication with spirit (Angels in his terminology)--but he hasn't yet really grasped that concept.

I did disagree with his terminology, although I think we each get a life view from our society. I have noticed that those raised Hindu or Muslim or Catholic or Protestant--each have their own predisposition to believe in certain ways.

But, with great pride in his knowledge, Coelho names off four kinds of beings. One is of spirits passed (who have incarnated). He blows them off as being basically unworthy because they're just "men" like he is. [Ah, yes, but these "men" have lived many, many lives, progressed perhaps to no more incarnations. Is their guidance worth nothing? Isn't that the majority of spirit guidance--those who were once carnate because they know the difficulties of being in body? Make sense to me, but he dismisses them as inferior knowledge.]

Next he talks about Angels--his whole book (Valkyries) is about finding his, which is apparently like a Master Guide in my terminology. My understanding (and it can be as wrong as his) is that Angels have never incarnated. To me, those who have never incarnated might not be the best Guides. Then there were two other categories of beings--oh, Saints. What the....? Saints, who become saints only through a religion of some kind? Who were men also, maybe not even really good men, but maybe men who had influence in the church. And were the stories of a particular saint ever right?

I do accept that people who pray to specific angels (Archangel Gabriel, Michael) might be contacting some spirit. But are they all communicating with the same Gabriel, Michael? It probably doesn't matter, but likely not.

Just like William Buhlman talks about there being a virtually stable "thoughtform" in astral that is the Pearly Gates--literally, because so many people believe it and visualize it. But it is, nevertheless, a thoughtform also--not a "reality" (whatever that means).

In earlier novels I was disturbed by the violent images in what he was doing. Why a Sword? What spiritual aspirant needs an instrument of war? He refers to it as war, as there being righteous wars (I strongly disagree here), that there was a justification for fighting one's enemies. He calls it "the good fight". It's more of the Hunter here--just an excuse to be active and not to be within his own soul, higher self. Had he spent more time there, these might have been real novels of discovery not Tipping at Windmills all over the world. And maybe I'm reading too much here, but these novels (Valkyries, Pilgrimage) might have been when he was still in search of power through magic, wicca--and not the White Witch kind of way.

Coelho mentions that he "did" astral travel and he didn't find any passed souls, no higher spirits. Which says to me his energy, his own vibration was not high enough to get out of astral--an indication to him that he should work on those negative-inducing qualities that block out the Light for him.

[Over the holidays I watched some movie about a guy with tinnitus (ringing in the ears). It is driving him crazy and his girlfriend finally plays the "complement" note to what he hears and it wipes out the sound. She says that there is a complementary color for every color (you can see that when you close your eyes), and there is a complement to every note. And that made me wonder if, as souls, we don't "see" the Light or feel the vibations around us are because we are putting out the negative complement ourselves, blocking ourselves from hearing or seeing. Just a mind detour.]

The scene at the end of Valkyries was cr*p to me--the idea that he had to See his angel, and finally accepting military jets as the "sign". Now, he'd made the distinction earlier that spirit can work through other things--people, animals, and that one could just hear their Angels (but he'd made it clear that wasn't good enough for him. He wanted to See these beings.)

But Coelho, lagging behind his wife, who already talked to her angel just by being herself, had to find a shortcut, a way out. His experience in the desert was no different from experiences any of the rest of us have when we feel spirit strongly through nature or whatever is in front of us. But he lies to himself, saying that he finally "saw" his Angel in the form of light and jets--so that he could end his adventure. Same with his Pilgrimage---he ended it prematurely and took a bus when because he couldn't find the sword.

He admitted in the Valkyries that the song lyrics (and I think he implied even some of his earlier books) were written in pursuit of the Devil, of evil power--but that the public was so dumb, they followed him anyway. He happily took it to the bank and continued to write. So, in my mind, this is not the type of writer I want to emulate --or enrich. He doesn't deserve it. His impulses were wrong to begin with. It's one thing if someone is well-meaning but missing the mark. But to intentionally be pursuing evil, write about it and then profit from it--maybe explains why he is so apologetic about his owb success. He truly doesn't deserve it. There are far more honest and deserving voices out there.

Having not read any of Paulo Coelho's novel prior to this one, I cannot say whether it is typical or not. However, in the forward, he apologizes to some readers that have praised previous works, that this novel is not quite like the rest. Regardless, it is an excellent read.
Maria is a young introspective Brazilian woman, who also records in her diaries, her thoughts on the nature of the world from a very young age. Very young by not responding to a boy's request for a pencil, she felt she lost an opportunity for her eventual soul mate. She is a very young woman intent on fulfilling her destiny of one day being a wife and mother. As with many people, life often brings much different than what we have planned and it works out that Maria ends up going to Geneva, Switzerland to pursue fame and fortune. All the while Maria is living her life, she is noting what she experiences and sees and is trying to piece together how life and love work.
Unfortunately, her plans in Switzerland fall through and Maria is presented an opportunity quite unplanned for. She enters the world of prostitution. Maria quickly learns the rules of the game. In her diaries, she is concerned about the affect her profession is having on her perception of love. She theorizes that so many people put so much importance on a single act, so much fear, planning and importance, that when boiled down, the act is a mere 11 minutes. Hence the title of the book.
While working as a prostitute and justifying its separation of sex from love, Maria meets a artist that professes his disinterest in sex, in fact he says he is bored with it. Maria suspecting he is no different than the others, just using different lines, initially continues the friendship at a distance, all the while suspecting his motives. Her artist friend always comments on "her light" which he can said he could see upon their first meeting when he sketched her in a restaurant. Each time they meet their conversation is cloaked in much symbolism as the Road to Santiago and the significance of certain things. As time goes on Maria due to her association with the artist is drawn into some of the club she works for special clientele and explores a side of sex that she finds intriguing and is not exactly part of her theory as yet.
Without going further and ruining the story, Maria's running dialogue in her mind and in the diaries she writes shows and intelligent albeit superstitious young woman's way of dealing with the sex trade's disassociation of sex with love. Her thoughts and theories are intriguing and quite compelling. Her conversations with the older librarian she befriends and the young artist are interesting in both what is included and omitted from her conversation and the reasoning why. Also you are provided with some of the librarian's thoughts and feelings from an entirely different prospective. This was as revealing in a different sense.
Some might find the material a bit to risqué, however, given the fact the story clearly is about a prostitute, this should not be surprising. In many ways it is more tame than some of the prime time TV shows.
I find the book compelling in the sense that it treats the subject as most people would when thinking about what to do, the moral justification, the concerns, the mysticism about the way to or not to act. There are milestones in a person's life and the character Maria clearly had a sense of when several were met in her life.
I would definitely read more from this writer.

