Augusto Cury, a 67-year-old Brazilian psychiatrist and writer, is a presidential candidate for the Avante party and surprised in the elections by reaching 10% of voting intentions in the last Quaest poll. Nobody took him seriously when he was young, averse to studies, with unruly hair and clothes considered "bizarre," he said he wanted to be a doctor. Encouraged by his parents, he decided to "stop playing around with life," studying 12 hours a day to enter university and abandoning old habits, which included orgies and parties.
Cury recounts this transformation in the book "Never Give Up on Your Dreams," one of the more than 70 he published throughout his career. Throughout his work, which brings together nonfiction texts and novels, he analyzes themes such as Jesus and expresses resentment toward the academic elite. The books have a style reminiscent of self-help, although he refutes that label.
The psychiatrist's career is marked by short phrases, motivational messages and accessible language that won millions of followers, making him an influential figure in the Brazilian religious and literary scene. His personal overcoming journey, documented in his books, seems to resonate with the audience that supports him in the presidential race.
