EM ESPANOL AQUI>>>: Once minutos
EM PORTUGUES: Onze minutos
The men she had met since she arrived in Geneva always did everything they could to appear confident, as if they were in perfect control of the world and of their own lives; Maria, however, could see in their eyes that they were afraid of their wife, the feeling of panic that they might not be able to get an erection, that they might not seem manly enough even to the ordinary prostitute whom they were paying for her services. If they went to a shop and didn’t like the shoes they had bought, they would be quite prepared to go back, receipt in hand, and demand a refund. And yet, even though they were paying for some female company, if they didn’t manage to get an erection, they would be too ashamed ever to go back to the same club again because they would assume that all the other women there would know.
‘I’m the one who should feel ashamed for being unable to arouse them, but, no, they always blame themselves.’
To avoid such embarrassments, Maria always tried to put men at their ease, and if someone seemed drunker or more fragile than usual, she would avoid full sex and concentrate instead on caresses and masturbation, which always seemed to please them immensely, absurd though this might seem, since they could perfectly well masturbate on their own.
She had to make sure that they didn’t feel ashamed. These men, so powerful and arrogant at work, constantly having to deal with employees, customers, suppliers, prejudices, secrets, posturings, hypocrisy, fear and oppression, ended their day in a nightclub and they didn’t mind spending three hundred and fifty Swiss francs to stop being themselves for a night.
‘For a night? Now come on, Maria, you’re exaggerating. It’s really only forty-five minutes, and if you allow time for taking off clothes, making some phoney gesture of affection, having a bit of banal conversation and getting dressed again, the amount of time spent actually having sex is about eleven minutes.’
Eleven minutes. The world revolved around something that only took eleven minutes.
And because of those eleven minutes in any one twenty-four-hour day (assuming that they all made love to their wives every day, which is patently absurd and a complete lie) they got married, supported a family, put up with screaming kids, thought up ridiculous excuses to justify getting home late, ogled dozens, if not hundreds of other women with whom they would like to go for a walk around Lake Geneva, bought expensive clothes for themselves and even more expensive clothes for their wives, paid prostitutes to try to give them what they were missing, and thus sustained a vast industry of cosmetics, diet foods, exercise, pornography and power, and yet when they got together with other men, contrary to popular belief, they never talked about women. They talked about jobs, money and sport.
Something was very wrong with civilisation, and it wasn’t the destruction of the Amazon rainforest or the ozone layer, the death of the panda, cigarettes, carcinogenic foodstuffs or prison conditions, as the newspapers would have it.
It was precisely the thing she was working with: sex.
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I love Maria, i love this book too much! it means a lot to me. i dont know why i connected with her. as a confession, i never liked any prostitute in any story. i always felt they were stupidly dramatized. But this is just beautiful. i love her, i want to read more of her diaries!!
Beautiful book. I wonder how much it is real and how much fiction. Although I know it is based on a true story.
I met and live now with a woman like Maria (she is 29 now). She is beautiful, wise, good mam and devoted daughter. She is a teacher in a kindergarden and her children love and admire her.
She plays flute, classics on guitar and also can sing. She truly and honestly loves her loved ones to death. Her life story, until I “found her” in her hell, was very similar to Maria’s. When reading this book I could found ourselves in it like it was our story.
Mr Coleho, thanks so much for your masterpiece which helped me to understand my girl and even maintain my mental balance when I began with her. Whether you believe or not, your story basically helped me to “save” her.
Mario from Eastern Europe
PS: This is not a fiction. This is real!
@Elen, Ralphs do exist!!!
Men’s like Ralph aren’t exist.Ralph is an illusion an ideal man he ignore all the negatives of Maria he is romantic.In real life Ralph wouldn’t follow Maria.Fortunately books give us the pleasure to read these kind of stories but also give us the hope that something similar to that will happen to us but that something never comes.
I really love to read your books, your books engrave the talent of a person and strengthen the spiritual power…..