This is a great book with everything you want. I've read some of the reviewers saying he writes too simple and therefor it is not a good book. But the simplicity is the strength of Coelho's writing. Makeing something like prostitution possible to grasp and comprahend and without laying out pages and pages of how horrible the situation is (with this I don't mean prostitution isn't a terrible thing - it truly is, just that it is nice to finally see a prostitute not as a helpless victim but just a womam trying to survive even though many in reality might be victims]. Read this book, you will not regret it.

WARNING: read The Alchemist first before reading this.

Warrior of the Light is not a fiction, except for the introduction and the ending, but you will likely ponder about it anyway. It's a spiritual companion for The Alchemist, therefore after you have read The Alchemist you will need to read Warrior of the Light. If you have read The Alchemist, congratulations, you have joined many people, a community, that have had their view of life improved after reading it. Now you can go ahead and read Warrior of the Light just to enhance the way you will live your life.

In Response to Kosovar in New York: Sex is merely the vehicle Coelho is using to prove his points and most of them (or at least one of them) isn't/aren't as lewd as you think it is. Sex is humans' mean to intimacy and "oneness", either with God or the person you love.

The description of Maria's early sexual exploration in the beginning of the novel wasn't to stir any arousal within us. If one really understood the intentions of writers, one would know that it was merely blocks in order to build the overall plot and meaning of the book.

People who are disgusted with the highly volatile nature of the sex are like the people who frown down on the same subject in "Eleven Minutes" like the librarian. But if one decides to delve deeper into the novel, one realizes that Coelho's usage of sex isn't all about orgies, XXX, or other disgusting activities which only exploit the meaning of sex. It's about humans' (in this case, woman's) realization of the significance of their inner being, of being able to feel important when the other sex understands our body, and thus understands our soul.

I wish Kosovar would get over his/her difficulties with such things (sex) which because of society and history's oppression, loses its underlying meaning of mankind and their closeness to God.

Surprisingly, I still don't know what this book was about. Too short to really develop a character, too abrupt to set an atmosphere, but too long to be a short read you can quickly decide to put away. It talks quite a bit about sex, a bit about love, but doesn't really develop either of these subjects. It lacks the depth of insight into the many variations of love and sex that are the part of our varied race. It focuses on stereotypes (there are three types of men, there are three types of prostitutes, etc), and as such, may be even brutal in bringing our attention to the reality of life as many see it. However, BECAUSE it focuses on stereotypes, it paints everything in black and white and misses out on the grey hues. And life, for the most part, is not about black or white, but about everything that is in-between.

It presents only one point of view of a very young person who prefers to see the glass half empty. One a positive side, the story does end letting the reader know that life has so much more to offer, and those taking the risk may be rewarded for it.

I haven't learned much from reading of the novel. It was probably worth the time, but dissapointing in the long run. Just another novel, but I've seen others do a better job at exploring human sexuality and love. So, no big "O" for me.

The Warrior of the Light is another great book and an easy delightful read by Paulo Coelho. It's full of wise insights and just as the jacket suggests, it is a companion to The Alchemist. It expounds upon the lessons and answers a few questions that might arise while reading The Alchemist.

Although the story wrapped around the snippets of wisdom was a bit confusing, there were so many good insights (read words to live by). At first I found only a little value in the manual, but as I read on I found myself bookmarking more and more pages. When I returned to these bookmarks to blog about them, I found them even more inspiring.

While I found the wisdom in the book to be very useful and very important, I've rated this book a bit lower than The Alchemist, because it wasn't quite as masterful in using a story to illustrate it's points. It's obvious that Coelho's intention was not to create a story such as in the Alchemist, but I found the lack of story a bit disappointing. I rate The Warrior of the Light at 4 Stars.

In this story, which is purported to be "true", the author and his wife journey to the California dessert so that he can see his guardian angel. Toward this end they journey from town to town with a horde of biker chicks, perform various meditations and pagan rituals, and generally work through their own issues.

The story itself is interesting, but as a Christian I found the religious content disturbing. The author seems wrapped up in an occult-like and mystical form of Christianity that ironically seems to have left Christ out of the equation. Whereas Jesus advocated the banishment of the ego to bring our spirits into agreement with God's will, the type of Christianity we see here is all about self - pagan rituals, creating a feeling, and traveling to another continent to "see" an angel. I'm pretty liberal in my Christian theology, but at it's core Christ's message was one of loving God and loving each other. The Bible tells us that the signs of a Christ-based life are "Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control". But despite the fact that these characters are supposedly highly "spiritual", their lives, at least as they appear in this story, are instead characterized by anxiety, detachment, and underlying hostility amongst themselves.

Furthermore, the author at one point deigns to cast aspersions about the spiritual slumber that the average person is in. I'm the first to admit that modern-day Christianity needs a good kick in the arse, - but (to use one of the lead characters, Valhalla as an example) I don't think leaving our spouses and children, becoming prostitutes, joining a biker gang, and performing odd pagan rituals is an improvement over the status quo.

At the end of the book, the author tacks on a 2 or 3 page dissertation about Jesus and Love that seems strangely incongruent with the story that was just told.

If you haven't read The Alchemist, read that instead of this book. If you have already read The Alchemist read it again instead of this book.

