There are some books which stand test of time. Even after decades of their publication they are still fresh. They lovingly enter your hearts and stay there forever. You want every line in the book to be engraved on your heart. For you know that it will change your life forever. The Greatest Saleman in the World is one of such books.
This is the story of Hafid, a camel boy and his dream to graduate to become a merchant. His kind hearted master Pathros who too once was a camel boy decides to give him one chance. Hafid’s task is very simple – he is required to sell only one robe. No one wants to buy this elegant robe and in a moment of impulse Hafid gives it away to a newborn baby in a cave and returns to his master. However he has a bright star shining above his head. Pathros considers this to be a sign of God and gives Hafid ten ancient scrolls, which will help him in becoming the greatest salesman in the world.
The magic lays in these scrolls. They contain the wisdom of life, even one percent of which if applied would elevate our lives to higher planes. One of the scrolls says “It is one of the nature’s tricks little understood, that each day I awaken with moods that have changed from yesterday. Yesterday’s joy will become today’s sadness. Yet today’s sadness will grow into tomorrow’s joy.”
At another place the scroll imparts another pearl of wisdom. “I will forget the happenings of the day that is gone, whether they are good or bad, and greet the new sun with confidence that this will be the best day of my life. Never will I labour to be happy, rather will I remain too busy to be sad. I will enjoy today’s happiness today. It is not a grain to be stored in a box. It is not a wine to be saved in a jar. It cannot be saved for tomorrow. It must be sown and reaped on the same day and this I will do henceforth.”
This book does not offer quick fixes to increase sales. Yet this book is undoubtedly the best book I have ever read. I have written and rewritten the lines from the book numerous times in my notebook. To be born and not to have read this book, is missing an opportunity to understand the greatest insights of life.