Une jetoj ne Kosove… me pelqeni shume jeni shkrimtari im favorit… suksese
I love reading your books! you’re one of my forever top writers :)
I am to write a very sad story from my life. And hope only for ur help! 2 weeks ago my father found a “diary” where i wrote a story which is very close to 11 seconds. But the difference is in names of course and i wrote it not as a whole complited story,but i made some notes and put the date of these notes. And…my father thought that it was my life! And i have no chance to explain to him and my mother that everything is lie. That it is only a prototype of a book,and even told them about ur book. But i have to post here,maybe u will read one day. I’m virgin and went to the doctor,but they still do not believe me. By the way in my notes there are some real names,of my aunt for example,and now they think that i went wrong way with her help and they want now to talk to her,but to be more exactly they are going to stop any relationships with her. How can i be patient and not make suicide when i have to hear each day that they didnt expected such a step from me? Earlier,i thought that it is a chance to become stronger and i tried to be patient and to pay no attention to all of this. But i am a student and i have to do lots of study and i think now i will not manage my studies. So maybe it will be better for all of us if i just end with it? I lost any hope to explain anything to them. Please,anyone tell me what can i do to live further? I have no more goals. I cant hear that i made their life shorter. And i want them to live further.
Please don’t get depressed. Show the book to your father and mother and then, just in case they don’t believe, please let me know
I’m so sorry to hear that .. i hope all the best for you kate and i wish you would get out of this stronger.. i don’t know what eles to say .. good luck
x Kate, I had some likely situation in my life when I was 22. I know is very hard to accept the reality that your family knows some very intimate secrets of your, believe me I also had tough about suicide. I had though a lot about everything and eventually I came up with this answer: everything in our lives happens for a reason, although sometimes we never find out the reason. Just let it be. Live your life happy. Don’t think about your mistakes but learn from them, focus on the good things you have achieved and life will show you her positive side.
A big hug from an Italian living in Spain.
Giampy
‘ALCHEMISTl was my first book which took me to the wonderland that Paulo creates :) 11 minutes to know the mind of man, who gives love to get sex, and the woman who gives sex to get love. Few men can and do love, few men.
alchemist has always been on top of my book shelf its above all religious books paulo sir is a religion in himself !
This has haunted me, ever since I read it.
The book very much was pleasant, reading her don’t notice that as though you carry on dialogue with the author. Here it is possible and to reflect and find the answer to a question, and it is possible and to disagree with Koelo. Pleases, what even after perusal there is “a food for mind”. The author could interest, so I think the Book surprising! It is unusual, ingenious in simplicity of a theme which contains! The book for strong and courageous people…
Like many of your fans I found the book to be intense!
I like this.. I had a Man visit with me for over a year. The sex was intense. We would meet 2 times a month. For and hour or 2, that is it. I did not get paid. I am married and so is he. He is a busy man with a very busy job. He told me that the time that we spent together was his down time. It was my down time too. The excitement of meeting, preparing, putting my make-up on just right. Wearing the perfume I bought just for these occasion’s only. Oh it was wonderful, and fulfilling. A couple years later as we met again for a small chat. I was surprised and happy.He remembered so many things about our time together, I mean detailed things. “Meow” I left that day knowing that he will never forget me. and that is a wonderful feeling. Mmmmmmmmmmm
Your words strip me outright
Well sex release energy ….. that people have build up in themself …. and it is a strong force ….. a force within people and animals so their species is going to live on. But what I have heard that is only human and dolphins that are enjoying sex and have pleasure from it …. well Im not sure if that is the case though *LOL*
So why there is so much tabu about sex ? I find very weird ….. its like we should be ashamed of it …. is that the religions fault ?? like a mass psychosis somehow. I admit …. I like sex ….most of us do I suppose ;-) But I need to be in the right mode for it …. Im not sure but it seems like men like to have makeupsex to solve problems … but in my case I can´t have sex until the problem is solved. Was talking about sex with a friend in the car yesterday …. and if women and men have different views of it.
Well for me sex is something I have with a person I love and feel attracted to.
I could not have sex just for the case of it …. or well I could and I have had it when I was younger but it didn´t gave my anyhting really ….. nothing more but trouble ;-)
i am from iran-tehran. u are the best author at the world that i know. i really like your books speciaaly book of almaktoob.good job.