I'm a great fan of this author, I read more than ten book of him, in several language, in this case read this book in the original language Portuguese (ONZE MINUTOS), this book relates the history of Maria, one Brazilian escort girl, Maria born in a poor city in the Brazil, when she was child, she fall in love by a boy, but not have courage to declare her love. The book's discourse about her dreams, fears and the search to find the love of her life; treating with a naked way subjects very hard in the night's life, in this travel she discovers a lot thing very interesting like a business man's behavior, when they are with a prostitute, the pleasure of the pain, and the endless search of the love, in this search knows herself, your body and your mind, and at the same time the wonderful and tragic world of the love. The book have a lot likeness with a other great Brazilian writer Nelson Rodrigues that show in his books the love, sex and death, in its natural state. In nut shell he told "The life like it's "About the author is not necessary to say anything because he sold more than 1000,000 books in fifty idioms, between his books is "The alchemist", "Veronica decide to death" and others, recently he was invited to make a part of Brazilian's letters academy

This is my first Coelho book that I have read recommended to me by a friend. It is a simple book to read, so you'll get done with it fast. Although it is not the best book I have read, it is without a doubt, the most inspiring book.
This book is about Paulo trying to converse with his angel. He brings his wife, Chris, along so that he's not alone basically. But soon Chris starts getting more interested and wants to become more interactive, especially when Paulo discovers the Valkyries--women who ride on motorcycles and preach about angels. The Valkyries is just what Paulo needs because they are the ones that can help him see his angel.
This is a book where you need an open mind. It is a book that a fifth grader can read, but perhaps not understand as well as a high schooler might. Either way, this book is good and I would recommend it to those with open minds and who are in need of something settling to read. A simple book, but not bad at all.

This book was heavily recommended to me by an entire horde of people, so I picked it up expecting truly colossal writing, plot, and shock value. In the first one hundred or so pages, I realized that I was fooled; I was reading little else besides a run-of-the-mill supermarket paperback with a more detailed nod to anatomy.

The book begins as a satire, which is refreshing. Coehlo doesn't take his heroine seriously, and regularly emphasizes just how pitiful, little, and self-indulgent she is. But somewhere in the middle, his amusing passat changes directions - and form - into downright self-righteous verbal trepanning. As the book progresses, we are supposed to feel more empathy towards Maria, an essentially unlikable character.

Coehlo's attempts to philosophize about sex and love also emerge as inadequate. It is enough to watch one quality romcom or even listen to the zeitgeist to arrive at the same conclusion that he arrives at after needless reiteration.

And redundancy is perhaps the book's most annoying feature. Coelho sees it his duty to repeat everything three or four times, often of a very predictable motif, such as that the protagonist misses her beloved when they are apart.

I'm sure this book had incredible potential, but Coelho's zeal to write something "deep" about sex was what destroyed it. And I'm sure that if not for all the unnecessary interjections of "philosophy," it would've been a hundred pages shorter and a few times better.

My belief is this book is written for you to carry along with

your lap top or whatever. It can give you quick insight

into how you are responding to those you encounter.

After all it's all about your response.

It's perfect when you want to take a look at a situation and

just don't want dive deep into it. It can give you some quick

relief and understanding.

I recommend it for anyone on the go and needing a bit of inspiration and clarity.

René Remington

Paulo Coelho's title refers to what his protagonist Maria discovers about the sexual act: it takes only eleven minutes on average to complete and yet people are obsessed with it. The novel begins in Brazil, where young Maria suffers her first unrequited loves and determines that she will never bare her heart again. When an accidental meeting on a Rio beach offers Maria an Swiss adventure, she leaves her Brazilian life behind. Once in Geneva, she becomes a prostitute by night and a consumer of books and facts by day. What Maria learns as she explores both the darkest and the most mundane recesses of desire seems to confirm what she has believed all along, that eleven minutes of pleasure is hardly worth the effort. However, when she meets two extraordinarily different gentlemen who take her to unexpected places within herself, the truth of these eleven minutes is challenged.
The novel begins like a fairy tale - "Once upon a time, there was a prostitute named Maria" - and this opening sentence unfortunately sets a cold, impersonal tone that takes Coelho several chapters to overcome. Although the language retains this removed simplicity throughout, Maria's predicament gradually engages the reader as Maria takes a more active and personal role in the story. Maria, it is clear, is not an "average" prostitute - if there can be such a person - and her unique perspective forms the soul of ELEVEN MINUTES. Her ambition and curiosity distinguish her from not only her colleagues but from everyone else in Geneva.
At times the intellectual discussions of desire and love can get tedious, as Coelho is at his best in the midst of scenes and description, but overall this novel is a lively "fairy tale" with a prostitute as its unlikely heroine. As Coelho notes in his Afterword, the thematic thrust of the novel came to him well before the protagonist and her story, and it shows. Readers who want a strong story and intimate characterization should look elsewhere, since Maria's adventures and discoveries are carefully folded into the novel's concept. Others, though, will find Coelho's newest novel an intriguing exploration of not only those important eleven minutes but also everything that leads up to them.

It's difficult to find Warriors in this era. People with old souls who try and see things for what they are as opposed to what they should be. This book is amazing. I own both the English and French version; which is very well written. I am a huge critic of books and this book is definately one of my favorites along with: Le Guerrier interieure, Shambhala Warrior and the Four Agreements. A book that really disappointed me was "Soul sword"...horrible. If you like books which teach you something about yourself, then you might want to grab this one. Paulo Coelho did it again!

Eleven Minutes is a very intriguing and delicate read. Paulo Coelho took an initiative to speak from a young lady's perspective and have nailed it. The female character goes through many life changing scenarios that forces her to make choices in life that are not traditional, however, it opens many eyes toward why many people are forced to make daunting decisions daily, for the sake of survival. Another great inner-soul-search read! An acquired taste but worth the Eleven Minutes!

The book completely changed my life and how i viewed others through my own filters. The book allowed me to see that only when i open my eyes, that the true wonders present themselves. Coming from a culture of male domination and female-as-2nd-class-citizens, this book taught me that I don't have to listen to any of that and I can create my own life the way I want
Thank you Paulo

This is a wonderful manual that each section can be reflected or meditated on and then used to transform your life according to how deeply you want to delve into the lessons and gain insights. The more we read and reflect on these words of wisdom the more we can learn to understand what it is in our lives that is not working and how we can go about bringing positive change.
Dr Gunta Krumin-Caldwell author of On Silver Wings

This simple book is packed with wisdom of the ages. I highly recommend that you buy it, read it, and keep it next to you. Read a page every morning, and then the same page at night: did you live your day guided by its' message? Try it for size :)
In my book: "Trauma and Transformation: A 12-Step Guide", I fully explore the spiritual side-effects of trauma, and how the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous is a powerful systematic approach for the trauma survivor seeking a spiritual solution.

