The Alchemist, 25th Anniversary: A Fable About Following Your Dream

I picked up a copy of this book because my students were reading it for their English class and I like to throw them off by slipping literary references into Algebra class. I figured it was a short book, it wouldn't take along time, and it would give me a sense for what they were learning in their other classes (and maybe spark some cross-curricular ideas!) Oh man, was that a mistake. It didn't do any of those things (and apparently kids these days don't actually read their summer reading, what a shame). Instead, I fell deeply in love with this book and have read it three times in the last two years. It's the kind of book that works on more than one level - you have your hero who goes on an adventure, learning from a wise mentor, hitting roadblocks, coming to know himself and the world around him before realizing that his true treasure was in himself all along, and if that's all you get out of the book, then that's fine, but there's more going on here. The difficulty of the book is figuring out what that more is. The book constantly suggests and hints at lessons that seem at once a comment on ethics and metaphysics, history and anthropology, post-colonialist critique and folk fairy tale. Biblical allusions abound next to Islamic lessons on the nature of God while institutions and mysticism are equally likely to be evoked and revoked. There's always the sense as you read that there is something lingering under the surface, but the minute that you try to grab it (or write it in a review) it seems to disappear. That seems to be the point of the book, that the message is clear if you read it without trying to grab it. Hold it loosely and it comes easily, try to describe it and it flits away. The book is allusive; it works on you without seeming to, and at the end you're left both satisfied as the adventure concludes and also wanting more, or perhaps wanting to do more. Perhaps that's why I like this book so much - it doesn't yield its secrets easily, or perhaps it yields it too easily, and you finish wondering where your heart and your treasure lie and what your personal legend might be. I imagine that this book might say more about its reader than its text: when you know your own heart and your own journey well enough, perhaps this will only remain a passing, although enjoyable fairy tale.

A book with an overwhelming number of positive reviews was surely bound to be a great read, or above average at worst. Boy was I wrong. It's definitely up on the list of worst books I've read. Fortunately, I learned a lesson far greater than what the book could teach me; Amazon reviews do not determine the quality of a story.

So, I'm on a part of my life right now where I'm 25. A year fresh after graduating, and have a new found love and appreciation for books. I'm in such a place where I'm trying to discover what I am supposed to do. I'm a spiritual person, and I really felt that this book is talking to me. I'm sure everyone would resonate differently with the book. But the theme and the message is there. I'm not done reading it yet, but when I started. I read like the first 80 pages nonstop. Really soak in the message and lessons. I can't wait to finish this book. EDIT: So, I finally finished the book. And wow, never would have I thought, a book would have such an impact on me. It's a simple tale but filled with lessons if you are seeking it. I read it in like 3 sittings. I'm not much of a reader and just starting to appreciate it, and I am glad this was one of the books I read. Love it.

This book was a poorly written schlock of new age rubbish. It started out ok but then about the 10th time “Personal Legend” was teferenced it lost me. The narrative is ok until the boy leaves the crystal store and then it’s just unreadable. I really don’t see anything deep or profound here other than persevere I guess and you’ll get what you want. Whatever.

It seemed like this book was written for a sixth grader. Did not live up to the hype.

Really was expecting something life altering. My dog chewed up the book when I was 18 pages in and I should have let her finish. Maybe I miss the point. Kinda like Dave Ramsey’s stuff—if you’re already living life like you should then this tale is monotonous. You can read the synopsis. The story is ludicrous from the beginning, but I persevered through the gypsy and the king and the desert and the oasis and then the alchemist. Treasure? Like it had been under his nose all the time and because he was so in sync with the world and learned all these things he found it buried in his own back yard and went back to get the girl—just another he’d run into with a pretty face. Good grief. This is my take. Instead of the sheep and Bedouins and emerald tablets the author would have been better putting his magical life altering quotes in a little book. Some people may need the tale. I am religious and don’t get the relationship of God and turning oneself into the wind. Lola gets this one back as a chew toy. Not going on my library of keepers.

This is literally where it all began, my story intertwined so thoroughly with that of the young sheepherder that I was mesmerized and unable to put it down. If you look through my purchase list you will see I didn't stop here - I became obsessed with Paulo Coelho's work and have purchased almost all of his writings. This is my go to gift for all friends, acquaintances, and family members. Words that can be cherished a lifetime and continually brought back to throughout your journey. Do not hesitate to purchase this. SERIOUSLY! If you are on this page considering, BUY IT NOW. It will awaken pieces of you that you are certainly ready for. Welcome to the journey :)

This gift edition is beautiful. It comes in a lovely 'box' holder with a ribbon cover over it. It's the ideal gift set.

Bought this book for my preteen reader. He loves it didn’t finish reading it instead he found the audio version on YouTube go figure. This is a great addition to any home library.

If I had known that this "famous" book was based on the "Space Fairy Story", with "God" and "...the baby Jesus," I would never have considered wasting my time (and money) on it. I could barely get through the Preface. It's just more innuendo piled atop the already too-high pile of religious brainwashing. But yeah, sure, if you need to reinforce your ridiculous notions of god-based faith, you'll find a 7-course meal here.

I picked up a copy of this book because my students were reading it for their English class and I like to throw them off by slipping literary references into Algebra class. I figured it was a short book, it wouldn't take along time, and it would give me a sense for what they were learning in their other classes (and maybe spark some cross-curricular ideas!) Oh man, was that a mistake. It didn't do any of those things (and apparently kids these days don't actually read their summer reading, what a shame). Instead, I fell deeply in love with this book and have read it three times in the last two years. It's the kind of book that works on more than one level - you have your hero who goes on an adventure, learning from a wise mentor, hitting roadblocks, coming to know himself and the world around him before realizing that his true treasure was in himself all along, and if that's all you get out of the book, then that's fine, but there's more going on here. The difficulty of the book is figuring out what that more is. The book constantly suggests and hints at lessons that seem at once a comment on ethics and metaphysics, history and anthropology, post-colonialist critique and folk fairy tale. Biblical allusions abound next to Islamic lessons on the nature of God while institutions and mysticism are equally likely to be evoked and revoked. There's always the sense as you read that there is something lingering under the surface, but the minute that you try to grab it (or write it in a review) it seems to disappear. That seems to be the point of the book, that the message is clear if you read it without trying to grab it. Hold it loosely and it comes easily, try to describe it and it flits away. The book is allusive; it works on you without seeming to, and at the end you're left both satisfied as the adventure concludes and also wanting more, or perhaps wanting to do more. Perhaps that's why I like this book so much - it doesn't yield its secrets easily, or perhaps it yields it too easily, and you finish wondering where your heart and your treasure lie and what your personal legend might be. I imagine that this book might say more about its reader than its text: when you know your own heart and your own journey well enough, perhaps this will only remain a passing, although enjoyable fairy tale.

A book with an overwhelming number of positive reviews was surely bound to be a great read, or above average at worst. Boy was I wrong. It's definitely up on the list of worst books I've read. Fortunately, I learned a lesson far greater than what the book could teach me; Amazon reviews do not determine the quality of a story.

So, I'm on a part of my life right now where I'm 25. A year fresh after graduating, and have a new found love and appreciation for books. I'm in such a place where I'm trying to discover what I am supposed to do. I'm a spiritual person, and I really felt that this book is talking to me. I'm sure everyone would resonate differently with the book. But the theme and the message is there. I'm not done reading it yet, but when I started. I read like the first 80 pages nonstop. Really soak in the message and lessons. I can't wait to finish this book. EDIT: So, I finally finished the book. And wow, never would have I thought, a book would have such an impact on me. It's a simple tale but filled with lessons if you are seeking it. I read it in like 3 sittings. I'm not much of a reader and just starting to appreciate it, and I am glad this was one of the books I read. Love it.

This book was a poorly written schlock of new age rubbish. It started out ok but then about the 10th time “Personal Legend” was teferenced it lost me. The narrative is ok until the boy leaves the crystal store and then it’s just unreadable. I really don’t see anything deep or profound here other than persevere I guess and you’ll get what you want. Whatever.

It seemed like this book was written for a sixth grader. Did not live up to the hype.

Really was expecting something life altering. My dog chewed up the book when I was 18 pages in and I should have let her finish. Maybe I miss the point. Kinda like Dave Ramsey’s stuff—if you’re already living life like you should then this tale is monotonous. You can read the synopsis. The story is ludicrous from the beginning, but I persevered through the gypsy and the king and the desert and the oasis and then the alchemist. Treasure? Like it had been under his nose all the time and because he was so in sync with the world and learned all these things he found it buried in his own back yard and went back to get the girl—just another he’d run into with a pretty face. Good grief. This is my take. Instead of the sheep and Bedouins and emerald tablets the author would have been better putting his magical life altering quotes in a little book. Some people may need the tale. I am religious and don’t get the relationship of God and turning oneself into the wind. Lola gets this one back as a chew toy. Not going on my library of keepers.

This is literally where it all began, my story intertwined so thoroughly with that of the young sheepherder that I was mesmerized and unable to put it down. If you look through my purchase list you will see I didn't stop here - I became obsessed with Paulo Coelho's work and have purchased almost all of his writings. This is my go to gift for all friends, acquaintances, and family members. Words that can be cherished a lifetime and continually brought back to throughout your journey. Do not hesitate to purchase this. SERIOUSLY! If you are on this page considering, BUY IT NOW. It will awaken pieces of you that you are certainly ready for. Welcome to the journey :)

This gift edition is beautiful. It comes in a lovely 'box' holder with a ribbon cover over it. It's the ideal gift set.

Bought this book for my preteen reader. He loves it didn’t finish reading it instead he found the audio version on YouTube go figure. This is a great addition to any home library.

If I had known that this "famous" book was based on the "Space Fairy Story", with "God" and "...the baby Jesus," I would never have considered wasting my time (and money) on it. I could barely get through the Preface. It's just more innuendo piled atop the already too-high pile of religious brainwashing. But yeah, sure, if you need to reinforce your ridiculous notions of god-based faith, you'll find a 7-course meal here.

To put it simply, this book changed my life. The author is overtly religious, and even though I am not, I admire the messages of this story in my own way. I think that this book would have had a profound influence on me no matter what state (good or bad) my life was in when I read it, and I would recommend it to anyone. There were many parts that I read over two or three times -- not because I didn't understand, but I was so amazed that I found myself wanting to experience a passage again. The vendor that I purchased from, Bullet's' Bonanza's, was extremely kind and professional, including a personal note in the package. I would gladly do business with them again.

I have no clue what are all these great reviews about?!? - The main character is very confusing and never fully develops. Sometimes he talks like a very learned individual and other times he is lost completely. - The story? I mean was there even a story here? Its like the author just wrote down a completely unorganized dream. - Nothing ever matures in this book. Not story, not character...nothing! - i don’t know if things are lost during the english translation but this book has absolutely nothing as far as i am concerned.

I do not understand what all the hype is about. I wanted to like this book. The author hit you over the head with the lessons it wanted you to take away, but instead of telling an intricate story about the Shepard following his dreams and shedding light on self discovery, he proceeded to spew generic and desperately inspirational quotes and self contrived theories on how life and spirituality works, and it gave no faith in the audience to figure out these things on their own. Very elementary, the writing offers no intellectual stimulation. This book is suited best for students in middle school.

Honestly, I found this book to be ridiculously dull and so full of overly philosophical talk that I trudged through the first 1/2 before throwing in the towel. The entire premise is faulty as well. Life is not about finding your true destiny - it's about making an impact in the lives of others. This is such s fully self - centered view of life that I'm not honestly surprised so many love it. The whole "It's all about me and my feelings" creates a very selfish and self - involved person who makes little impact. And while the main character did interact with others in the story, it was all a coincidence that their lives were improved at all because the character did very little for anyone but himself. Drivel.