I Like this book so much..
Admiro tu legado, soy un diamante sin pulir que quiero brillar, me gustaria ser una gran escritora y que fueras mi mentor. Soy muy perfeccionista me gustaria ser tan buena como tu, permita la vida tener el tiempo suficiente para lograrlo. Gracias por las semillas que siembras a diario con tus pensamientos compartidos atravez de la letra. el conocimiento da poder, pero tambien transporta tan lejos quieras, vivo en Puerto Rico, en el Caribe, cuando te quieras escapar seras bien venido a mi hogar, sera un plaser para mi familia compartir contigo, para el que quiere nada es imposible, quisas te guste la historia.
Dear Sir.
The book which u had written is very amazing. And i love them. Especially this 11 mins. Every thing revolves around it.)
I think sex for men is their way of opening up, it’s very difficult for a man to just be open, to share their sensitivities! It seems when they open up, they become like little children who are looking for a mother. Men always say, women want a macho man, not a sensitive man, but that’s not true. Women are as afraid of survival in this world as men are, so when faced with the possibility of having to shoulder all the responsibilities, they run, women want a partner. The most powerful men I’ve met, have been in touch with their sensitivity. I think sex between two people can be a marvelous way to explore the depths in each other, to discover new worlds, new worlds within ones self. Why do men marry certain women and lust after others, is it biological or cultural? I’ve reached a place where I no longer want to even pursue the thought of being with someone, not because I don’t want that, I don’t love it, I believe we’re here to learn how to love each other and be friends, but I’m so tired of men running, running to me, then running from me like scared little boys, I think when you run from your emotions, you’ll always be running, sad. So 11 minutes, I think those 11 minutes need to be padded on each side with the kama sutra.
Much appreciable comment. Nice one
Strong words, n so true, men are actually like that !
They need 2 change, they need 2 know that it’s OK 2 be scared, and that when they’re scared, we’re here 4 them, we won’t let them down, just like we trust them 2 be there 4 us and not let us down.
Realmente , sexo é algo que envolve bem as pessoas . Olha o número do comentários 365 , Nunca vi uma página render tanto .
: )
Very true and very real But with limited context. This world exists because it comprises life (in all forms) and living things has ability to create new life thru vegetative or non-vegetative reproduction. This transformation or creation of new life is not possible without existence of parent life and for its survival, energy, food, strength, and millions of other things are required.
We know that in the process of evolution every organism do their best selection to survive, in this process many new things get adopted and many other things get dissented. This process of adoption and rejection forms an environment which continuously and gradually changing since its inception, this is the environment where our ancestors lived, we are living and our future generation will do the same.
Talking about menstrual cycle or condom or innerwear or even shaking hand with male or female friends in public was a taboo for our grand parents and parents.
Now every channel show sanitary napkins Ads with HD detailing, kids watching various flavors and types of condom’s Ads with family, spouses inviting their opposite sex friends in their family parties even going out with them for movies or shopping, father is enjoying DK Bose song on woofer with his son in car.
I remember that we used to talk mostly about He-man and superman till 3-5th standard, about wrestling or sports stars till 7-8th, blue films, condoms, debonair till our 12th, girls, dating, sex till our PGs.
You can imagine the amount of change if you remember that DPS MMS leaked around 8 years ago.
I’ll not surprised if tomorrow girls will have their dates mentioned on their public profile for rationalizing their irate behavior and mood swings. Bachelors or singles will update their time since last hookup. Because this is what the evolution is and that is the change in environment around us.
There is nothing wrong with the civilization because any civilization is got build by never ending process of evolution. Every one is doing their natural selection from the environment to become fit for survival and same time adding also which gradually changing this atmosphere and resulting into evolution.
There is only one thing constant in this whole practice and that thing is Life, which needs two materialistic process and actions, “production and reproduction”. Production of energy through food and then transformation of that energy into new life, through the process of sex.