-Rivka Edery, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Author of: "Hear Me Sing: Book I" (2016)
“Trauma and Transformation: A 12-Step Guide” (2013)

The Valkyries is a personal account of Mr. and Mrs. Coelho's journey across the Mojave desert in California. Coelho is determined to seek the angels that are known to visit there, since he's already been advised by his teacher to do so. The only link that he depends upon is the Valkyries: a group of women that roam the desert on motorcycles and who may just have the answer to what Paulo is after. There are many surprises to unravel in the novel, and some passages will keep you thinking for a long time. The novel also expresses inner feelings and thoughts of the author and his central characters, including his wife. The personal accounts are strong and there are times when the suspense is hard to stand on!

I absolutely adored this book and read it in two days. So many times I found my self getting teary-eyed as a I read Maria's diary and followed her journey of self-discovery through one of the most misunderstood and misused gifts we humans possess--sex. Paulo's ability to show the beautiful co-mingling of sex, love, loneliness and pain, his understanding of the true sex act being a prayer--a way to touch Divinity, and his ability to show the these things through characters that are enticingly human make this one of my all time favorite novels. I love how he slips past the insignificant barriers of race, gender, nationality, language, sexual deviance and morality to present Maria's adventure as the pursuit of truth...beautiful, individual truth guided by instinct and destiny. This is such a rich story that I would enthusastically encourage anyone with an open mind to read. Eleven Minutes is an exploration into the things we crave most out of life presented in a way that will awaken your soul and change the way you love and make love.

I read this soon after I was touched by The Alchemist.

First of all, I don't think we could make direct comparison with the Alchemist. The writing style is totally different. Those looking for an inspiring "story" like Alchemist will be disappointed. Rather, think of WotL as collection of a wise uncle/mentor advices. If you are familiar with Mahabharata, think of it like Bhagavad Gita episode of the epic, where Krishna passed down his wisdom to the doubting Arjuna.

Carl Jung suggested that there are universal "archetypes" that all mankind can relate to create meaning of their life. This is exactly how to read WotL: see yourself in the shoes of a "warrior" on the quest to his dream, plunge yourself in the archetype, then it will make sense. If you still put on that urban city slicker hat and look for instant enlightment, you won't get it. You should read Dr. Phil or Anthony Robbins instead.

A magical adventure based in the present, this story of acceptance of true love and of following your goals to ultimate happiness is an intricate and powerful read. The poetic and passionate style is intense reading but worth it. There's almost a crescendo of activity in the middle of the book that leaves you compelled to read on. I think viewing the text "holistically" helps, and thinking about the metaphors will let you extract more from the book. It's not my favourite Coelho book but still, I have to admit it is beautifully written and full of hysterical passion. I would recommend it to a friend.

First of all, I must say this is the first of Coelho's books I've read. I found it to be enlightening, though not extremely action-packed, which is much more of my genre. This book maps out a spiritual journey taken by a man and his wife, and goes into detail about significant changes that have been made in their life.

However, I have a problem with the numerous people criticizing Coelho's literary work on the grounds that it doesn't conform with their ideas of spirituality. I'm sure this was not written to be an accompaniment to the Bible, or a religious guide. If an author wants to express his ideas of spirituality, he should be entitled to do so without getting poor reviews just because the reviewers believe his ideas are WRONG.

I personally thought this book was very thought-inducing. It gave you a lot to contemplate, and if you pause to consider how it relates to your life, you might be pleasantly surprised. I recommend it to anyone who would like to learn about , and possibly analyze, other perspectives to spirituality.

This one does not feel like a book (since it's a companion to The Alchemist), as there is no story, but rather a set of thoughts. It reads fast if you know the original sources so i'm not sure it's worth compared to things like Tao the Ching, The Art of War, and other classics. It may help when reading the Alchemist, at least to indicate at which level the Alchemist should be read, but alone it is simply a compilation of other works. Might be useful to read again the Alchemist after reading this one...

Before that one I read "Alchemist", a great inspiring fairy-tale. Was told by some that all Coelho books are alike, though... So was not keen on reading something else by the author. Noticed "Eleven minutes" at my friend's place a while ago and now, being in a quite depressive mood, picked that one.

Reading it was like having a shot - you get it in one breath, you freeze for a while and only then you start wondering what it actually was... Well, what one comes away with after reading the book depends on what (if at all) you were looking for. At least, it's a great merit of the author that he provides all - an entertaining narrative and a host of philosophical underlying themes.

Personally, I was struck by the motif of continuous search for the limit. Considering every new, big or small, decision in her life Maria wonders if she should go a bit further and then she explores how much further, or closer to the limit, this brings her. Also, I thought, that ideas of love, possession and freedom are very interesting in the way the author puts them. Finally, the theme of spiritual sex that underlines the whole book is developed very well! Guys, this is so much more than pointing a way for this hard-coming female orgasm (as pointed at some reviews). This is about sex being a sacrament between two, being a dialog with the very inner self, being an expression of all the concerns, troubles, insults, dreams, happiness and misery - all those things that could be hardly expressed by any other words or actions but this coition. Coelho brings those issues with a great mastery: these are not the scenes themselves, but rather the way Maria sees them that powerfully conveys the message.

I've got some concerns about the author's style and language, though (translations issues, obviously, come into play). Language seems simplistic, yet precise. Mixture of high and low language strikes. Somehow relates to those erotic stories written by amateurs when their authors miss the basic vocabulary to describe the happening, so they start mixing pathetic and gross stuff. But then... is not that reflection of the real life, of people being both pathetic and gross, both sophisticated and naive? Characters (but the front ones) and setting seem poorly developed, but then.. a smart reader does not need directions and should be happy enough with the details, outlines and those descriptions which Colelho provides in abundance. Personally, I believe that the more "yes...., but then" statements you are left with, the more controversy you found about the book the more influential the book was. "Eleven minutes" still makes me wonder...