The book condition was perfect and arrived very quickly, so no complaints there. I will even give points for the book binding and the paper used. As for the content, however, this book is awful. If you want a spiritual journey with depth read Siddhartha, or the Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter, or a host of stories from Christianity, Islam, or Judaism. If you want Dr. Wayne Dyer's platitudes wrapped in the most overt metaphors and cliches humanly possible: buy this book. The premise of the book can be summed up in one quote:"[W]hen you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." Other ways you might sum this book up are: "Be all you can be." "Just do it." "What the mind [or heart] can conceive, it [will] achieve." "Live in the moment." "The answer lies within." One of the most climactic moments in the story is where Santiago--who has been learning to convene with "The Soul of the World"--stands on top of a dune and becomes one with the wind. The problem is, that even as a work of fiction and not an *actual* self-help book, the story comes across as shallow and so overtly New Age that it borders on the ridiculous. Coelho (mis)appropriates religious texts at his leisure and binds them to his thesis that the "Language of the World" is that all things are one. Moreover, magic and the supernatural as elements of good fiction are one thing (e.g. anything by Toni Morrison or Gabriel Garcia Marquez's, One Hundred Years of Solitude) and The Alchemist incorporates those certainly but what the book lacks is subtlety. Coehlo's problem (cliches and platitudes aside) is assuming a remarkable lack of intelligence on behalf of his reader. All the metaphors are laid out and every lesson is the same: follow your dreams, er, I mean your "Personal Legend." Even the capitalization is ridiculous and gives a faux sense of importance to ideas that are so vapid they would be funny if Coehlo did not peddle them as legitimate. I cannot stress enough how terrible this book is. From preposterous romantic drivel to all the babbling about listening to one's heart, you'd be just as well off watching day time pop-psychologists. The problem with platitudes and cliches is that in times of actual distress, suffering, pain, anxiety, worry, doubt, loss, etc., they are shown for what they are: nothing. And in a way this book is dangerous because it risks convincing us that nothing should stand in the way of what we want and that our only guide is our sense and the ability to "read the omens" (whatever that may mean). This risks making others pawns in our game of self-defined self-fulfillment and does nothing for those who have desperate, pressing needs, and who cannot be succored by some half-baked consolation that "the universe" is conspiring for them.

I am making a lot of changes in my life, and figuring out what I want to do, who I want to be, etc. So, my friend highly recommended this book to me. I do not like fiction, but I thought the book could help give me some wisdom and insight, so I gave it a shot. I read to about page 100, but even the first few pages were absolutely boring. The character wasn't relatable, the plot or storytelling wasn't engrossing, interesting, or written well, and the religious undertones weren't for me. I'm in my mid-20s, and this book reminded me of something I'd have to read for summer reading in middle school or high school. This book might be good for those interested in a Shepard roaming Africa and the Middle East in search of himself, BUT this book isn't good for any adult searching for themselves, or looking for something entertaining and readable.

The Alchemist is a gripping narrative about a young Andalusian shepherd named Santiago and his journey to find the greatest treasure in the world. This charming story follows Santiago on his journey to Egypt, after having a recurring dream of finding treasure there. Santiago travels across great distances and encounters crazy adventures in his quest for gold. Little does he know that the ultimate treasure is actually found deep within. This dream was so prophetic that Santiago genuinely believed this was his ultimate goal in life. After deciding to travel to a Romani fortune-teller in a nearby town to discover its meaning, a gypsy woman tells him that there is a treasure in the Pyramids in Egypt. Towards the beginning of his journey, Santiago meets an old king, named Melchizedek, who advises him to sell his sheep in order to travel to Egypt. He also introduces the idea of a Personal Legend, stating that your Personal Legend, “is what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their Personal Legend is.” The Alchemist Physical CoverAlong the journey, Santiago meets an Englishman who is in search of an Alchemist and together they continue their search for treasure. As they travel through the Sahara desert, Santiago meets and falls in love with a beautiful Arabian woman named Fatima. After a brief period of time, Santiago asks Fatima to marry him, but she tells him that she will only marry him after he finds his treasures. Perplexed by this, Santiago later learns that true love will not stop one’s Personal Legend, and if it does, it is not true love. Eventually Santiago meets a lone alchemist who teaches him about Personal Legends. He shares his wisdom that people want to find only the treasure of their Personal Legends but not the Personal Legend itself. The alchemist states, “Those who don’t understand their Personal Legends will fail to comprehend their teachings.” If you are looking for a book that will inspire courage, this is the one. No matter what your dream, goals or visions are, the universe will conspire to help you achieve the things you want, regardless of how insurmountable the task seems. You must live the life you truly desire to its fullest extent if you want to look back on a life having worth lived. The essential message is that treasure is more worthy than gold. Read more here: [...]

There was a time when I would probably pick this book apart and criticize its theology in a haughty fashion. These days, I instead find this book dangerously inspiring. The premise is that everyone has their own unique grand treasure to pursue, their own Personal Legend, and that the universe conspires to help them in their quest, if only they stay focused on the prize and don't give up when the universe also tests their desire for the treasure. Spoiler alert: The book is about a shepherd boy whose treasure is unknowingly right where he is at, but he has to travel the world to find it. Along the way he gains wisdom, learns languages, and finds love-- added bonuses that he is tempted to be content with as treasures apart from the greatest treasure he is pursuing. "'When I have been truly searching for my treasure, I’ve discovered things along the way that I never would have seen had I not had the courage to try things that seemed impossible for a shepherd to achieve.'” I found a kindred spirit with the shepherd boy who had a wanderlust. I think we all identify along the way with those characters who grew content or gave up pursuing their Personal Legends. “We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it’s our life or our possessions and property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand.” "'People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don’t deserve them, or that they’ll be unable to achieve them. We, their hearts, become fearful just thinking of loved ones who go away forever, or of moments that could have been good but weren’t, or of treasures that might have been found but were forever hidden in the sands. Because, when these things happen, we suffer terribly.'” "'There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.'” “'That’s what alchemists do. They show that, when we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.'” An alchemist recommended this book to me. I give it 4.5 stars out of 5, it is pretty good for short fiction. I do not know if I will read any of Coelho's other works; I have heard they are all written similarly. I'm told I need to re-read this one periodically to get more meaning from it-- the author says in the foreword he does that every so often. Read it for yourself.

Overly simplistic, pie-in-the-sky, everything-will-work-out dribble. Definitely not a book for anyone with any level of life experience.

I simply couldn't read it. So utterly bland and lifeless. It felt as if someone was shoving the story down my throat.

First of all, a star docked for the writing. It sounds like it was written by a 10 year old and though this simple, parable-like prose makes the story easily accessible, it was genuinely painful to read at times for me. Another docked because Santiago is an idiot. He makes a terrible deal with a gypsy that costs him a tenth of his treasure, has his money stolen almost immediately after arriving in Africa, and apparently falls in love with every woman he meets in his life. Is Santiago made this way to represent the way people stumble around blind in life when pursuing their own dreams? Maybe, but that doesn't make him as a character any less infuriating, even though he does become a wide idiot by the end. That out of the way, this book isn't as bad as some say, or as good as some say. The truth lies in the middle, perhaps because this story is deceptive in its tale and, I believe, is so on purpose. It emphasizes dreams, or your Personal Legend, but also emphasizes the importance of living in the present and learning from your experiences. The Englishman taught Santiago about alchemists, but is ultimately less prepared when they actually meet him because he is living in his books and not the present. Additionally, the book presents an actual treasure at the pyramids as Santiago's Personal Legend, but we learn at the end that there is no treasure at the pyramids (even though he does find a physical treasure). In this, the book is deceptive yet again! The actual treasure for Santiago are the experiences he has while on his journey to the pyramids, the people he met and the wisdom he gained. For this will guide him better in life than the treasure under his sycamore tree (he is likely to have this soon stolen anyway, if his last experiences repeat). This book is ultimately deceptively wise, but only if you are able to peel through the terrible prose, mysticism and religious thinking. I would also add that you do not need to subject yourself to this tiresome tale to gain the wisdom it preaches, and that due to its deceptiveness some may only take away "Follow your dreams and the universe will conspire to aid you" from it.

Total waste of time. Fable. Meaning of life. Bedouins in the desert. Allah. Some proverbs and verses from the Sermon on the Mount in the Bible thrown in for good measure. I finished and said, what the heck was that??

I absolutely loved this book. I am not much of an avid reader but this bookwas amazing. All Paulo Coelho's books are very enlightening. The story is about an Andalusian shephard that travels a long journey to reach a treasure. He encounters many challenges which help him grow in order to reach his true potential or as the book states. The universe colaberates in order to help you achieve your dreams. Someone told me to read eat in a few months or evena year. I read a review from someone that had said that his second time reading it, it felt different. Cant wait to read it many more times.

Coelho wrote this drivel in two weeks, then has the audacity to claim in the foreword that it "is widely considered one of the ten best books of the twentieth century." I swore in disbelief when I read that line. If this book is popular, it is only because of its brevity, the simplicity of its sentence structures, and the vagueness that allows it to pass off meaningless statements as somehow profound. As examples of the latter, consider "The soul of the world is nourished by people's happiness. And also by unhappiness, envy, and jealousy." "When you really want something, it's because that desire originated in the soul of the universe." "No one fails to suffer the consequences of everything under the sun." "I know the soul of the world [...] It tells me that its greatest problem is that, up until now, only the minerals and vegetables understand that all things are one." etc. Perhaps, if you do not scrutinize the text, it will convey a warm and fuzzy feeling that you will enjoy. You should be warned, however, that the author does not have a direct link to God telling him the way to live a meaningful life, as he seems to imply. His perspective is not insightful, fully-developed, or even original. If anything can be learned from this author, it is how to most effectively peddle trash to the masses. To mitigate the above somewhat, I'll allow for the possibility that the author genuinely believes in some positive message he is attempting to convey. I would like to give him a life lesson, though. In the real world, people rarely judge one another on their intents, or their feelings. You will not keep a job because you intend to do it well, and people should not read your book because you intended it to have value. There is nothing of consequence in "The Alchemist", and to use the author's own phrase, Coelho's "Personal Legend" is surely anything other than writing. And no, it's not worth reading the book to understand that reference.

