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

Suleika Jaouad is the author of The Book of Alchemy, a project born out of a creative undertaking she spearheaded during the pandemic, the “Isolation Journals.” She arrived at writing in an unconventional manner, and she touches upon this journey in her commentary that runs throughout this book, serving as a link through the themed chapters. 

Her early aspirations to serve as a foreign correspondent came to a halt when, a year after graduation, Jaouad was diagnosed with leukemia and had to begin treatment immediately. During this time, she turned to her lifelong practice of journaling, reflecting on her experience of illness and treatment. These writings began her career as a journalist when they were published as a New York Times column entitled “Life, Interrupted.” She has since gone on to pen essays and journalistic reports for publications including The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and Vogue. Her writings about her illness also led to the publication of her bestselling memoir, Between Two Kingdoms.

Her experiences helped her to develop the idea of creativity as alchemy, which is a central theme explored in Jaouad’s and the other contributors’ writings. This books features contributions and prompts that appeared originally in the “Isolation Journals,” while the collaborative nature of the project highlights Jaouad’s belief that community can help bolster people in difficult circumstances. Her “Isolation Journals” has since become one of the most popular publications on Substack. 

Jaouad experienced a leukemia relapse in 2022, and with this round of treatment compromising her vision, she was forced to paint instead of write as her chosen creative outlet while in hospital. The watercolors that translated the “fever dreams” and hallucinations she was experiencing became a visual diary of sorts, referenced by Jaouad within this book as well. Her “fever dreams” inspired a large body of watercolor work which was exhibited as “The Alchemy of Blood,” a joint show with her mother, Anne Francey. She reentered leukemia treatment again in 2024, armed with a fresh journal and a spirit of resilience.