As a young man, I found Warrior of the Light to be truly amazing. It didn't present many new ideas, but delivered the same messages in a way that was extremely accessible for me. Coelho uses the setting of a warrior on his personal journey to share his lessons on life. While most spiritual messages seem to encourage suppression of male energy, Coelho uses the warrior archetype and taps into the primal spirit of man, telling us it is okay to let the warrior out. This really spoke to me and integrated two parts of myself that hadn't seen eye to eye. Obviously this book isn't for everyone, but for the right audience it is a grand-slam.

It doesn't get any better than this. Years ago, I took it to Zambia when I was doing volunteer work and read a page every night. It was a quiet atmosphere and I had a lot of time to reflect on Coelho's words. Years later, I still find each page a gift.

I have nothing bad to say about this book. It was great from start until finish . A Day Away From Success: From The Streets To Presidential Suites

"Once upon a time" this is how the story starts , where Paulo chose Maria to guide us thro the journey of exploring life. he translated all her emotions, desires, her girly teen ideas and feelings into words. How she fancied her neighbor, what she thought about love at this young age, moving at a deeper level, her exploration of what was a desire, and the exploration of her body.
the story moves as Maria met a man who changed her life, who took her to Switzerland where she became a prositute.
Where all her emotions are burried, seeing all the men being the same, meanwhile she explored everything about sex, the pain, the pleasure, the guilt, the love, exposing us to her own philosophy of what life is all about.
Till she met Ralf the artist who changed her life, whom she loved in a very different beautiful way, both were exploring love together.
Her daily diaries were just amazing, very transparant, broad, but just leaves you thinking and wondering what exactly might life be all about.
It is a book that every person has to read,because simply it can't be any better...

Powerful collection of advice and insight that doesn't follow any single line of religious dogma, but instead borrows from all of them to create a universal code of higher wisdom. This is one of those books (like Napoleon Hill's Positive Action Plan: 365 Meditations For Making Each Day a Success) that I will never finish reading -- I'll read it for the rest of my life.

What pleases me in Paulo Coelho's work, and in this book in particular, is his ability to penetrate the psyche of characters and make a story evolve from that,and not from detailed descriptions of actions or places. If you compare him to, let's say, Emile Zola, where the characters from the gutters of society are usually vicious by nature (genes) or by the action of a decadent society, we will see in Maria, a prostitute, a being that suffers and dreams like anybody else, without this necessarily meaning that the author is condoning or condeming prostitution. The painter she falls in love with, a successful artist who is "tired of sex", is as unhappy yet full of longing as she is. And Paulo Coelho builds a beautiful and complex plot of how their chemistry evolves - even if it may wind up a little naive sometimes, since, personally, I haven't seen two people change into enlightened lovers so fast. But their innocence thriving in a cruel, loveless world, even despite their defenses, and their struggle to keep "real", is refreshing, and even edifying, even if not a fact of everyday reality. I don't think this book will please those who are looking for a realistic portrait of the dirty and dark side of life at Copacabana (a bar in Switzerland) or in Rio de Janeiro. But it will please those who believe literature isn't journalism, but rather an expression of an author's own subjective interpretation of love. Paulo Coelho is, before anything else, a poet. If you brake his text into verses, a poem comes out of it. He is giving you a sad reality just to have it tested against the power of the mystic poetry of his discourse. You will be able to let his personal poetry sink into you, if you manage to accept the author using prostitutes and "special clients" as ordinary people as his models - who, to him, are human beings capable of love and cynicism just like any one of us - not creatures of "low life".

To truly be kind and good, you need time, patience and morals. The Guide to The Warrior of Light, by Paolo Coelho, is a remarkable and inspiring book. I could feel Coelho's message to the reader, that he believes that there can be a Warrior of Light in each and every one of us. To wake up the good and the true within us, that is what Coelho wants to achieve for the people who read the book. When he tried to get through the point, about generosity, love, pity, and compassion, you feel as if the writer is in front of you, opening up his soul like you're old friends, sharing those feelings and emotions. The story line is more philosophical than any other of Coelho's books, and wakes up beliefs within the reader, that all of us can change and aspire to be Warriors of Light. It is a beautifully written book that I would recommend to everyone.

Even though the story may be about love, sex and desire, that is just the story. Read it on that level and it is enjoyable, but read it on the level of growth and it becomes a different novel. This is the challenge of taking risks, of daring to live differently and accepting the consequences. It takes courage to do that and it may not always work out how we would wish it to. Yet does that matter? Along the way we have learnt a great deal about ourselves and the world around us. Coelho is challenging us , asking us - do we have the courage to say yes to life or do we wish to live our fate? Excellent reading.
Dr Gunta Krumins-Caldwell author of On Silver Wings

Someone had recommended this book to me because I had lived in Geneva. It felt more like an essay for a creative writing course than a novel. I can't remember the last time I've read something so superficial.

Neither the setting nor the characters had enough texture to be credible or even compelling. The setting felt like any city on a lake. If Geneva was word searched and replaced with Chicago or Toronto, no one would notice. The characters are just as generic. Coelho describes the love interest as "handsome and successful" and the people at a party as "smart and charming." They lack the subtle details that make them come alive. Their insights into romance were weak.

The least believable part of the book was the postscript where the author claims to have visited Switzerland on a book tour and met a few people who inspired the story.

Paulo Coelho's "Eleven Minutes" basically explores the life of Maria from her childhood to becoming a young adult, and her discoveries of sex and love. She's continually disturbed by the fact that she has never had an orgasm by a man and is intrigued when she first does and the times after that as well. Being a prostitute, Maria is distraught that though she has had plenty of sex, she doesn't really comprehend sex and at first believes that its sole purpose is for mere pleasure. Maria eventually encounters the sacred nature of sex and in her struggle to discover the wisdom of sex, she uncovers her true self and desires.

Despite how others may connect "The Alchemist"'s Santiago with Maria, Maria proves to be a different character in that Maria is a woman and that really does make all the difference. In this book, Coelho successfully weaves a woman's wisdom and intuition into the main character, allowing the female reader to connect with Maria and understand what she goes through and how she feels. If anything, this story is more similiar to Coelho's "By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept" than "The Alchemist".