There are many negative reviews of this novel, and most of them, in my opinion, simply misunderstand its aim. It is not meant to awe with cunning prose or proselytize for the ancient mysticism of alchemy. It is meant to inspire. Read it as you might view a Star Wars movie: with wonder and insight, but skeptical of wizardry. Afterward, channel Coelho’s passion towards your own dreams (without a lightsaber). Plot This is the most recent iteration of an immortal tale: “The Man Who Became Rich through a Dream,” an ancient Persian or Islamic folk tale originally included in One Thousand and One Nights in the eighth century. No one is better suited to tell this story than Coelho (pronounced Co-el-you), who has succeeded in turning his childhood dream of writing into a personal fortune and inspired countless others to follow their own dreams. He is among the best-selling fiction authors of all time, in any language. Short Author Biography Born in 1947 in Rio de Janeiro, Coelho grew into a rebellious youth and was treated in a mental institution for his irritability, political harassment, and extremist attitudes (he escaped twice, and his treatment included electroshock therapy). Thus “cured,” he attended law school for a year before dropping out to travel South America, North Africa, Mexico, and Europe as a hippie in the 60’s, experimenting with drugs and black magic. Upon his return to Brazil, he worked as an actor, journalist, theatre director, and finally a popular lyricist, but he was eventually imprisoned and tortured by the ruling class for his occultist and subversive lyrics. Afterward, he returned to Europe and chanced upon an esoteric Catholic sect which inspired his 500 mile pilgrimage to Saint James of Compostella. This journey galvanized his decision to turn his attention to writing full time and was the subject of his first novel, The Pilgrimage. Themes There are four main themes: paradox of free will and fate, intuition/omens, conquering fear, and the law of attraction. I would like to discuss them here in answer to the blanket dismissal they have received from other reviewers, who label it all as “superficial,” “cliché,” or “New Age bologna.” The truth is, these topics take us close to the core of what it means to be human, and they have been subject to scrutiny by seekers, searching for meaning in their lives, for millennia. After thousands of years dwelling on the same subject matter, clichés naturally accumulate, but they do not diminish the validity of the questions raised. The New Age milieu only represents the most recent resurgence of these ideas into our cultural memory; in truth, they have been with us since the beginning of human history. Free Will and Fate Coelho paradoxically embraces the concept of free will (aggrandized as one’s “Personal Legend”) and fate (“Maktub: ‘it is written’”) simultaneously. He is not the first to do so. The idea that autonomy and determinism are compatible is called compatibilism, and the first known apologist to endorse this idea was the Stoic philosopher Epictetus in the first century CE. Epictetus held before us a "completely autonomous" individual will, and at the same time a universe that is "a rigidly deterministic single whole". As John Messerly summarized: “This basic idea of Epictetus and Stoicism in general is sometimes captured in the pithy phrase: ‘Happiness is not getting what we want, but wanting what we get.’ The idea is that well-being doesn’t derive from the possession of external things, but of control over internal states of mind.” Intuition and Omens The interpretation of omens has been practiced for at least as long as humans have learned to write. When we use phrases such as “watch for the omens,” “let your heart lead,” and “follow your feelings,” we are often talking about intuition. It is our subconscious perceiving patterns that the conscious mind overlooked, and attempting to guide us in decision-making, social cognition, and creativity. As the eminent philosopher Bernardo Kastrup wrote in More Than Allegory, “The intellect resides in what depth-psychology calls the ‘ego,’ that part of our thoughts, feelings and perceptions that we are self-reflectively aware of. But underneath our self-reflective selves there is an unfathomably broader mental space that depth-psychology has come to call the ‘unconscious,’ the wellspring of intuition.” According to Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman, our intuition is often right in situations where the following are true: (1) the environment is relatively stable, (2) we have a lot of practice, and (3) we have received accurate and timely feedback from previous predictions. Outside of those settings, however, our intuition can lead us astray, sometimes to devastating effect. The trick is to know when to trust it. For more on this, read his book, Thinking Fast and Slow . “What if imagination and art are not frosting at all, but the fountainhead of human experience?” - Rollo May, existential psychologist “Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.” - Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist Conquering Fear Coelho reinforces ancient wisdom taught in every religious and spiritual tradition I am aware of: irrational fear is suffering and hindrance, and there are two cures: faith and presence. Recognize your identity as part of something much greater than your ego, surrender worries of circumstances beyond your control to this greater power, and focus only on being here, now. After all, in the present moment, “all unhappiness and struggle dissolve, and life begins to flow with joy and ease” (Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now). Here are a few pertinent excerpts from The Alchemist: “The fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself.” “If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man.” “We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it’s our life or our possessions and property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand.” The Law of Attraction One of the most controversial themes of this novel is this: “[T]here was a language in the world that everyone understood… the language of enthusiasm, of things accomplished with love and purpose, and as part of a search for something believed in and desired... When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” This is essentially the Law of Attraction: the idea that positive thoughts bring positive experiences into one’s life. This idea germinated in the New Thought movement of the 19th century, although its oldest seeds come from ancient Hermeticism (which also gave us alchemy). Critics of the Law of Attraction rightly claim that its adherents are often convinced by their own confirmation bias and that, when taken to extremes, it may lead to egocentrism and victim-blaming. However, when liberated from the magical thinking of “manifestation,” and reinterpreted in terms of “reframing” and “resilience,” there is real scientific evidence to support the impact of positivity on one’s health, happiness, and even professional success. Conclusion I savored the evocative story and quotable insights of The Alchemist, and I would place it on my list of novels everyone should read. I admire Coelho’s power to exhibit significance and positivity in a world so full of their opposites.

A poor and idiotic attempt at a deeper philosophical search for the meaning of life and existence. Paulo Coelho starts the story with a significant aspiration to knowledge and wisdom and at the end reverts back to idiocy, ignorance and superstition. I am amazed at how many people I've talk to about this book when my original intent was to talk about Gibran's "The Prophet" (which I may say soars above Coelho work in depth, writing style and philosophical thought and I would recommend it instead of "The Alchemist") and they say "no, I have not read that book, but have you read "The Alchemist"? It's great!" Well, it is not.

A little big confused as to why my copy of this book was so ragged. The cover was totally fine and brand new. The pages however are ugh! The pages are not trimmed uniformed. Not a straight edge but rather harsh edges that fray and stick out very weridly.

This book joins a list of other "spiritual" journey books that are all fluff and no substance. "Follow your dreams", "you are in control of your destiny" and "the soul of the universe is on your side" are the kinds of diatribes you will find in this book. And as if to give it credibility, the author uses symbolic Biblical references applied out of context or negate of meaning which has the opposite effect for anyone willing to look into them in context. Santiago, which interestingly enough is linked to the name St. James in Latin, is a Shepherd who previously studied to be a priest for the pride of his family. He left the seminary knowing how to read and having studied Latin which he feels makes him better than most other people. He has a dream of finding treasure in Egypt but wakes before it is revealed just where it is. Desiring to know how to unlock this dream, he seeks a gypsy woman who he is frightened of but because she has a picture of Jesus in her home he feels better. She doesn't really tell him anything he didn't know. Later that day he is approached my an old man who eventually reveals himself as Melchizedek, King of Salem who he first assumes can't read and then assumes is trying to cheat him in cahoots with the gypsy woman. The guys also gives him the humanistic advice of following your dreams and controlling your destiny as if this is the sole purpose of life. It's all about you and your Personal Legends. If you want to know the problems with this, pick up a Bible and read Genesis 14 and Hebrews 6 and 7. My issue is not that it misrepresents the Bible, but that it shows the ignorance of Santiago who left the seminary to be a shepherd so he could travel when in reality is was probably because he wasn't paying attention...otherwise he would have known who this person was claiming to be and how he couldn't possibly be the person he was claiming to be. And then his handling of the Urim and Thummim solidified my already growing annoyance with both Santiago and the author. I'm still reading the book because I have to, but it is painful. I've seen other reviews that say how spiritual it is and how it spoke to them and I just want to encourage anyone to do your homework and see this book for what it is: empty and wanting.

The Alchemist will speak to anyone who's willing to read thoroughly and relate to the novel. I found that this book related heavily to my life. I'm glad I've read it and purchased it. I ordered this book on April 12th 2018 and I didn't start reading it until Dec. 4th 2K19. I finished it today (December 7th) it only took me 3 dayz. It made me wish I would've read it when I first purchased it... A very inspiring and life changing book depending on how deep you relate to it. Definitely now one of my favorites and one of the books you should pass on from generation to generation.

A simple coming-of-age parable which, by means of its straightforward style, achieves profundity. This book has been touted for years. Several friends have declared this their favorite book; a co-worker recommended that I read it; online book forums can’t get through a recommendations thread without The Alchemist among the top responses. I figured it would be difficult for the book to make a true impression because of how highly touted it has been. I was wrong. I am impressed. This book drips with wisdom and yet is so unassuming that the reader is welcomed to embrace what rings true and shrug off the rest. The Alchemist tells the story of a shepherd who leaves his flocks to follow a dream of great treasure at the pyramids in Egypt. In his wanderings, he remains open to whatever experience comes his way. He meets a cast of fascinating, fun characters who share their wisdom, experience, and misadventures with the young shepherd. The writing style is simple, the translation beautiful. The prose is poetic yet approachable. As the story progresses, a reader can’t help but listen to the simple wisdom on offer. I enjoyed nearly every page of this book and was satisfied with the story’s full-circle conclusion. I felt that I learned and grew alongside this peripatetic shepherd; I maintained an open heart ready to welcome all wisdom, even from unexpected people and places. A few tidbits that particularly stood out: -“I couldn’t have found God in the seminary, he thought, as he looked at the sunrise” (13). A perfect example of the sort of wisdom this book offers. This rings true for me as I have a graduate degree from a seminary and a few weeks of wilderness backpacking under my belt. The sunset and a rock to sit on after a long day of schlepping have a deep theology on offer which couldn’t be contained in the many books I’ve read on the topic of spirituality. -“We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it’s our life or our possessions and property. But this fewar evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand” (79). As an agnostic with an education and history of biblical studies, this sort of welcoming, simple wisdom is encouraging. Coelho doesn’t ask you to convert to his philosophy, but simply to engage. -“You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say. That way you’ll never have to fear an unanticipated blow” (134). This is a main theme: listen to your heart, keep your eyes open to the world, remain present in your experiences, welcome omens as guideposts, avoid artificial absolutes. The shepherd in this passage goes on to confess that his heart is afraid of suffering. His friend the alchemist responds, “Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity” (134). What a beautiful message that strikes me at a perfect time. I am hoping to pursue my heart’s dream of writing. “From then on, the boy understood his heart. He asked it, please, never to stop speaking to him. He asked that, when he wandered far from his dreams, his heart press him and sound the alarm. The boy swore that , every time he heard the alarm, he would heed its message” (136). -“When we strive to become better an we are, everything around us becomes better, too...when we love, we always strive to become better than we are” (155). This is a beautiful book that I will treasure, recommend, and re-read. A

This review is based on my experience of reading the ENTIRE book on the kindle version. I tend to be a more critical reviewer and I RARELY give a 5-star review. This is an AMAZING story but there are a few points you should know BEFORE BUYING (don't worry I won't spoil anything). 1- As mentioned in the headline this story is written as a FABLE (not a novel). A moral / philosophical point is being made as the events unfold. The writing may seem a bit basic and at times vague but this serves to broaden the readership and encourages imagination to create a visual reference. If you are looking for a highly detailed writing about every moment of the story and more honest character engagement then this story (and a fable) is not for you. **I fear that many of the low ratings are from readers who have lumped this story into the novel category which would result in a misguided review. 2- This story is REMARKABLE not just for the journey BUT for the REFLECTION of the characters. As they unravel their FEELINGS and THOUGHTS the reader not only learns from their turmoils but develops an EMPATHY with the characters and this is a VERY POWERFUL technique that turns the story into an actual EXPERIENCE. This impression stays with the reader for a very long time. **Don't feel that the writer is preaching religion or a particular viewpoint to the reader. The story is all about the boy's journey and how those points impact him...... you don't have to agree with the lessons...... just learn how the lessons transform the boy and his journey.

I know, I know... it's a must-read, change-your-life kind of book. But was it really? I found myself highlighting a few things one moment and then pulling out the play-dough for the kindergarteners the next. Did I miss the pearls and diamonds of life-changing wisdom? It was like a self-help book for people who don't want to admit they read self-help books. I don't know... I couldn't connect with the main character, I thought the plot was disjointed, this could have been a five paragraph parable and told the same story. I'm not saying it is without merit, but let's just say I get why wealthy, famous people dig this book: it is a reminder that they have listed to the universal language and found the soul of the world. For the rest of us, it's an annoyingly optimistic, simplistic slap in the face.

Great read! This book is one of the most influential books I've ever read and I liked how it was a story about an adventure, but also incorporated spirituality and self-improvement. I would most definitely recommend this book to a friend or anyone looking for clarity throughout their life journey. I feel as if the book provided me with a positive insight on how to live life to the fullest. One specific aspect of the book that stuck with me was the idea that once we decide to search for our purpose in life, the whole universe will help us. I was also able to recognize that many individuals will struggle is recognizing what their purpose is. It is okay for your Personal Legend to change based on the events that occur throughout your life, but it is important to always be working toward and striving to achieve a goal. The Alchemist is a good reminder that if we, as individuals, do not seek to find our purpose or destiny due to fear, we will forever be unsatisfied. The one thing I love about this book is that it can be geared toward all ages. You are never too young to understand that we should listen to our heart and chase after our dreams. Lastly, I find it so interesting that this text was so beautifully translated from Portuguese and has the ability to powerfully deliver a message in almost 70 other languages. The power of words is amazing! Overall, a great read and I plan to reread this book in the future!

Actually horrible. It reads like it was written by a fourth grader. Very cliche and unoriginal.

