Healing Book Club: The Alchemist
– by Devon, SFSU intern ’26

PBC’s monthly Healing Book Club focuses on emotional wellness and healing through personal connections to literature and one other. At the recent meeting discussing The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Karen, discussion leader and PBC board member, guided the group through a series of questions inviting members to reflect on personal connections they felt to the story. 

The open-dialogue format helped both new and recurring members to easily connect with each other and feel included. Every attendee had opportunities to reflect upon their own connection to the novel’s central theme of pursuing one’s dreams despite challenges. Members of the discussion shared their own experiences managing their responsibilities, sometimes at the expense of pursuing their dreams. “Our world conditions us to stop dreaming,” said one member, reflecting on their own life experience.

The discussion then shifted to how members continue to pursue their dreams and passions despite the challenges they face. One member spoke about their experience balancing and integrating their career goals with their passion for music production. Another shared the accomplishment of their lifelong dream of walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain later in adulthood, emphasizing that it is never too late to pursue one’s dreams. Another member expressed their love for painting and described how they balance this passion with the demands of everyday life. They explained that simply making time for this creative outlet brings them deep fulfillment, illustrating how we can pursue our passions by intentionally making space for them our lives. 

The attendees at this Healing Book Club event reflected the diverse ages, cultural identities, and lived experiences of our community. By connecting to The Alchemist’s central themes, this event fostered meaningful connections through a shared love of literature. Older members encouraged younger members to pursue their dreams, while younger members encouraged older members to have confidence in their ability to achieve their dreams no matter where they are in life. 

It was a truly healing experience to be part of this conversation and witness the connection and introspection it inspired through engagement with The Alchemist. The bright minds and openness of the book club members highlighted a wide range of personal interpretations of the novel.  

We hope you will join us at the next one! The second Wednesday of each month.

May – Who We are becoming Matters

June –Before the Coffee Gets Cold

July- How to Love Better

August – A Man Called Ove