I thought it was remarkable how Paulo Coelho wrote the book as if he knew what it felt like to be a woman. This book should definately be read by a woman or someone mature enough to comprehend the wisdom of sex, and there were numerous times when I identified myself with Maria. Her encounters with sex and life felt very similar to my own and this book inspired within me hope and an urge to change my lifestyle.

I have read 6 of his other books and I'm definately a fan of his. The overall tone and message of his books are all the same and if you agree with his philosophies and ideas, then you'll enjoy this book. However, if you've read one of his books and didn't like it, chances are this book just isn't for you, as well as any of his other books. To other Paulo Coelho avid readers, this is by far my favorite of his books and I encourage you guys to read it.

To get the most out of this book, read it with an open mind and don't judge it until you finish reading the whole book (unfortunately some certain new yorker decided to write a review on this book without even finishing it...). There are some "controversial" topics about sex dealt with in this book but really this book has nothing to do with pornography and is very deep.

I was very disappointed, this being the first and probably the last book by Coelho that I am trying.

Although I can understand where his success comes from, this is not my cup of tea.

I like books that challenge the intellect, that leave you thinking long afterwards.

This book is like a telenovella subject, not a very inspired or inspiring one.

But, if you are looking for a fast read,some romance spiced with some sex scenes and sex philosophy, this is the book for you.

The only thing that saves it from being a total bore are some scarce humoristical scenes and observations.

What is sex? This is what Coelho seems to be asking, and ultimately answering (not to my satisfaction, though) in this unlikely novel. In his characteristic fairy-tale style,(a story-teller who seems a bit detached) he tackles the mind of a prostitute, and we follow her progression from pretty and naive teenager in rural Brazil, through the big city and on through to Switzerland where she eventually becomes a prostitute, but one who apparently doesn't quite get what sex is all about, that is, she doesn't reach orgasm.

To Coelho orgasm and the joy of sex apparently are the gates to the uyltimate symbolic union with the Divine. As a man, he seems to be exploring a woman's sexuality and the connection to spirituality.

I didn't get the connection, and feel that his other novel "The Alchemist" is a better book, which does lead us to existential exploration of our perennial quest for self.

For those who want a good read with serious metaphysical explorations, read "The Alchemist". Also read Grigor Fedan's "Dream Maker:A Mystical Tale". Both novels are excellent in their own right. The first is a parable of life, the second tackles the "big questions" and is a true story of reincarnation.

I didn't enjoy this book. I normally enjoy most of Paulo's works but the main character was very annoying and wasn't written well. It was frustrating reading her preaching on a subject she knew so little about. I wouldn't recommend this book.

this book was enthusiastically suggested to me by a friend. after reading it i realize two things: first, he is not my friend and second, he just wants to sleep with me. this book was my introduction to paulo coelho; i had heard a lot about him and assumed that because he has sold millions of books that automatically made him a good writer. fool.

you know that saying "write what you know"?, this book was written by somebody who knows nothing about the place, characters and situations he's writing about. the settings are barely described, he doesn't transport you to another place like a good writer should. the characters are predictable, unlikable and unidimensional; if it wasn't so pathetic it would be funny how one moment the narrator describes maría as deep and intelligent and the next he lets you "read" her diary and you realize she's a dumb country girl pretending to be intelectual. the storyline is ridiculous. this girl supposedly has to experience the deepest, darkest sex before she can find the most sacred. for coelho this means her never experiencing an orgasm except when tied to a bed and hit with a wip by a client and then conveniently falling in love with a rich, good looking, sexy, crazy for her, young and famous all over the world painter... who is all of this and then some before he is 30. that's gonna happen...

the overall level of coelho's writing is best described as elementary. i tend to look for books that can inspire and challenge me. this wasn't it. this book is the literary equivalent of one of those stupid telenovelas on tv. i finished it hoping it would get better eventually. yeah, right.

needless to say, this was the first and last book by coelho i am ever wasting my time with. you want to read a latinamerican novel? read anything by garcía marqués. now that's a writer.

I am an avid reader of Paulo Coelho; his books are enlightening and inspirational to say the least. Eleven Minutes is by FAR the best one he has written thus far. This passionate book can be explicit at times, only because it has to be if it intends to effectively examine love, sex and relationships. Mainly, it explores the nature of love and lust, and the important difference between the two. While reading Eleven Minutes, I found myself laughing and crying with each passing moment. At the very last page, I felt completely fufilled and wise- as though everything I needed to know about love was expressed or at the very least touched upon in this book. READ THIS BOOK if you are interested in knowing what true love really is.

In addition to being a great story teller,
Mr. Coehlo's knowledge and portrayal of the
subject is very correct and real.
You get to walk more than a mile in someone else's shoes.
You end up a richer person for it.

the 1st book i read of coelho was "veronika decides to die" as it was recommended to me and i could not put it down, read it on a flight and finished it and couldn't stop talking about it ... the next book i picked up was valkries and it was "ok" a bit preachy though ... so, i picked this up and it was addictive and enjoyable though the ending a bit far-fetched .. but, it made you think a i really enjoyed it .. 2nd to veronika, but, well worth a read

Actually, I was quite shcoked when I found that Paulo Coelho also wrote this kind of book (the others being mainly about pursuing your dream), but I gave it a shot nonetheless, and I wasn't disappointed at all. In fact, I think that this is one of the best books that I've read.

While some people may complain about its lack of details and other physical aspects, that's precisely the reason that makes this book a great reading. Paulo Coelho really knows how to explore his character's mind, and leaves me afterwards pondering its implication. For example, when Maria went to have fun, and she thought that this life can either be a merry-go-round or a roller coaster. And I think, hey, I've never thought that way before! Tell you what, I even copied Maria's diary into mine, so that when I feel that I want to think about life, then I know where to turn to.

I believe in our soul there is a light given by God (or however you would like to call Him). That light is in our nature, in our soul, and given by instinct. That's why I don't believe one religion is right or wrong, christian, buddist, islamic... every religion is an interpretation of the light. No matter where you from, you will always have access to this light. I always believed this and I am so surprised when I read this book... everything I ever believed, is described so clearly. "El Manual de los Guerreros de la luz" has become my bible, it is not 'just' a companion for the alchemist. I'll give it 2,000 stars. By the way I never write a review about anything unless is important.