I have been meaning to read this book for quite some time even though I had very little expectations in regards to what kind of book it was. I read many things about the book and how it is "life changing" and how for some it was, "one of the most important books I've ever read." Regardless of these claims, I took those notions with a grain of salt and decided to read it because it sounded like an interesting enough story. The first thing I will say is this is a very easy read, I read it in about a day. One reviewer claims that it seems like the book was written for 6th graders. In regards to the length and vocabulary that is used, I would agree with that statement; however that does not make the book any less enjoyable for readers of any age. That being said, I can see why some people do not like this book and feel that it does not live up to the hype. I believe one problem is that this book is held in such high regard with some people that readers expect too much from the story before they read it for themselves. I think some people are putting too much pressure on this story by giving others the expectation that it will be "life changing" rather than just "thought provoking". It may change your life, sure. All stories have a means to do so, but don't look to this book as some kind of guide that will help you make sense of the world. Take my advice and always keep your expectations low, you'll tend to be pleasantly surprised more often than not. I think that the other reason that a lot of people may dislike this story is the strong themes of spirituality. If you believe in the possibility of unknown forces in the universe, you may enjoy this story more-so than someone who is a very strict atheist. Now, this isn't to say that purely analytical people can't enjoy this book and take away some life lessons from it that have nothing to do with spirituality or unknown forces. You don't have to be religious to be able to take away wisdom from stories and parables from the Bible, Koran or other religions texts. Just know that the story contains things like intuition and connections to a higher power. I think that this turns some people away. I myself am somewhere between atheist and agnostic and I still thoroughly enjoyed this story. It is just a story after-all, don't take it as a personal attack to your world view.

I recognized the catchphrases sprinkled throughout the book "The universe will conspire to get what you want" and so forth. It's very boring if you read it once, and the surprises just pull the rug under you. Not a lot of sense in the storytelling! They introduce concepts like Magic, God, and Destiny and don't really dive into them, you're just left waiting until the next 'event' will happen. There are no explanations for anything and no rules seem to be established for any of the concepts, Fullmetal Alchemist does a much better job explaining magic, alchemy, and the laws of equal exchange. :P

I found "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho to be interesting and the translation from Spanish into English by Alan R. Clarke to be exceptional. Yet, it is difficult for me to recommend this book, even though it has sold over 150 million copies. It is a book that deals heavily with philosophical and religious ideas, and at times I found the philosophical component of the book to be both burdensome and boring. The story of a boy in search of a treasure he dreams about and which takes him across the desert and to the Pyrimads of Egypt I found quite moving and the best part of the book, but this journey is loaded with so much philosophy and how 'one'... a single human or plant or fossil... is united with the rest of the world is just a little too much for me.

So, I’ll be honest- I did not finish this book. I didn’t enjoy it, which was a disappointment since I’ve heard such great things about it and It’s been on my reading list for years. I finally just bought it and was excited to give it a try. But right after I started it, I found that I was forcing myself to read it (that’s not a good sign when you are reading for leisure). I just could not get into it. The writing is so basic. The story is just mildly compelling. I got to the part where he met Melchizedez, the king, and then I just couldn’t read anymore. Kept putting the book down and sighing with boredom. This book is hugely overrated! (I realize the story might have picked up and gotten better if I had kept reading, but I just couldn’t. I think if I was a 12-year-old I might have liked it, though.) There were a couple moments were I liked the way the author turned a phrase or I appreciated an insight that the author had. But as a whole this book was just not well written in my opinion.

This was an interesting read despite the headline. It turned out to be a reasonably engrossing look into the intellectual and spiritual enlightenment of a young man, referred to throughout the story only as "the boy". He finds himself somewhat inexplicably drawn into a quest from his Spanish home across the Sahara desert in pursuit of his "personal legend". Needless to say, along the way he meets many interesting, even extraordinary people, while also finding himself in dangerous and trying circumstances that test his will to continue the journey. Nonetheless, he finds the love of his life who, despite her desires to keep him close, encourages him to continue. Perhaps the title is a bit misleading because the story, in the end, has very little to do with the life of an "alchemist", as much as it has to do with "the boy" who encounters him, and how he receives guidance and encouragement. In any case, I think anyone of any faith who can read with an open mind, will find this an uplifting tale of personal trials and tribulations in pursuit of an unquenchable desire to discover one's own "meaning of life".

After hearing and reading all of the glowing reviews of this book, my take? Extremely disappointing. For those who have been on the spiritual enlightenment path for some time, you will find nothing new here. Save your money.

Religious and hokey. If I had known this was a religious book I never would have read it. Did not like at all. Forced myself to finish it since there were good reviews. Should have read the bad reviews.

This book was a reading assignment for the summer and I can say that I have never seen women been so poorly portrayed in a book for teens and pre-teens. The men in the story have "Personal Legends" or dreams, that are about exploring and adventuring. The women in the book however, have dreams of having a big family and meeting the man of their dreams. There is one scene where a women is crying and someone asks her "You're crying?" and she replys, "I am a women after all,". This is a terrible message to the reader. Another thing that was disgusting about this book was the lesson of the story "Follow your dreams," which is cliche and a lesson taught to 2nd graders. This book is a waste of time and I suggest you skip reading this book and read something worth reading like "The Man of the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway.

I just finished reading this after hearing so much about it, and was surprised to be disappointed. I thought that the story was predictable, the metaphors were vague, confusing and not relatable, and the ending was disappointing. In retrospect, it seemed that Coelho got fatigued about 2/3 of the way through his story, and decided to end it in the easiest way possible. There was no closure for me in the ending. He could have done a much richer and more detailed job with it. I read "The Alchemist" because I just finished "The Prophet" and most who read "The Prophet" said that "The Alchemist" was a must-read. I strongly disagree with that after having read both. "The Prophet" is a masterpiece in the profundity of its message and in its simplicity. "The Alchemist" just was NOT my cup of tea. Maybe it will be yours.

Disappointed, I was thinking I would be reading about a shepherd boy, on the path of self discovery.....what I ended up with was a young man that seems to be something of an immature slow learner. This fellow (Shepard boy) is well beyond the age of “Boy”. While in the past, expectations of responsibility (marriage, creating a family and work) were a bit earlier than in western societies today....the “boy” is pretty much behind the expectations at that period. In western society today, this young man (aprox 18 years old) would be expected to be at a level of responsibility he is sanctioned to be driving a car, hold a full-time job, might even be serving in a military or married. Personally, I get frustrated when reading about people that have had a very protected innocent existence way beyond what is typical. I guess I just lost interest in reading about a man that is learning and doing things he should have some years earlier in his life.

I don’t know if it is due to the translation I have some difficulty to read it. Painful. Not magic at all. Maybe I was not in good behavior to read it. I suppose...

Wow, this book is everything! It's so easy to relate to the main character wanting more out of life but feeling pulled back by his friends and family and having that internal battle. Paolo drops so many gems of wisdom throughout the book, it makes you reflect on your own life and question what you really want. This book gives such a realistic depiction of what the journey of following your dreams looks like. The character has to go against the grain and follow his dreams which takes a lot of courage. The character deals with a lot of challenges and setbacks that force him to grow and he gains more wisdom and clarity along the way. The ending is very beautiful and telling of where the source of our strength and guidance come from. This book is so special and warm and it's a beautiful reminder that you're not really living if you're not going after what you want!

I read this book because my book group selected it. I found it tedious, sexist, and juvenile. The philosophy is very ego centric --there is some "personal journey" every man must complete, and "the universe" wants you to complete yours. (Unless you're female, then you should wait for your man.) There is nothing about service to others except to make money: life for this author is just about following your dreams and having adventures. (No one has children in this novel--or if they do, they are of no consequence.) There are many references to Jesus, Christianity, and Islam, but ironically nearly all of the references to Christianity are ego centric--for example, a story of how Saul's father is so proud that his son's words are remembered. Those words were about Christ--but the author cares nothing about actually trying to understand Jesus or Mohammed or anyone. Just listen to your heart. It's objectivism with a mystical veneer over top so the self centeredness can appear spiritual rather than just self centered.

It's a good story, but don't take everything literally. It's a metaphor as described by the author in the foreword. Some people didn't like the ending, but I thought it was good: Everythings ends where it all began...after going through a big journey The message of the whole story is to not give up while pursuing your dreams no matter how many times you fall into a hole. Being that said I would like to mention something that is not mentioned in this book at all. Never forget about survival of the fittest. You can't be good to everybody and not everything will come in 'omens' are fallen from the sky. That's why I said at the beginning don't take the whole book literally. I mostly liked it because of some good quotes it has. My most favorite one is: "Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity." Very powerful and inspiring. I was surprised this quote wasn't even amongst the most highlighted ones. For those who really didn't like the book all I can say is don't take it too literally and read the foreword first.

This one book caught me by surprise. I was expecting a book on philosophy, instead, this turned out to be a fiction story. But, I must say, upon reading it, it just pulled me right in without my own desire to follow through reading this story. Once I got to page 16, I invited my 24 year old daughter to read it with me. I started all over, and once we read to page 24, I realized that this was a story that the whole family must read together. So, I pulled in my 9 year old daughter and my 19 year old son. Then, me and my oldest daughter started the book all over again to begin reading with the other two. My son was so into this book that he wanted to hog the reading of the story. But, I wished for everyone to take turns, so that we all get a chance to read seperate pages together. This book is packed with wisdom, wonder, and thought provoking experiences that a young man named, Santiogo endures. He's out on a mission to live out a life that is enriched with purpose vs. just living to eat, drink, and to remain content in one same place throughout life. Santiogo wish to travel and see the world, explore and remember many different locations, know the moon and the sun, be responsibie to pay close attention to his dreams, become familiar with nature, and meet different people with different backgrounds (from all walks of life) . Santiogo is a person who can take your soul on a journey to learn a thing or two about truly living your own purpose, from his many lessons.

I'll be honest, I didn't finish the book. I was already bored by the time he got to Tangier and when his friend disappeared and the boy blamed God I totally lost interest.

This book is on all the lists as one of the best and most important books you could ever read, but it fell flat for me. Spoiler--the moral of the story seemed to be that you can achieve great things by staying home in your safe environment while just dreaming about greatness. That's never true. Greatness requires risk, and action, and growth and learning, none of which can merely dreamed about, and most of all, achieving dreams is much better than just having them. And no woman is going to wait for you forever while you go live your life without her. Even a dream girl.

I teach fifth grade and read this in a small group - it was a total bore. I tried to keep the kids interested and engaged, that absolutely hates it. By the end, I could understand completely. I wish I could understand the four star reviews!

Written in the simplest of language but with maximum impact, the Alchemist speaks to everyone. What I find most interesting is how it ‘reads’ differently to different people. It speaks to the part of us that needs to be spoken to at the time of life we are currently in. Cohello, reluctant conduit or not, has channeled the voice of God as I know Him and I have left this book grateful, humbled and so joyous! My Faith has been restored and I feel so refreshed… I realized my heart has not gone silent. I just needed this book...this simple allegory...to remind me of what I knew. Before I complicated it and convoluted the message. If you’re ready to have your life changed completely for the better, read this. If your life is going along swimmingly, then by all means, stay far away. Because, God forbid, we don’t want to mess with your obvious delusion. The Alchemist is the best decision I’ve made in years. Here is hope you will do the same

I have been a fan of Paulo Coelho since I read this book. Very inspirational. Puts many things in perspective of ones life. The story is about a boy wanting to follow his dream in life. Many things happen to the boy, sort of how life just happens for all of us. Some times we just loose sight of our dream, and settle for is given to us. It is a great way to remember that we need to keep that light burning to find our way to what we really want in life. More to the story and more to what reveals to yourself. I would not say it is a self help book, just has a great moral to the story. Fun story to read, just one of those stories that will give you inspiration. I would recommend this title and the author to anybody that loves reading.

The part that stood out most to me, was when he sold his sheep for money. He was then robbed of that money and was left with nothing in a foreign land. He had gained so much along the journey, an in seconds lost it all. (oh god, why do you hate me what did I do).He then worked in a store for 11 mnth to earn back the money to continue his quest, (talk about a set back). I found that, yes, this book had many life lessons...but realistically this guy overcame way too many obstacles, and faced triumph and setbacks that only a fictional character could live through, to tell the tale. However I wont kill the dreams of others. This book will open your mind and have you pursuing dreams you left behind years ago. Fable or not, achievable or not, this book will turn you into a fighter.

I bought this book because of the amazing reviews. Once I began reading it, I realized how hard it was to follow along and I peaked back at the reviews a little deeper and found some of the negative reviews that really are accurate. It’s written like a kid wrote it, it’s hard to follow, it makes no sense and there’s no end of the story that was an ‘aha’ moment that made it worth reading. I’m sad I wasted a week of my life on this book lol

A friend summed it up like this, "If I was 20 something years old, this would be my bible.But I am 60 something years old and this read a bit like old news and thoughts". Although well written, it felt like a rerun of the 60's and 70's to me. Been there, done that, I'm over it.

