Paulo Coelho was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 24, 1947. He is a lyricist, novelist and widely read international author who has received numerous awards, including the Crystal award from the World Economic Forum. He has written over 30 books; The Alchemist is one of the top sellers, and it has been translated into over 56 languages.
Coelho knew that he wanted to write from a very young age, but did not get much support for his dream. In school he became isolated and unhappy, worrying his parents. Not really understanding the cause of his isolation, Coelho's parents sent him to a mental institute for treatment 3 times as a teenager, where he was subjected without medical cause...
