The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life

A guide to journaling and reflection on life's central questions by Suleika Jaouad, author of Between Two Kingdoms. The book includes contributions from over one hundred writers, artists, and thinkers, including Hanif Abdurraqib, Jon Batiste, Salman Rushdie, Gloria Steinem, and George Saunders. Jaouad has kept a journal since childhood, using it to process major life events and difficult periods including illness, heartbreak, and uncertainty. The Book of Alchemy explores how journaling can help readers access creativity and navigate both personal challenges and broader modern difficulties. Organized by themes including new beginnings, love, loss, and rebuilding, the book offers essays and writing prompts designed to help readers engage with discomfort, ask difficult questions, and discover their truest selves. Suitable for both experienced journalers and those new to the practice, it provides tools and encouragement for holding both the difficult and beautiful aspects of life simultaneously.