I heard about this book on the PBS show "The Great American Read". It lists 100 most loved/popular books. The Alchemist was on that list. Sadly, I dont know why? Yes, this book has some life lessons all told in a fable like story but for me it fell very short and was quite disappointing. Jane Eyre, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, A Prayer for Owen Meany, these books are on the list and well worth reading! Btw: skip Siddharta too!

This story screamed at me to quit my office job and risk it all for some treasure. The aggressive optimism in this book was exhausting. I feel like reading this book is how Instagram influencers are born. I guess the joke is on me though because they are rich and I am not. And according to this story, wealth is the hearts greatest treasure.

I had high hopes for this book, but I was really disappointed. I only bothered finishing it because I figured that there must be something more to it because of all the hype. I also thought that the author bragging about this being one of the greatest books of all time (in the forward) was a bit much. The whole fable concept just seemed juvenile and simplistic. I also prefer books in which the main characters have names.

I stumbled across this book while purchasing another book recommended to me and I am so glad I decided to purchase this book. The book i initially purchased in hopes of gaining insight into finding meaning in my life only left me discouraged and feeling even more lost so I picked up the alchemist and I couldn't put it down. It has encouraged me to lisen to my heart and find my own life's purpose without letting fear stand in my way. A must read for anyone seeking meaning or purpose in their life.

I've heard of this book for years, but like so many titles, it never made it in the reading queue. After finishing a string of deep dive Civil War historical tomes, I needed a softer read. Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist" proved to be the perfect solution. This wonderfully crafted modern classic engages the reader from the first sentence. Amazing. It was so good that I immediately read it again. Give it a go, or if it has been some time, read it again.

The Alchemist came to my attention twice in the same day on two different social media platforms from two different people. In fact, one friend posted the Spanish version and another the English. After seeing it twice in the same day, I knew that was a cue from God to read it. I downloaded it and found it to be an excellent read with an excellent message. For some reason I kept seeing my daughter as the shepherd boy because she has that very same spirit for life. I loved the book and could not put it down. I now have downloaded Warrior of Light and looking forward to experiencing it.

As is often the case with a book that is so highly rated, I was somewhat underwhelmed by this book. It is a nice story about a young man facing many challenges in his life while pursuing his treasure, but for me there was no real wow factor to it and some of it was just plain unrealistic. It does seemed geared toward a younger reader, but perhaps that is because of the translation into English. It is a fairly short book and it held my interest throughout so I did not dislike it but for me, the magic was not there.

Its simplistic to the point of making the reader feel dumb. And its nothing new. This book is a waste of time for anyone who is remotely spiritually-aware. I kept reading because I kept thinking that there must be something more to it. There isn't. Good thing its a quick read.

It was like this book came into my life at the perfect time, kinda like how this novel talks about when you finally decide to go after your "Personal Legend" (your life's dream) the Universe conspires to put people and circumstances in your life to help you achieve your "Personal Legend". After years of working in a factory I made a decision last year to do something more meaningful with my life. So I started devouring personal development books including alot of Napoleon Hill. Hill stresses the importance of having a Definite Chief Aim in life (same as Personal Legend) and he also talked about how once you have a clear destination the Universe will put people and circumstances in your life to aid you. Now, I read alot of bad reviews on tbis book. I believe that the people who didn't like this book were either not ready for the message (which one year ago I doubt I would of been ready to understand the message myself), or they just have a very strict perspective on life, and how the world is just random occurrences. So if you are open to look at life in a different way, or have any prior experience with personal development books you will LOVE this book. It is really easy to read, Paulo Coelho doesn't over describe everything in his books, which makes it a faster read, and let's the reader's imagination make up the details as they want. This is one of the most powerful personal development books in a wonderful and inspiring story. I was giving this book by a friend and read it three times, then ordered a copy for my 13 year old daughter. I think this book is so powerful they should make this required reading in high school!

In the desert, I found a goatskin. What follows is a rough translation from Sanskrit. "Picture me as a wizard in a pointy hat carrying a staff. 'The Alchemist' led me to understand the last six months of my life. Consider three quotes from the book. "'The mysterious force... appears to be negative, but actually shows you how to realize your Personal Legend.' "'We could sell tea in crystal glasses. The people will enjoy the tea and want to buy the glasses. I have been told that beauty is the great seducer of men." "'Love is the force that transforms and improves the Soul of the World. When I first reached through to it, I thought the Soul of the World was perfect. But later, I could see that it was like other aspects of creation, and had its own passions and wars.' "The author of those lines led me to understand that I had served as a mysterious force to the Personal Legend of a priestess. "I had tied my heart to the side of a donkey and sent it into a secret valley between Katmandu and Timbuktu. It told me that a woman in the valley was growing into a role of spiritual leadership. So I entered. "I met the woman. Her name is Narmis. I met the baker, the cobbler, the smith, the stable boys and girls and many other delightful folks. From the corner of my eye, I occasionally caught a glimpse of their rainbow auras. "A week later, Narmis built a small temple. She erected the sacristy around the trunk of a sycamore. Every day she nailed a new installment of holy scripture to the wooden door at the front of the temple. I memorized one of them as a guidebook for the rest of my life. "Narmis needed a mysterious force to spur her ministry. "First I became a mirror. I reflected the depth of her wisdom back to her. She grew more self-assured. "Second I performed a miracle. On the alter I held my hand over her heart. A terrible pain in her legs and hips diminished. She felt a physical echo of the healing in her heart. In truth she performed her own miracle through a faith I helped her to achieve. "Third I whispered secrets in her ear. She feared her own power. Power corrupts. She wanted to remain pure. She wanted to tolerate only purity among her followers. "Her disciples hid their impurities well. But the further you went from the temple, the more trouble you found in the valley. Pickpockets teemed in the market. Burglars invaded homes. Lustful moans escaped the brothel. "I whispered that she must minister to even the worst of the sorry lot. Even some of the idolaters fashioning a golden calf could mend their ways. She must find the courage to pursue power without corrupting her soul. She must hypnotize the people with wisdom, compassion and beauty. "Narmis pushed me from the sacristy. Her hands never touched me and her words remained kind, but her eyes clouded with anger. I fell back. I ran from the temple. I saddled up and left the valley, crying. "Only after reading Paulo Coelho's masterpiece did I understand. My presence among the people of the secret valley served a purpose. I love them still, but I cannot go back. My absence serves an even higher purpose. The priestess shall have no crutch. She will pursue her Personal Legend or she will not. "Hegel wrote, "The owl of Minerva spreads her wings only with the coming of dusk." Coelho offers more wisdom than Hegel through the simple speech of Santiago, the shepherd boy. "And me? My owl spread her wings in the tearful days following my fall from grace. I learned to tie my heart to the owl at night and to a falcon in the day. No more donkey rides. My heart now soars to places of great joy. I recite the holy scripture without hesitation. Narmis helped me find the faith to heal."

I really don't understand the hype about this book,flat story, boring to no end, completely no point at all

As my head line states, this book, for me, didn’t live up to the hype. I didn’t really get much out of it. This a quick and easy read, which actually disappointed me. Read any other 2 or 1 star reviews and they’ll tell you exactly how I also felt, no need to repeat someone else’s words. I will say that the first half of the book was better than the last half for me. I didn’t care for the ending. I don’t even know what to say. The book sucked.

Reading through some of the negative reviews here is very interesting. Particularly the ones regarding how the narrative of the story is selfish and self centered. I did not find that to be true. This book has created a very serious shift for me in my life. As someone that has been dragged through self loathing religion her entire life, I think some fail to see the need to YES, be self centered and think of his or her goals before over-giving oneself to others. There are so many stories within this volume that allude to that and I found them inspiring. When you realize you are what you’re looking for the whole time and you look back and see the love and dedication you gave yourself, the more prepared you are to guide and create an impact on others on their journey as well. So many wonderful goodies in here that each time I read it I am able to come out with something new and striking.

I feel a little misled by all these wonderful reviews. I totally did not get the hype at all. It's just a weird book. It's not motivational, inspirational or life-changing. Parts I wondered if it was an allegory to drug use? I have no idea. Overall, this book felt like a hippie trip and made me kinda uncomfortable with its weirdness.

It was predictable and dogmatic. If you are looking for a book to reaffirm your spirituality, this is it. If you are looking for something creative and captivating, I would look elsewhere

The Alchemist is a book full of integrity, determination, and fulfilling one’s dreams. In this book, the main character is overcome with the desire to set out to find his destiny, or his own Personal Legend, that supposedly lies within pyramids- all while leaving behind his simple life as a shepherd. Throughout his journey he is confronted with obstacles and delays, both physical and mental. He displays much internal conflict and doubt, yet always regains his footing with the help of his faith and the always truthful omens reoccuring in his life. In this book, the author guides the plot with a series of omens and spiritual occurrences that aid Santiago, the main character. The Alchemist is written in a very simple manner, and does not express complex diction. In this way, it is a very easy read. Although some may approach that as a negative aspect of this book, it actually assists the reader to more easily understand the symbols and the spiritual meanings that occur throughout the book. The simple diction and the simple syntax helps clarify the underlying messages and themes of the book rather than having the reader anguish over the true meaning. Even with the simplicity of this book, it is written in an extremely elegant way. Paulo Coelho writes in such a vivid manner and creates very smooth, appealing imagery that makes anyone reading this book physically unable to close the book and set it down. Coelho’s skills in the imagery department are very developed as he was able to write in such a way that through simple descriptions, a sense of self was provoked and appealed to not only every human sense, but to every human emotion. The book is centered around Santiago’s journey, which is the main theme of the book: one must always follow their dreams. Although, the Alchemist does a wonderful job at conveying many underlying messages. The book teaches helpful universal messages such as it is wise to listen to nature as well as oneself, and to always have faith in oneself and what one believes in. The Alchemist is an absolutely wonderfully written book that provokes the readers who truly read it with passion and emotion. It is a book that contains a large amount of religious content, but it speaks spiritually to any and all who read it and it teaches a vast amount of valuable life lessons.

my hopes were high for this book, way up there. i fell hard, very hard from the sky, and landed on the most dull, monotonous and one-toned book i’ve ever read. i couldn’t even finish the damn thing, and it’s only like 150 pages long. the only reason why i don’t give this book a 1/5 stars is because i could tel that there was an attempt to convert some earth shatteringly deep and philosophical message that maybe i was too much of a dunce to understand. maybe... i’m the problem? no. this book definitely sucks.

This book was on my list for years before I pulled the trigger and bought it. It was unlike anything I've read and I really enjoyed it. You have to read between the lines with this one because the morals of the story aren't spelled out for you. I would make a point to read a chapter and then sit back and reflect on what you just read. It's essentially, in a roundabout way, about following your dreams,, finding your passions and being resilient. Each person you meet is part of your overall purpose. On the surface, it's an easy, quick read, but that's only if you don't take time to think about its contents. Go slow with this book.

I've heard of The Alchemist countless times before. I've never been much for reading, but with quarantine, I wanted to further develop this skill. After reading this book, I can understand why people recommend it. It's a pretty easy read, but the message hits you. If you're looking for a light, motivational book, I would recommend this. There's a lot of good quotes and life lessons in this book, and it personally gave me a different perspective on life. On a separate note, just wanted to mention this, but my copy of the book had jagged edges. I don't know if that's a deal breaker for anyone, but just wanted to bring it up just in case!

I read this book, as everyone had told me it was amazing. I was very disappointed, it was boring and all the "hidden" messages where things i already knew and overall was pretty boring. It is an okay read if you are extremely bored and have nothing else to read or do. Sorry to hard core fans of this book but not everyone likes the same things.

Will Smith, Madonna, Bill Clinton & of course Oprah are enthralled with this book. I was very hesitant to embark on this reading journey but alas I did. I should’ve passed. I got the purpose and meaning of the book but because there was so much imagery it left me confused & perplexed. I may try and read it again at a later date, perhaps then things will be a bit clearer for me. Otherwise I was not that impressed.

Wow, what absolute drivel. In an attempt to be deep and offer life lessons the author ends up just repeating himself and spouting nonsense. Don't waste your time.