My girlfriend was kind enough to introduce Coelho to me by giving me this particular book. It is a book of one page "lessons" and details a warrior of light code. There were passages in the book that resonate with me still because they affirm how I was living my life. Also, some answers to some of my deeper questions on life were given, and some subjects I have not had time to think about were introduced. I love this book, and would recommend it to anyone who needs a new perspective on going through this thing called life and doing so in an aware, awake manner.

This book is almost like a daily table calender; it gives you short descriptions on how to live as a "warrior of the light" would live. You will find lots of inspiration within this book, along with suggestions on how to look at life a little differently. This book doesn't contain any stories, but instead short lessons that Mr. Coelho has learned throughout his life and travels. This is one of my favorites whenever I need a pick-me-up!

Paulo Coelho's Warrior of the Light companion book to The Alchemist is a series of thought provoking proverbs. Each page gives meaning to the Warrior of the Light's soul. Coelho reveals inner thoughts about our own humanity so simply and eloquently. I read the book cover to cover, but I also go back and randomly select a page to read and I am always inspired.

Paulo Coelho will go down in history as one of the greatest authors of all times. I read 'The Alchemist' first and have become a huge fan of Paulo Coelho since. He makes you feel that you personally know all of the characters in his stories. He also writes in a style like no other author. He makes a reference about a character and then explains it right away instead of making you wait sixty to seventy pages to find out what is going on with the character. I love 'Eleven Minutes'!

I read this book in Korean.

Actually I open this book in a thought of getting some ideas for my college essay. (I'm planning to write about sexuality.)

Well, this book made me thinking about 'sex', being a woman, and a life once again. "People come to have sex to feel superior over someone and to be embraced by someone, even a prostitute, just only for '11 minutes'..."(I'm not sure I translated correctly. ^^;;)

This book vividly tells the life of a girl growing emotionally, physically, and finding herself and a love she posseses in her heart. The book will take you to awful but also happy life of a lovely young girl. I really hope you would read this!

Warrior of Light is a truly poetic book. The way Coelho wrote this book is impressively unique. The message is very compelling and touching.The book is destined to be as timeless and classic as Gibran's The Prophet. It's a masterpiece and perfect companion to The Alchemist.
If readers eagerly want to explore what is Coelho's "Philosophy of Meaningful & Spiritual Living", this book can be the answer. The book powerfully presents the heart of Coelho's Philosophy of Life.
Like The Alchemist, this book is a truly spiritual novel. And if you want to apply the concept in The Alchemist into your everyday life, Warrior of Light is a manual!!! Valuable!!!

Paulo had done it again with his unique and subtle approach of bringing religion into lives of the readers. A story of an encounter with the guardian angels surely rings resemblance of Jesus¡¦ story in the desert. Very touching, very real and very good depiction of what good & evils have on stage for you when you are right at the center of the crossroad. A good book for young adults, I would not recommend this for early-age-readers before proper history of God has been taught to them.

I bought this book in Russia in the Russian translation and finally got to read it after it sat on my bookshelf for a couple of years. To say that I liked this book is to not say anything at all. I enjoyed it so much and wish I could have read it in Portuguese because I am sure a lot is lost in translation. This book is about so many different themes including passion, forbidden love, sex, intimacy, friendship, making the right decisions, and nostalgia. I couldn't put it down. The reader can't but sympathize with the protagonist, Maria, a young woman from Brazil who moves to Switzerland and ends up becoming a prostitute. This is the second book I read by Paulo Coelho, and I can't wait to read another one to have a new encounter with this amazing author.

This is perhaps the most insignificant and ridiculous book I have ever read. I have read a lot of books.

I enjoyed The Alchemist, by Coelho.

Reading this book is like having to endure an overly-analytical conversation between two people who are (ironically) failures of the subject, discuss that subject...for several hundred pages. And not in a comical way.

Coelho's writing can only be described as Genuis. Hes a natural and will certainly touch your heart, mind, and soul. He inspired and motivated me with every word that he has written throughout the years. Word in a review cannot begin to describe the writing of this brilliant man. All of his books are highly recommended.

Again, Coelho succeeds in providing inspiration and spiritual direction in life. This book acts a guide to becoming a superior human being on a journey toward genuine success and greatness. Paulo is has absolutely tapped into the truth of the universe. Thanks again for a great book that I can apply to my Daily Walk. Highly recommended.

This was the third book I read for Coelho, the first two being the Alchemist and on the River Piedra..., although this is a different one, I still enjoyed it. However, my personal view is that this book is not for anyone anytime, it is written more for persons who are indeed going through an intense self-searching phase. If you are coming out of a personal crisis or feel like you are entering such one in your life, this book can be a big help. Don't let all the talk of angels and mysticism put you off as this is Coelho's style and you can easily replace them as metaphors.

What I like most about this book is that it celebrates the journey of life by putting equal value upon the inevitable successes, failures, mistakes, heartbreak and joy we all experience along the way. The book imparts comfort along with it's wisdom, very important I think.

This book is surely best book so far. It is simple and very well-written. It has lot of good elements. I do like the theme of this book very much. Awesome work. One of the book that you don't want to miss to read. Lovely, well done. Mr. Coelho.

I enjoyed this book thoroughly and found it very touching... it is so different to the simplicity of 'the Alchemist' but there is something about the way Paolo Coelho writes in this book and in 'the Alchemist', they both tell a story that will make the reader think about their own lives, their own beliefs & their own thoughts...This story is very tender and delicate.

After reading this book, I went ahead and purchased The Alchemist. I can't get enough of his books. They are eye-opening and moving. Great reads and I wish I had known about this author earlier. I'm currently reading By the River Piedra I wept... and have 2 other of his novels waiting on hand. You won't be disappointed. He's a phenomenal writer.

The problem begins with the categorization of this book. The back cover says that the book is fiction, yet the author repeatedly states that this is a true story in the prologue, epilogue, and everywhere in between. After this, the problems of the international bestselling author become even more dramatic.

