Eleven Minutes: From the Bestselling Author of The Alchemist

Name: Eleven Minutes: From the Bestselling Author of The Alchemist
Price: 12.6 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.3 (5900 reviews)
Author: Paulo Coelho

by Paulo Coelho

4.3

Published Mar 29, 2005

About this book

Maria, a young woman from a small Brazilian village, carries the heavy burden of early heartbreak, leading her to conclude that love is a destructive force to be avoided at all costs. Driven by dreams of fame and fortune, she travels to Geneva, only to find herself navigating the complex, transactional world of prostitution. She adopts a cynical detachment toward intimacy, viewing sex as a commodity rather than a connection.

Her carefully constructed walls begin to crumble when she encounters a handsome, visionary painter who sees beyond her profession. As their lives intertwine, Maria is thrust into a profound odyssey of self-discovery. She finds herself caught in a volatile internal conflict: stay the course of hardened indifference and sensory pleasure, or surrender to the terrifying vulnerability of genuine intimacy.

This journey challenges her deepest-held prejudices and forces her to confront the demons of her past. As she navigates the tension between physical desire and spiritual longing, Maria must determine if she is brave enough to redefine her understanding of love. In a city of shadows, she searches for the inner light that might finally bridge the gap between her broken history and a potential future of profound connection.

Available Formats

Paperback: $12.60 Paperback: $9.77

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What readers are saying

sharibaby

A Gift

"I love this book so much that I've literally given it to all of my friends. Sure, at first glance, it's a book about sex, but once you dig a bit deeper you'll find a book about the complexities of love. From love of self to romantic love. Coelho bravely attempts to tackle questions such as: what is love? how do I love? how do I receive love? how do I not confuse sex with love? how do I use sex to show love? Each answer left me pondering my own ability to love. I found this book moving and filled with moments that required a highlighter and some prayer. At it's conclusion, I found that it really changed my young views on love for the better. I dare you to give it a try. ["

March 26, 2013 Verified Purchase

Ed Barton

Powerful Story Powerful Message

"Exceptionally powerful story - well told. Coelho explores the elements of physical, emotional and sacred sensuality - pain and pleasure, love and lust, joy and despair. In exploring herself, starting as a teen and up through her 23rd year, the protagonist, Maria, gains, loses and regains the ability to love both emotionally and physically. The gains and losees, pains and experiences are those of every person, just with greater emphasis and intensity in the story. She meets the librarian, the professional, those that truly feel, those that act, and those for whom the act itself has little depth or meaning. The vulnerability of all people is exposed, and the psychology of physical intimacy takes on new meaning as Maria plays each part as part of her profession. The book isn't fully uplifting, and the end is as predictable as Coelho indicates it will be. Nevertheless, the discussion of the sacred and secular elements of love, lust and the physical nature of relationships really resonate as profound. Coelho probably spends a bit too much time on the anatomy, but it doesn't detract from the power of the message. ["

July 4, 2010 Verified Purchase

Kindle Customer

A self discovery in Eleven minutes

"Eleven minutes is a daring exploration of love, desire and the human spirit. Maria's journey into prostitution becomes more than mere survival which evolves into a profound adventure of self discovery. It is a powerful story about the intersection of desire and spirituality, where the world revolves around something that last only eleven minutes. ["

January 8, 2026 Verified Purchase

Joslyn Walker

a surprisingly good read

"When I purchased this book it was by chance and knowing that I really enjoyed reading the alchemist, so I was certain I would possibly enjoy this- without realizing the content. I’m glad that I read through the whole book and would highly recommend it, as Coelho gives a completely different approach to a forbidden topic. ["

August 10, 2022 Verified Purchase