This short book is a simple fable with simple lessons. I actually expected the ending to have a more profound message. Maybe starting out searching for treasure is a good beginning, but I expected the journey to change to one with a less material message. The story is about a young shepherd boy who has a dream about treasure in the Pyramids and gives up everything to pursue that goal. This is about following your dreams, which is great advice, but the story becomes unrelatable when the boy gains powers such as conjuring the wind. I expected more from this “masterpiece.” It’s still inspiring but not as good as expected.

I first encountered this book years ago at the verge of an interesting phase of my life. It taught me a lot of valuable lessons, some of which have propelled me to where I am today. Ten years later, just when I am beginning another new phase of my life, I got the urge to read this book once again. I continue the chase of my "Personal Legend." It has been an interesting journey. Quite a delightful adventure with all the challenges that come with it. I recommend this book to everyone who wakes up in the morning and wonders whether there is more to their life, to those who are still seeking to find the purpose and meaning of their lives, and to all those who just want a delightful read. Thank you Paulo Coelho for being an advocate for the dreamers and doers.

My grasp of philosophy is tenuous at best, and the supernatural aspect caught me off guard, because the book begins in southern Spain and is thoroughly realistic. It is an adventure - a quest - with the over-arching theme that everything is connected, and all people are connected. The author's storytelling style keeps the protagonist at arm's length (I don't know the accurate phrase), so we vaguely empathize with him without becoming emotionally attached. The story goes in a circle with no real beginning or end, like the world it describes. There is an excellent message here, worth visiting and re-visiting.

I was so excited about this book because of the positive reviews and all the hype online I had read. It was okay for the most part until about halfway through and then I just lost interest. The only thing keeping me reading was the expectation of a great ending. Sadly it was a lackluster and very predictable ending. Can see how some people might like this but I was very underwhelmed and left wishing I hadn’t bought it.

I had heard so much about this book so I was eager to read it. What a let down! It tries so hard to be more than it is. Perhaps if I had read this at age 18, I would have been impressed and inspired. At age 60+, it no longer speaks to me. It’s message is an obvious one, and one which anyone who has lived life is aware of. I am so disappointed.

I’ve had reoccurring dreams within weeks of each other and it was the same thing over and over in different scenarios: I’m driving but always end up in a car accident, wether I was the driver or not and the accident was either my fault or not. The last of dreams I had, I was the driver and I avoided a collision but very one else that was behind collided into the broken down vehicle in the road. Dreams are weird but it caused me look it up and it was same meaning, there are things in my life I wish I could control but I can’t and I’m fighting to do it. Either way this book really brought a lot of things to life and I must admit should have read this book long time ago.

The Alchemist was a fun, enlightening read. It was about a boy who sets off on his own adventure, takes risks, deals with ups and downs, but stays true to his dreams. Through the boys journey we learn the importance of listening to our heart and that getting what we want will not be easy but in the end it is worth it. The journey to our treasure and the challenges we overcome makes us a better person and allows us to discover new things about ourselves and life. It is an inspiring story that is heart warming and offers good life lessons. Check it out!

I had seen this title on bookstore shelves many times over the years but had never gotten around to reading it. It was Christmas day, 2016 when my wife and I came across "The Alchemist" in the Kindle store and decided it would be a good book to read together. It did not disappoint. "The Alchemist" reads like a fairy tail or a mythic legend. It's a delightful read with iconic characters and classic lessons of Western mysticism sprinkled throughout. For anyone who is familiar with the teachings of the Rosicrucian style mystery schools, this story will be a refreshing reminder of the truths we hold most dear. For those who haven't had any exposure to that brand of spirituality, you will find in "The Alchemist" a parable that may bring some clarity and direction into your life. I can especially recommend this book for teens and young adults. People at that age are still trying to find their world view and the lessons in this book may make their search easier and more fruitful.

I can see that the gist of this book and why it was well received. It’s decent head food for general consumption. However it is a seriously convenient plot line with few surprises to it. I believe it has lost something in the translation from Portuguese… To wit I’ll bet the Portuguese version (original language) is deeper and much more profound. Still a great read.

when I ordered this book i knew what the sizing would be like and everything. The quality is amazing it has a nice touch to it. However as shown in the video some pages are sticking out more than the others which is fine I guess but i’m not sure if it was done on purpose or it was poorly made. both ways however overall product is good. i even showed the book size compared to my hand so there’s that

I just finished the Alchemist, and now I know why many people love this book. It is hard to describe. It is deceptively simple, with much more going on than appears on the surface. I liked the way the author interweaves much from world religions, but I mostly I liked the bits included from my own religion. (Christianity)... One thing I must admit though.... This left me wishing I was one of the first readers of this story, instead of possibly the last man on earth who hadn’t. I must admit that I had EXTREMELY high expectations for the book, since I heard and read over and over and over that it was “...one of my favorites”....or...”...one of the greatest books of the 20th century..”, etc etc ... It set up my reading for the inevitable let down that comes from anything that has been built up to “the second coming of Christ”. (i.e... movies, vacation, Christmas morning, etc). I DO feel like it is one I’ll read again sometime, to try to catch more hidden gems and bits of treasure the author has hidden in the story. So, I must say, for me to want to Reread any book.... THAT is saying something. So it MUST be a special work.

One of my favorite books

This book and I first met when I was a teenager. The story pulled me in immediately and kept me engaged. I reread it and reread it and loved it so much I gave it away. Now, years later and admittedly nearing mid-life crisis territory, I picked it back up and while it lands differently than before, the message is still as powerful as ever. It makes you think and re-evaluate things. It makes you wonder about what's important in life - its a philosopher's book, as well as a book for the seekers and the uncertain. The narrative is beautiful and has a timeless message of personal power. Definitely check it out.

So, I'm only a few pages in, but I already love it. A goal for me is to read more "mind-expanding" books in this year and since this one is one like this "disguised" in a story this was my first pick. I am not religious and don't necesserily belive in god, but still the quotes and refernces are. I also enjoy the little drawings along the story. I put a marker right next to my book after the first pages, because there are so many valuable quotes (e.g.: "Whoever you are , or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because that desire originated in the soul of the universe") and they're not pointed out strongly or something, but just come along by the way which makes the setting very authentic and the character (as well as yourself!) grow in a very lovely written way. It is not very complicated written, since I am a foreign student and except for very few words understand it quite well.

If you like stories that magically work out perfectly, this book is for you. No real conflict with a predictable ending... *sigh* As others have said, does not live up to the hype.

It took me a while to get through this book because like some Americans after a diet of television my level of concentration was for naught. Any who, once I was able to focus - man!, so many jewels of wisdom in this little book. For those that normally read spirituality/self-help/self-improvement this is a MUST for your library. My son (who's slightly autistic) is now reading it and having his mind blown. It's worth the purchase; don't just get it from your local library.

I couldn't sing a higher praise for this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone. I have to reread this book because it is so deep with information. It came me pretty fast and is a welcome addition to my library collection. If you are thinking about getting this book, just go ahead and put it in your cart and order it. You won't be disappointed. Thanks.

The Alchemist was one great of an experience! Although It took me almost 3 weeks to finish it because everytime I picked it up for one reason or the other I had to put it down after couple of pages, but everytime after putting it down I got a chance to reflect back on what I read which made it more magical and certainly I am glad I didn’t finish it in one sitting. I am turning 26 in couple of weeks and I am glad I picked this book before that! I got to learn and experience so much that I would want to take that and start my year with •Believing in yourself, believing in God, living in today, listening to you heart, work hard for your goals, appreciating every obstacle and good things which comes/came your way, beginners luck, love without fear and much more!•

I love the messages that are presented and carried throughout this book. Everything being connected and the universe conspiring to provide you what you want and need are just a couple of those messages. Even though I read this for a book club, I would recommend everyone read it, and I will most likely read it again at some point - hence the 5 stars rating.

This little book is filled with life lessons but reads like a bedtime story. The Spanish shepherd boy, Santiago (who is only named once), is on a quest to Egypt after a fortune-teller predicts that there is where he will find his treasure. Along the way, he meets many characters, some who help him and some who harm him. His journey teaches him self-reliance, judgment, and compassion. He learns that when you are pursuing a dream, the universe conspires to help you and that obstacles are disguised as opportunities.

I purchased this book because of the reviews and award winnings but this book is so slow and boring. I’ve been reading it for over a month because I dread reading it but I’m determined to finish it. It’s 1/6 and I still haven’t complete it. I’m hoping it gets better. I will say there were good messages in some of the reading I’ve already completed. I’ll come across a great nugget but the story is just Meh

In great condition. Arrived on time. Best book ever period. I’ve read it 4x and love to give as a gift! Great for all ages. I even read it to my kids when they were small at nap time and bed time!

The negative reviews of this book tend to criticize things that are not really important as far as the story and its deepest meaning. Also, it strikes me that these reviewers did not grasp the essence of the book, which I find perfectly complements its simplistic delivery. I am not a beginning reader by any means, and part of the charm of this book is the way it is presented. It is a fable and is written accordingly; this book is meant to be accessible and easy to read by everyone. I like that it's such a breeze to read, as I can focus more on the meaning than on reading and understanding, plus it can be read to children or by people who find reading a bit of a chore. If you're looking for some rock-solid book you can analyze and pick apart, this is not the one for you, mainly because the purpose of The Alchemist is something entirely different than any other book I've read. First and foremost, this book has changed my life. The story of how I came to read it is a good example of what the book talks about; the power of so-called coincidence. I'd read a story about the book and some odd things that happened on a website by inspirational speaker Patrick Combs, and was floored by his tale. I really wanted to read the book, but my life got a little hectic and I totally forgot about it. Not long after, it was introduced to me by a friend, who was so passionate about the book and me reading it, that she checked the book out of the library and gave it to me. Immediately after reading it, I began noticing the Universe speaking to me in various ways. A year later, I felt I'd gotten a bit off-track as far as listening to and following my heart, so I read the book again. I swear to you, as soon as I finished, the Universe began speaking again in signs and symbols, as loud as ever. (...) Both times I read the book, I borrowed it from the library, but as I got an Amazon gift certificate for Christmas, I am definitely going to buy a copy. Highly, highly recommended to everyone. A must-read, especially if you are interested in becoming happier and improving your life.

slightly disappointed as the printed version of the book was different than the one advertised. it seems a generic copy of the Alchemist was printed and that version is what was sent. I currently have a copy of the "version" that was advertised and really wanted that print, but received a very inexpensive print version. the price was fair, but in hindsight would have rather purchased the copy I initially thought I was buying.

Quick and enjoying read. It flows so well and goes by quickly while being thought provoking at the same time. So many people love this book and yet many dislike it completely. It is an easy read and does have many outside fables/stories/quotes(I cannot think of the right word here). It makes me wonder if it is ones time in life they chose to read the book that makes a difference? Maybe it is just people’s different views of the world. Is your cup half full or half empty?

Starts off Ok, but seems the writer wrote himself in a corner by the time the boy leaves the crystal shop. It just cheezes out. The ending is disappointing, and makes the point of the journey usless. You think you are headed to some big revelation, but at that point the writer decides he is tired, has no where else to go and throws the baby out with the bath water and just walks away. Two stars is generous, but wanted to give credit for a few good quotes.

