The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho

8.76

Rating: 8.76 | Votes: 38

This Book @ Amazon.com

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Submitted by: smb2001 from India
wonderful and different....the one book which inspired me the most!!!! unforgettable!

Submitted by: tapasya from india
extremely inpiring!

Submitted by: amar from india
the best book i read till now which inspires motivate to follow ur dream's.

Submitted by: Jae from USA
This is as simple as a the best cup of tea on the most perfect fall day.

Submitted by Unknown
simply the most important book i have ever read, and i recommend it to everyone

Submitted by Unknown
This is a wonderful story illustrating the importance of following your heart.

Submitted by Unknown
looking after our soul, read this journey

Awful waste of time
Review written by: John Post From San Francisco, CA
If you are very naive/idealistic you may like this book and its simplistic message. "Do what you really want to do and the world will conspire to help you achieve it." That's a pathetic message.

It doesn't matter how much you want something, what matters is how hard you work for it. The world does not conspire to hand you things because you feel they are your destiny. The only way you achieve your dreams is through hard work. This book's message encourages you to stumble along toward your dream and it will magically happen for you.

Inspiring
Review written by: Janice McNeil From
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this magical story of Santiago who was seeking an adventure and dared to follow his dreams. He learned many lessons and acquired wisdom along his path of exploration. This book is written simplistically, but captivates you and draws you into the storyline in a powerful manner. The story setting in the majestic mountains of Andulusia are described as a beautiful place in which Santiago pursued his dreams and found hidden treasures. It is a book that is powerful and provactively written, a good read.

simple
Review written by: DivinePrince From New York, NY
I'm extremely disappointed with 'The Alchemist.' One thing is for sure, I simply had to put the book down half-way through because I couldn't stop cringing at the writing. Now that I'm perusing the reviews of the book, one common denominator of even the 5-star ratings is that even they say the book is "simple."

Maybe I couldn't finish the book because I had heard so much positive word of mouth over the years. Maybe I just had the book hyped up to be some profound read, and instead it was just trite. If you'd like my opinion, for a more eloquent read, I highly recommend anything by Kahlil Gibran and Hermann Hesse's Siddartha.

Like a magic spell that wears off after you finish
Review written by: Dmitri M. A. Hubbard From Hong Kong
"Simple things are the most valuable and only wise people appreciate them."

This book is enchanting when you read it, you will get wrapped up in it and possibly finish it in a single session. After you have finished, wait a week. Then try to remember anything about the book. Truth is, you probably can't. Now go and pick up a copy of Siddartha by Herman Hesse. Read that. Wait a week. See if you can remember anything about it. Chances are, you probably can.

The story centers around the journey of Santiago, who dreams of seeing the Egyptian Pyramids, and his journey to find them, and through observing and following omens it follows a general "rites of passage" which has the same feel to it as the One Thousand and One Arabian Nights.

This book gives you a quick fix, very similar to the inspirational feel you get when you thumb through a self-help book in the bookstore, and become inspired by. Equally, now, you probably cannot remember the name of the self-help book, but is that a bad thing? Who can tell. As Coelho demostrates "when you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true". The book bubbles with similar sentiment.

Therefore, not a great book, but a quick read and not likely to do any longterm harm.

Stay True To Yourself and Your Destiny
Review written by: Sharon Michaels From U.S.A.
Have you ever dreamt to living out your wildest dreams and then talked yourself out of it? Are you unsure about taking that leap of faith and beginning your journey to greater self-discovery? If you answered, "yes" to either question, then please read on because The Alchemist is a book you'll want to sit back and enjoy.

The Alchemist has been a best selling self-development fable for twenty years. Brazilian author Paulo Coelho takes both the reader and the main character Santiago on a mystical journey of self-realization. In this novel of self-discovery, we learn that with faith, belief and action dreams really may come true.

The Alchemist is a well-written novel that weaves a fascinating tale of a young Spanish Shepard boy who leaves his country, his lively-hood and family in search of hidden treasure. This story mixes an interesting combination of magic, spiritual wonders, friendship, disappointment and life changing adventures.

The moral of this story: When you stay true to yourself and your destiny in life, the wisdom and power of the universe open up to you and your dreams.

Summary:
Told by a gypsy woman and a "king" that his fortune awaits him at the Pyramids of Egypt, Santiago the Shepard boy leaves his home in Spain to seek his life's treasure.
He is told that when a person wants something badly enough and believes it is their destiny to achieve it, the universe conspires to make it so. It is important, the king tells him, that he keep a lookout for and acts upon the "omens" that will show him the way.

Along this exotic journey in a foreign land he is robbed of his money, meets an educated Englishman who shares the dream of learning the secrets of the alchemist, finds the love of his life and ends up being the one chosen to be shown the ways of the wise "alchemist."

Santiago's journey for material treasure turns into a life changing spiritual transformation. He learns how to use his courage, inner faith and belief to discover the true treasures in life. Sometimes, your treasure is closer to home than you think.

My Recommendation:
This book is about understanding and listening to your heart and trusting your intuition. It is also about realizing that "things" may not always as they appear. In one way or another we are all Santiago the Shepard boy. The Alchemist is the universal tale of the journey we take in life - those life-changing journeys that test of our faith, belief and determination in our desire to live our true destiny.

If you're on a journey of self-discovery and inner wisdom, you'll appreciate this fable because it not only entertains but also teaches the life lesson of never giving up on yourself or your dream of personal greatness. The Alchemist is a great mix of self-discovery and fiction. It's good reading!