The life of PAULO COELHO continues to be the principal source of inspiration for his books. He's flirted with death, evaded crazy, dabbled with narcotics, endured torture, studied philosophy and religion, read voraciously, lost and rediscovered his faith, and experienced the pain and pleasure of love. He has discovered answers to the issues that everyone experiences while searching for his own place in the world. He believes that we all possess the essential strength to determine our own fate. Adultery, his most recent work, was a international bestseller. His 1988 novel The Alchemist has sold over 65 million copies and has been hailed as an influence by Malala Yousafzai and Pharrell Williams, among others. Paulo Coelho's books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide. His work has been translated into 81 languages, making him the most widely read living author on the planet.