I initially read this book only to be polite, since it was a gift from a dear friend who was very thoughtfully trying to contribute something to my studies in the occult .... I generally find “inspirational” books to be pretty nauseating and a waste of time .... but.... I actually really enjoyed, “the alchemist”!!! Elements in the story were strangely familiar, like I had read this book before, or dreamed it, or ....something. It felt comfortable, but mysterious... like watching “the goonies”, Saturday morning before a bicycle adventure on a foggy day. “The alchemist” is a pretty magical book, without being to distant from reality. I kinda love it, and although I hate to admit this.... it left me feeling.... “inspired” lol

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a very interesting book that explores many concepts in life, such as personal legends, travel, love, and belief. Through these concepts, the reader is opened up to new ideas and perspectives all while the main character,Santiago is too. I personally feel that this book has taught me a little bit more about life through quotes from the secondary characters who guide Santiago through the story. For example, “to realize one’s destiny is a person's only obligation,” was said by the alchemist and it made me realize that this idea actually applies to real life, because once someone realizes their destiny, they will always fulfill that destiny and succeed in life. One thing that Coelho does very well in this book is the character development and interactions. Santiago, the main character is introduced in the beginning of the book as a curious shepherd who wants to explore the world. He is a very dynamic character, so throughout the story, he learns lessons about himself or the world that make him wiser. An interesting thing that Coelho does is throughout the book, Santiago encounters many different people and each time this happens, he becomes wiser and more experienced. For example, Santiago encounters a gypsy in the beginning of the book who helps him realize his “personal legend”/destiny, then he meets a king who convinces him to follow that personal legend and why every man should. He also meets a girl who exposes him to love and an alchemist who shows him the ways of alchemy. Santiago’s dynamic character and his guides and teachers are a very strong aspect of this book. Throughout the book, Santiago and other characters bring up the term “personal legend” repeatedly to remind the reader of the main focus of the story. Personal legend is almost the same thing as a destiny. Everybody has a personal legend. Because the author chose Santiago’s personal legend as the main focus, the reader is able to connect with and learn about Santiago more than they would with other fictional characters. Coelho choses an adventure that is very personal to the main character for this very reason. As well as telling a story, Coelho tries to tell the reader something with his repetition of the term “personal legend” and the constant in depth conversations and thoughts about it throughout the book. By going in depth to what it means and repeating it so much, the reader starts to realize that they too must have a personal legend and follow it as Santiago did. Overall, this book is very well structured and has many great aspects about it with little to no flaws. The character structure, plot development, and connection from book to reader is amazingly done by the author, Paulo Coelho.

I know that this book received great reviews. I saw a celebrity in a tv interview who said that this book changed his life. The interviewer said that it was a great book as well. Therefore, I researched it and decided to purchase it. It did not have the same effect on my life that it had on Pharell's (interviewee). Nor did I think that it was as great as the interviewer claimed (Oprah). I wish that it did.

The book itself leaves you with a good amount of key takeaways and life lessons but as far as the journey itself it doesn't seem like too much happens really. That being said if you listen to the audiobook version its a good listen. Especially with with the voice narrator on Audible.

This is the story of my life, someone said, and its the story that everyone has to read at least once. Especially of you don't get to travel or explore much and your heart feels imprisoned with obligations. You can read this version or the graphic novel, I read both and this is all you need, unless you want to see how a great artist would illustrate the story. Then get the graphic novel version. It's magic and has a rare beauty but I cant explain how, Just try this.

I absolutely hated this book and wish I could rate it lower. Personally I believe this book would make great kindling. I love reading but this book was pure torture and I am never going to read it again.

The story has great symbolism for the pursuits of life , stages, and the mentors along the way. I like how the book shows intuition as useful rather guessing tool for life. Not too much suspense in the book but still great to read. This book also made think about the nihilistic and optimistic interpretations of the call to adventure. This book can be related to many aspects of life from business to personal life. The symbolism, intuitive thinking, and relation to different aspects of life makes this a great short read.

If you scroll through the reviews you will quickly see that people either love it or dislike/loathe it. I fall into the latter camp. I’d like to like it because I’m not so jaded that I don’t believe in a purpose-driven life, but it’s too much like cotton candy: sickeningly sweet and nothing but fluff. If you enjoy Sunday School – and I mean no disrespect to those who do – you’ll probably love it. Otherwise make sure you understand what you're about to spend your money on.

Interesting how some books don't translate as well to audio books as others. I think perhaps my 4 stars reflects the fact that I devoured this book in two giant gulps, while traveling across the country. I loved the storyline, I relished the metaphors and messages...but occasionally found redundancies...repeated phrases that in audio acted a bit like a skip on a really good record....understanding how some of the more profound author messages and terms might want to be repeated if the book were picked up and put down several times. ( -As any normal person might read with their eyes and not ears in a 12 hour blast.)

I read though this book a couple of years ago, but it contains a multitude of life lessons that will resonate with a person. I'll be honest, I have forgotten a great amount of content that this book contains, but I still feel something each time I glance at the book. It's a type of spiritual enlightenment. From the top of my head a lesson I can remember is that one must learn from their surroundings and understand the natural way of the world to reach a type of happiness. Sounds like very Zen type stuff, but would recommend to read it.

It’s not what you expect. If you’re looking for a book about self awareness and all that, it’s not like your typical mental health related book. This book is probably really good, but not for me. That’s my bad for not doing more research before buying. I just couldn’t get into this book. I’m more into mystery thrillers anyway.

This book is one I will read often, every few years at least. I first read it on lend from a friend and I'm happy to have my own copy now. Not only is it a clever fable with lovable characters, but the more soulful the reader, the deeper meaning one discovers. It contains themes relevant to anyone in this world, metaphors that, depending on your experiences, are meaningful in different ways. It's just a really amazing and inspiring story that I would highly recommend buying one for yourself and one as a gift.

My xbf who ghosted me for a year two weeks after I moved sent me a digital copy of this book. I read it. Book was so good I texted him back. Book was so good I sent a copy to my friend in prison who is only interested in reading smut and he liked it. This book was not so good that I got back with my x. Regardless great book.

I would recommend this book to everyone. It took me 3hrs from start to finish of this book. My reading speed I would say are normal. My husband who doesn’t like to read even read this book on a flight and he also took about 3hrs. The story is well written and a reason why this is on most places must read books.

Interesting adventure story, and view of persistence of the main character. Philosophically, I'm not sure I go with the 'Pollyanna' view, everything will be good if you keep going forward. I do believe that everything will be resolved as you go forward, but the rewards for this main character were impressive. Not sure it could be real. The story is a good encouragement to push forward, though. It is a classic book.

The Alchemist is a fable about a shepherd boy named Santiago who goes on an adventure. He has a dream about a treasure buried in Egypt near the Great Pyramids and sets out on a quest to find it. He meets many people along the way such as King Melchizedek, Fatima and a merchant. Each of the characters that Santiago meets teaches him a lesson about life. The story goes on and eventually Santiago reaches the Great Pyramids and finds that there is no treasure there. He then returns back home to Andalusia where he discovers the treasure he had been looking for all along. He claims his treasure and returns to Spain where the love of his life is waiting for him. While the plot of this book is entertaining, the author does show some flaws in his writing. One main weakness that I saw in this book is the text lacked a deeper meaning. The theme of the book was very simple, and as a reader it was boring to not have to discover the hidden meaning of the text. The theme of the story was almost stated many times throughout the text, and overall the book wasn’t written using high level writing techniques. Despite this weakness, the book also had some bright spots and strengths such as the use of figurative language and imagery. The book had many parts where the author used fantastic diction to describe the scene and help paint a picture in the reader’s head of what was happening in the story. Not only does the author do a great job of using figurative language, but does a great job of developing the plot as well. Throughout the novel, as a reader, I felt that many of the characters that Santiago met on his journey were random and irrelevant to the story. However, after time I realized each characters significance to the story. I was amazed at the author’s ability to continuously create creative characters who have unique importance to the story. Although the author developed each characters importance well, the book did not have a large number of characters. There were less than a dozen total characters in the story. As a result of this, some parts of the book were very centered on Santiago and his thoughts, which was boring at times. I would recommend this book to my peers because it is a classic and is a different type of book than normal American novels. Although this book wasn’t my favorite, it was a pretty enjoyable read and I would read more books of this type and by this author in the future.

I had read this book before and really loved it, but it has been a while and I wanted to read it again. Anyone who has read this book would agree that the content in this book is amazing. To make it even better, this is an "anniversary edition" and the presentation Is beautiful. Even when I finish reading it, I'll probably leave it laying around my room somewhere just because it looks pretty <3 So worth the read.

This is the type of story that makes you think. This book made me understand more about myself and especially about life. So good that I read it twice and thinking about reading it again. It’s so profound and adventurous. I recommend this book for all readers.

I really had no idea what this book was about and I think from now on I'll read books without reading the description. No pretense. This was by far one of the most encouraging and hopeful books I've read. I thought it would be longer but the length allows for several re-read as it is absolutely necessary. If you ever wondered about your direction in life, why are you here, or even wondered the point for living; give this book a read. I highly recommend it, Enjoy!

I don't know how I didn't discover this book until I was 31 years old, but it was an instant favorite! I suppose I found it exactly when I was supposed to - I know I'll be returning to this again and again. Absolutely timeless classic.

What a simple and enjoyable story. A good read for any young person who thinks they are ready to strike out on their own journey in life. A subtle reminder that their path will cross many persons of wisdom willing to advise them and lend a helping hand. And just maybe there is no place like home.

I am a lover of the Old Testament, so when I saw that the story involved scripture in such a unique way, I was hooked. I actually purchased this book as I was just starting an Octave to God the Father. And I finished the book on the last day of the Octave. Didn't plan it that way. Interesting how the book helped me view a problem I was having at a different angle. It helped raise my awareness of where I was in my heart, and how my faith needed a boost. It brought me back to a child-likeness that I had lost some of. Glad I took notes from the very beginning. I will re-visit those notes to help myself stay in a better place in my heart and mind without having to read the book in its entirety again. Although that wouldn't be a bad thing.

A young shepherd decides to follow a dream to find his personal legend that takes him to Madagascar and across the Sahara. He meets many interesting desecrating the way who help and guide him. He loses goods and almost his life, finds love, and learns much if the world as he realizes his quest.

A very good friend of mine lent me her copy of this story during a particularly trying time in my life. If this book finds you, don't be surprised to find parallels between you and the main character of this story!!! This book felt like it had a hint of empathy and understanding of my life, and paid me back in inspiration. Good book for a day off or any time you want to lose yourself in an excellent story!!!

After reading all of the hype, I had high expectations for this book. Unfortunately, the book was extremely cliched while being spiritual in an off-putting way. In short, the book reinforces the following cliched proverbs: 1. Trust your heart 2. Follow your dreams, no matter how crazy 3. The journey is more valuable than the achieved end-goal ...blah

One reason that I enjoy looking over the New Testament in the Bible is that it challenges my human weaknesses and causes me to meditate for days overcoming mental hurdles. I was hoping for that same type of challenge here, and there were those challenges, but none that were of particular interest to me.

I enjoyed this book so much! I don't take time to read- for some reason I picked this book and I couldn't put it down! I loved the lesson at the end too...this book has made me want to read more of Coelho's books! He is fascinating! As I bragged to my sister about the book she admitted that a few years ago she too read it and loved it and that she had given it to my father to read. My father is 99 and almost totally blind, hard of hearing...I have little to share with him and he usually is not interested in anything I have to say- but when I asked him about this book his mood changed and he talked about it and how he enjoyed it too! It was such a wonderful thing to actually have something in common with my father! It allowed me to connect with my father, if only briefly!

This book is entertaining on many levels. First, it's just an enjoyable story and I have re-read is several times for that purpose. Second, I think it has some truths to share about the way to lead a happy, authentic life. It's cheesy to say "listen to your heart" but somehow this book communicates that message in a more profound way. It's cheesy to say "do what you love" and "follow your dreams" but somehow this book makes that message clear - and urgent - without the cliche. I also enjoyed having this as a hardback instead of a paperback - the print was nice and the cover was well done and classy-looking.

Here's how my reading of this book came about: I saw a quote on Pinterest that I really liked, found out the source of that quote was this book, ergo I ordered this book. I was incredibly excited to read it (based on nothing more than the intense appeal the quote had on me). I read the first several pages and was like, "Well, this is an easy, simple little tale," but it wasn't all that appealing to me, so I marked my page, set the book down, and read a different book. Now, the magic comes here: while reading the other book (which was good) I was plagued by something I had read in the first several pages of The Alchemist, and the very fact alone that I was being haunted by words from a book I had labeled as a "simple little tale" told me that I really had no choice but to read it, after all, we must "listen to our heart," right? So I read it- I read it, and I loved it. Then I read it again. And I still loved it. I loved it because it spoke to me on a soul level, and because for such a "simple little tale" it is filled to the brim with a deepness that, though simple, may be a lifetime in getting to the bottom of.