Same as there was dialogue in Omkara “Yeh poori duniya paet aur paet kay niche kay liye…” (“This world revolve around two thing, one is stomach and other is just beneath that stomach”- dialogue in an Indian movie Omkara)
I don’t think that this disturbance is just about those 11 minutes of pleasure; this is about the changing of our environment where we are living. This is about what we are taking and what we are giving to this world. What ever we seed in today’s surrounding will be taken by our next, same as we did and named it a generation gap.
superlikee comment…very well described….its all about generation gap.
eleven minutes an insight to the meetings of two souls……..and realization of keeping it pure…..11/11/11.
It’s so sad, something which only takes 11 minutes becomes the hardest thing to obtain from one’s own wife… It’s the only thing i’ve ever asked for, and yet it always seems the hardest to receive.
oh, but you don’t get married for those 11 minutes. you do it for the need of having a long term partner and an innocent child to look into your eyes and to feel yourselves unconditionally loved. you should do it for that or you shouldn’t do it at all.
hello
i love you and i wish to see u
i live in iran and hope u have a best life
Sex is the most sacred form of nature. Yes…..I really liked this novel very much.
INTENSE!!!!
Maria etait tres perspicace
Elle faisait tres bien son travail
,Elle recevait ses clients
Faisait un diagnostique
Elle etait psychologue,
Elle soignait les ames
Avec amour
Le langage Universel est le langage des ames
C’est le langage de l’amour
Most of my students like to read your books.So,recently I started to think about making some teaching materials on your novels to help them learn better.
I read this book the Arabic version, it’s really marvelous as your other books, How beautiful it is when you mix the wisdom with the entertainment, thank you
i live in iran and you are my favorit author.
hmm amzaingly true!!!
This is absolutely true for so many men in the entire World.. (Eleven minutes. The world revolved around something that only took eleven minutes.)
It is not only a feeling where a man is let down in life during those most important 11 minutes, but actually its his failure to find out True Love. A man who finds True Love in his life, lives eternally and not for only 11 minutes…
Gud Morning Sir ! I relly loved this novel.. I have red it thrice and can really relate to it.. Searching for Love and a man with whom I can spend my life happily ever after..
Aruna, you never have to search for love instead it found you and once it finds you, it will also give you the man who will love you.
Paulo, I am a forever-fan of your work. Thank you for everything.
I read 11 min but this is the first time i am seeing MARIA.
Tnx for sharing the photo
Oh Paulo mi admiracion por ti es mucha cada libro cada frase es ya una enseñanza! decia yo que dia 11-11-11 es muy agradable para mi,pues es el nacimiento de mi hijo !.por eso pienso que en el espiritualismo es muy bueno como el comienzo de la reflexion de cada uno de nosotros interna,para manejar la mente y que ella no nos maneje a nosotros! asi comenzar una vida nueva limpio el espiritu y la mente,y con tu ayuda todo es posible si logramos captar cada mensaje que se encuentra detras de cada letra.OBRIGADO! .
I really enjoyed this book. . I think a lot of sexual abuse can lead to some problems, and as the book says, some customers wanted Mary to obtain pleasure through pain.
Sex is great, is very good, but what really bothers me is knowing that people are treated as commodities, used plays out. It seems a disposable product. And the feelings? Or is it just pleasure? But only one person pleasure is valid? I do not like prostitution, because people take advantage of the misery of others for profit. But a few years ago I went to houses of prostitution. Today it makes no sense to me. Today I do not seek casual sex, just want someone to share good times with me. I met and I know that everything in life is uncertain, but I feel that even though I’ll separate myself from my wife that I would not seek casual sex, it would be a time alone and then look at another woman.
Here in Brazil was made a research on prostitution.
* Organized crime is behind most of the houses of prostitution.
* The use brothels corrupt politicians to launder the stolen money.
* 69% of prostitutes suffer from depression.
* Many girls live in false imprisonment.
Hugs
Leandro, this comment really leaves insigths for reflexion! Thank you for sharing your personal experience, and the facts regarding prostitution.
I agree with you, and I wonder how myopia may misslead us in many many ways.
As for the book 11 minutes, I loved it! Merely because of Maria, her experiences, and the deepful insights from diferent perspectives. I believe that love and sex is a very beautyful and intimate contact between two persons and souls. But life has also tought me, that abuses and demands can turn it into something cold and very misunderstood.
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