BOOK REVIEW – Abhishek.T.

R ( IIM Bangalore)

Book: Like the Flowing River.

Author: Paulo Coelho.

Genre : Fiction/ Philosophy

Review: Remember that super short cartoon series which kept you hooked till the last minute or
that favorite TV series which gave you a contented feeling every time the end credits came up
making you wait for the next episode? Well, that’s exactly how the book was. The perfect
companion on a silent haunting night where thoughts overshadow your everyday chores, and you
start questioning the very existence of your self. All you have to do is sit back and let the words
engulf you and take you on a journey along the river under the dark velvet sky.

This book is a collection of thoughts from all aspects of life ranging from love to hatred, fear to
excitement, music to art, nature to archery, and whatnot. It’s a buffet that injects excitement into
your bloodstream, not because it’s a thriller that keeps you engaged on the edge of the seat, but
because it makes you think about different dimensions of life.
The author Paulo possesses that magic wand which turns normal events into dynamic life lessons
because the amount of observations you find in each page is simply unparalleled. There’s a
sudden perspective shift you feel every time you stumble upon a story of a stranger in the book.
It’s about that stranger who walks into each and everyone’s lives at some random moment like a
ghost who’s there to give a helping hand, but thanks to the cacophony of all the illusions that
we’re helplessly stuck in, we casually choose to ignore him. And with that ignorance, we lose a
valuable lesson, and sometimes, even opportunities which turn our lives topside down. That’s
what Paulo has stressed upon. Those little surreal moments of life which goes unnoticed. Those
ephemeral vibes which give a sense of joy, but before we could imbibe it deep within, it’s
gone. Poof.

Somewhere in between, he also talks about the importance of relationships and how our lives
wouldn’t matter at all, if we end up having all the luxury in the world, but fail to build bonds
with fellow humans. There’s another amazing story about a man who worked his ass off all life
long, only to find out that he’d climbed the wrong mountain, and there’s no way to go back to
rectify it. That hits hard. You’ll feel it, I tell you. There are times when you end a chapter with a
smile, but with a greater understanding of life, and there are times when you feel that tinge of
depressing vibes taking over, but for the greater good!

Paulo, the magician, I’d say. He makes sure that you transcend to lands unknown when you hold
that book, and when you come back to reality, it’s a whole new world altogether.

I’ll stop right here, and let you pick the book and enjoy a philosophical ride.

Rating: 8.5/10

Favorite quotes from the book :

“Worst than hunger or thirst, worse than being unemployed, unhappy in love or defeated and in
despair, far worse than any or all of those things, is feeling that no one, absolutely no one, cares
about us.”

“I've discovered my vocation. I want to be a writer.”