Setting himself as the main character, Coelho sets on a journey to find his angel. Making contact with an angel in itself is not a radical concept for a plot. However, equating Christianity to sorcery is downright blasphemous. The elaborate ceremonies described for summoning angels are in no way related to Christian doctrine. To contact his angel, Coelho seeks a motorcycle gang in the Mojave Desert called the Valkyries. It is possible that a motorcycle gang could be spiritually gifted. However, the idea that the Valkyries sleep with men to make money for their missionary work is appalling.

Coelho lost my respect in this book the minute he suggested "the beast" was present on the cover of The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonley Hearts Club Band". How much more hokey and unoriginal could an author be in stealing an idea. While I enjoyed "The Alchemist", I felt betrayed after reading this book. A once promising author has lost his direction and now pedals weird concepts that resemble cults.

Very few books I read were as deeply moving and as insightful as this one. It really changed me; it was intrinsically rewarding. The story may not be for everyone, but for me, I was transformed. I've read it years ago, and looking back it's one of the books of most personal impact I've read. The story is beautiful, the message is beautiful, affecting, moving. It will give you a wonderfully new and exhilirating perspective on the meaningfulness of living. I highly recommend it.

Paulo Coelho's amazing ability to be articulate and insightful brings the reader to understand the powerful alchemical messages that will transform their lives if they allow it. Little yet powerful, this warrior's manual is a great addition to your metaphysical library. Go beyond, read Coelho's enlightenment work.

It is a very good subject brought about the liofe of a girl who begins her life with another motto and ends up being a prostitute but also is not regretful about her decision.
She accepts the life she is living and also how one day a painter maker her happy and make her feel good may be we can call it as non expressive love.
This is a very good novel and I feel that every person with open mind and broad thinking would like this novel too.

A truely deep book about love, sex and life and its crossroads. It explores various aspects of the inner self through the life of a 22 year old prostitute (not an 11 year old as one stupid reviewer wrote!) determined to make her dreams come true.
It is controversial but anything that tells 'hidden truths' is labelled "controversial". Yes it does have descriptive sexual scenes of all sorts but they are not unnecessarily used, and are fundamental to the meaning of the book.
Many seem to have misunderstood the nature of the book as "pornographic" which it is so far from!
It is an enjoyable book for those who are open minded and enjoy learning about other peoples views on love and life.

i found this book to be highly helpful in my path towards a warrior of light, thought throught reading it, one my wish to have a writing utensil close to edit the entries, as i did. most of the book was heavy with truthful, unegotistical thoughts and actions, but i could clearly see his entries that were from his ego, or specific situations he was in, irritated or confused, then wrote about them.
in conclusion, a great read, great ideas, and a great path. .... just be sure to filter the text and take only that which has the ring of truth in your own heart/mind... for some entires are just laughable.

I find it surprising that so many reviewers find this "unrealistic" and too "intellectual" for discussion of desire. This is not a nonfiction research text on prostitution, a sexuality manual, or a work of realistic fiction. In fact, it is just the opposite of all of those things. It is a simple parable wrought with symbolism, which makes a complex universal point. The story is engaging, philosophical, light, and familiar despite making an important and essentially human observation about the timelessness of love and sex. It is this wisdom and timelessness that captures the hearts of Coelho readers time and time again.

i am one of paulo coelho's greatest fans when i saw this book in the bookstore couldnt think of any other thing exept that i wanted to go home and start reading ..after the first twenty pages i discovered that it has nothing similar to the alchamest on the contrary, to me this book appeared to be very boring, a waste of time .it wasnt worth my exitment about it in the first place .i don't advise anyone to read it it is not believable,even the parts where supposedly paulo was conversing with his angel were very shallow .paulo and his wife chris are too boring .i felt very happy that i have finished this stupid book,so that i can start another one to make make me forget my dissappointment about coelho.

A friend of mine loaned me this book, and I started to read it with no preconceived notion that I would like or hate it. However, a few chapters into the book, I found myself incredibly identifying with the protagonist. Much of the struggles and insights in regards to love, sex, pain, and pleasure parallel what I have experienced in my life, and it was especially affirming to read. I enjoyed it and would suggest a read to anyone who has smoldering inside the desire for a rich, fulfilling life and is on the journey on finding out what that means for themself.

I have been told by many to read the ever-popular Coelho & picked up this book without knowing the others. It didn't matter. This sophmoric 9th grade homework essay was far from "a suspense novel" and even further from the angels in our lives. While I appreciate that this was a sort of memoir, the epilogue was much better than the entire preceding story, and if Paulo could have actually imbued his novel with those thoughts, ideas & story lines, well, it would have been a book to remember.
Unfortunately for readers, like Dan Brown, just because it's popular doesn't make it good literature. But at least Brown knows how to carry a story. Just like Dan Brown, Coelho recklessly tosses in writerly fantasy, biblical quotes and half truths in order to give us a punishing God, devil worship, and a satanic ritual as he comes closer to experiencing the love of angels??
It's unfortunate that this writer has such an influence as his 'transformation' from the 'dark side' however superficially treated will still have an impact on people who will equate Jesus, Mary, Angels and God as anything other than LOVE.
Readers (and Coelho) who wish to know about angels and other New Age concepts would be better off picking up a copy of any of Deepak Chopra's books and, if you want a book that reveals one man's encounter with angels read Nick Bunick's The Messengers. The Messengers: A True Story of Angelic Presence and the Return to the Age of Miracles
While not great literature (although he doesn't pretend to be a writer like Coelho), Nick's story shows you can meet your angels without having to head to caves in the Arizona desert and commit sadistic acts.

I wish Paulo and others who read this tome--good luck on your spiritual path, because if you start here, you will certainly need it.

Great book, interesting studies of sacred and profane

sexuality. I just read another text, "The Little Book

of He and She", which describes in an even more graphic

way the total effect of the emotions, both physical and

spiritual, that can come to exist between a man and a woman.

But this book deserves five stars.

I admit that I was shocked in the beginning to reading this style of a book for this Famous Author that I like and respect very much, but my thrust in the author gave me the courage and confidence to continue and search for the deep meanings that the author wants to pass on to me and that's what happened exactly, the book was full of sections that made me think about my own values in life. This book needs an open mind approach to understand and appreciate it.