I downloaded this book after seeing all the positive raves about it a few months ago and I finally took the time to read it as I wanted to see what the hype was about. I must say that I read it in two days because I kept trying to get into the story only to reach the end and be disappointed. While the premise of the book was good the story was all over the place. Long story short don't give up on your dream.

I enjoyed the story in the beginning, but I felt it started to tie too much into religion. If you are into that sort of thing then this is for you, otherwise, I found the storyline predictable and hurried at the end to just wrap it all up quickly.

I am pretty late to the party as far as this book goes, it was mentioned in an autobiography I was reading and I figured I would give it a go after seeing some reviews.. Well, I wasn't very interested in this book. The writing is not very great, hopefully due to the fact it was translated but also I felt it was basically just non stop repetition. The world conspires to help this achieve their personal legend, knowing the language of the world, etc.. it wasn't a bad read but fortunately it was short because it got old to me pretty quickly.

I was getting around to reading the book as i noticed it is missing pages. There are several blank pages. Also- the description states it has 208 pages and it stops at 166. So basically the book isn't original.

There’s nothing like a Paolo Coelho book to get your creativity going... don’t think twice. This is a classic book for dreamers and doers. It’s poetic and artistic, and if you’re a creative soul, you’ll connect right away.

"The Alchemist" is the second book I have read by Paulo Coelho, the first being "Eleven Minutes". As with "Eleven Minutes" I found this book to be a quick read, and hard to put down. It is the story of a Spanish shepherd boy named Santiago, who goes in search of his "Personal Legend". He is started on his quest by a Gypsy woman and a man who calls himself king. He runs into many people and obstacles along the way, and always his desire to obtain his Personal Legend sees himself through. One of the people he meets is the Alchemist, from which the book gets its title, and he is instrumental in helping Santiago reach his goal. This book is different then "Eleven Minutes" in many ways. The style is lighter, and it is clearly not meant to be a true story. The reader never doubts that Santiago will succeed in his quest, nor feels suspense at the dangers he encounters. However, suspense is not the purpose of this book. This book is about dreams, and listening to one's heart, and in that it does its job very well.

I clicked "love it" for a lot of reasons. Yes, its a lovey, well written book; a great allegory – but what I love about it is its versatility, is gift appeal. Its great for teenagers & college students who are just getting out into the world, or for all-grown-up-now friends at life shift moments. Its a short book, but it asks the reader to stay a while, languish and not rush through it. It takes place in a region that we can so easily over-simplify along with themes and concepts its easy to compartmentalize or dismiss out of hand. Some want to call it "woo woo". Ugh, please. Its about integrity and connection – to more than just transient materialistic thinking. With the Holidays coming up it is a great little "thank you"' gift (thank you to a hostess) and stocking stuffer. Its a modern day classic for a reason.

My fiancé had ordered this book and I honestly picked it up just to read what it was about. Next thing I knew I was half way through it and couldn't put it down, let alone allow him to start reading it till I was finished. After I had finished it I ordered one for my mother who after losing her husband last year, would always ask "What is my purpose in life?!". This is definitely a book I would pick up and read again! Its such an eye opener and really gets you thinking about life itself. Its a beautiful story!

LOVE the book ,LOVE the story absolutely love PAULO Coelho but honestly try to get a better print of this must have master piece.. Was a bit disappointed about the print quality but hey you get what you pay for ..the price was affordable. I got a better copy of the book later on and used this one to highlight my favorites parts of the book xx

I don’t understand all the hype about this book. Found it to be very boring.

Santiago, a young, Andalusian shepherd, is on a quest to visit the Pyramids of Giza and collect the treasure which his dreams have shown him. Over the course of the book, the adolescent encounters several mysterious persons (such as a gypsy woman, an old king of Salem, and an alchemist) all of whom push him forward to fulfill his personal legend. Also, when he is about to cross the Sahara desert from Morroco to Egypt, he meets an Englishman, who, through heavy studies, has additionally been trying to learn about the Soul of the World (the language shared by everything on the planet), and is desperate to find an alchemist. The alchemist is said to be able to transform lead into gold, and supposedly is immortal. Over time, Santiago begins to read natural omens, and realizes that even if he didn't make it to the pyramids, he could die happily. He knew that he would have experienced much more than any other shepherd of the Iberian Peninsula, and that the journey is not just about the treasure, but every second of the steps along the way. The many challenges which he faces sometimes make him feel like giving up, but nature's omens continue to push him forward. I feel like this book and its lessons transcend all dividing boundaries of culture and spirituality. It has the power to motivate someone who feels they have no purpose in life, or anybody in the entire world. The Alchemist greatly influenced me to keep working at the things that I love, as after witnessing Santiago's losses, I realized that anyone is capable of being great. I believe this is the reason that it has been translated from Portuguese into over 70 other languages. Along with its engaging plot and adventure, it is highly philosophical, which is why adults should read it too. Most of the time, you pick up a book, you read it, and then you never open it again. With this book, however, you can read it once, take what you can, and then maybe in a few years, open it back up and learn something new. I think Paulo Coelho intended to have the reader go back and forth like this.

This was an okay read that kept my attention until I got towards the end then it was moving too far.

This was a truly rich and thought provoking read, I completed this book in 4 hours. From the first page, I just didn't want to put it down. Following the sheppard's journey, through all the twist and turns, really made me take a step back and reflect. The spiritual elements of this book really left me with a profound sense of gratitude for my very own journey in finding my treasure. Definitely a must have in your personal library.

Meaningless book I have read so far. Learned nothing from it. It's a waste of time to read this book.

I kept waiting for it to get good. finished it in a day. purchased it because a husband/wife on Instagram mentioned they both liked it. id say it would be good summer reading for middle schoolers. im a 45 year old woman.

I had heard several people say they loved this book, but didn't really know what to expect. I was impressed with how Coelho weaves together philosophy, ancient scripture, cultural myth, and psychology into a simple story that is relevant today.

Pages are terrible! I am so disappointed! I don't know why they would send a book to a customer with this kind of pages..

This is an amazing book and I believe it’s one that everyone should read. It’s great for all reading levels, a quick read—it took me about 6 hours to complete. I didn’t read this until college but I wished I’d read it sooner. I’ve read it several times since then and I get something new out of it every single time.

I typically only read business, self-help, or computer science textbooks and hardly ever read fiction. To put in perspective the only fiction I’ve read is this and The Fountainhead in the past 3 years. I would put this book above The Fountainhead in regard to overall message, enjoyability, and size of smile at the end of the book. And it took about 1/25 of the time! I highly recommend this book. It’s an easy weekend read that will put a smile on your face and give you a handful of good quotes to remember. Enjoy it for what it is and you’ll be delighted.

This is such a highly rated book that I was excited to read it. I couldn't relate to this at all. Seriously do not understand the hype.

Book is great but the paperback printing is not - ordered two and one of them looks a bit weird

This books reminds me of my dreams. The ones I stuff, ignore, or practically dismiss. Dreams are worth pursuing, even if you can’t initially see how it will ever come to fruition. Just one day at a time! This book was quick and interesting. Many spiritual elements and much wisdom. I enjoyed it very much.

I wasn't sure what to expect. I had heard about this book and recommended it to my son. Once he finished reading it, I received a call from him telling me how much he loved it! Now I understand why. This thought-provoking, inspiring tale of one young man's journey to find his personal treasure is not limited to the gender of the main character. This is a story for all of human-kind to absorb and tuck away in our hearts as a guide fora passionate, uninhibited life. I cannot wait to read it again!

I purchased The Alchemist as a book-club suggestion. It was written in 1985; and there’s no way that I’d recommend reading it for pleasure. If you read it, you deserve 3-college credits.

I havent started reading the book yet. However as soon as it arrived I was disappointed that it was poorly made. As you can see in the pictures the pages are not the same width, which is extremely annoying for me and not worth my $10.

This book is fictional. Or is it??? Well, you decide. I like to call it a fairy tale for adults. This is an awesome to read more than once! Let your imagination and view of reality run wild when you read this book. It could inspire you to create and accomplish a goal you never thought you could accomplish before.

Wonderful and inspiring. It really helped and I enjoyed it. A quick read. I was lead here by omens, it kept coming up on conversation, ads, etc.

This book teaching very valuable life lesson and encourage you to read it! Alchemist is about a boy who is so determined to do something he will sacrifice anything for it even is love! This boy had multiple dreams about finding a treasure, so something told him he should find it. He went a long way to find it, like having to have a job for a year just to get to his destination, going hungry, and almost dying 3 times!! He was so patient too getting to his destination and he met many obstacles along the way but he never gave up. This boy had a lot of help from many different people and each person taught him something very valuable. One of the best books I have read!

It was a nice enough story with a decent ending, but I did not come away with any life altering knowledge. If you want that , read "The Richest Man in Babylon". It's the same size, also an easy read, but it will change the way you see the world and could result in you becoming very wealthy if you take the lessons to heart and act on them.

I love this Book..One of my friend suggested me to start rrading this one and I gave it a try.. There are too many things one can learn from “The Alchemist”. Its all about following your dream and about taking the risk of following your dreams, which is actually so difficult to do and there are very few people in this world who actually do, I mean risk it all, just to follow your heart and your dream. Beauty is, the author is so right in saying that when u decide to follow your dreams the entire universe conspires in your favour which he called as the “beginners luck” and we all have been witness to this beginners luck at one or other point in our lives.Also, he talks about a stage in our journey towards realizing our dreams..

you'll never know what this book is about if you never read it. that's actually what the book is about; finding out, what it is, you are searching for. finding your personal legend, a journey to find yourself!. an interesting book that brings you right back to where it all started

Enjoyable. Easy to read. Wonderful story telling. Very useful ideas and insights. However, it didn’t resonate with me in the sense of being something that was moving as some describe. In some ways, I felt I was reading a self-help book disguised as fiction.

I love this book so much! Never would I imagine a book could teach me so much about life. I bought this after a recent break up and I’ve learned to trust the universe and it’s timing after reading this

The first thing in my mind is what a lovely story is this. I feel like swimming within the cloud and dreams of the rain showering me and the rainbow is at the end of each chapter. The boy, the alchemist are the main figure in this story. I am really could not help myself reading line by line with meaningful phrase. I love when the alchemists give his wisdom. I feel that he really talk to me. The story is so powerful when I can feel what they say, the conflict and the scene. Do I to hydraulically describe this book. Well, good choice of book for those who are searching yourself and meaning of life.

Sorry I can't read a rape if it was gift for someone

I have not read this book-- my review is not on the story itself. I purcahsed this book for my sister, who is a huge Harry Potter fan. The people who I know that loved Harry Potter recommended I get her this book. My review is on the book quality. Usually I purchase hardcover books because rereading books in my household is common, but I was surprised at the quality of this paperback. First, it isn't your standard small fiction paperback book size. It's a little bit larger. The cover is vibrant but, what I really liked, were the uneven handmade paper feel to the edges of the paper. I just love it when books do that.

by Jakob G. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho originally published in 1988 is a simple fable, a story about realizing your dreams and your "personal legend." The Alchemist has sold over 150 million copies worldwide and has been translated in over 40 languages. At the beginning of the book a young shepherd, Santiago, from Andalusia in Spain has this reoccurring dream about a great treasure to be found at the pyramids in Egypt. There are several people who help Santiago on his way. The first one is the Old King. The Old King tells Santiago to sell his sheep so that he will be able to start his journey to Egypt. The Old King also introduces the concept of a "personal legend." A personal legend is what you always wanted to accomplish in your life. This is also the main theme of the book, to rather be sorry for something you did instead of being sorry for something you never tried, to follow your dreams and not let your dreams pass you by. In a way The Alchemist is a book that easily could be filed under "self-help-book" instead of fiction." This probably also explains the incredible success this book has had, that it is not only fiction but a self-help-book as well. The next person or omen Santiago meets on his journey is the Englishman who is searching for an alchemist to teach him how to become an alchemist himself. Traveling through the Sahara desert Santiago meets a beautiful young woman, Fatima who lives in an oasis in the desert. Santiago wants to marry Fatima but she refuses him. Because of this Santiago later understands and learns another important lesson, true love will not ask to stop ones "personal legend", ones journey to fulfil a lifelong dream but is willing to wait until the journey is completed. At the oasis Santiago meets an alchemist who ends up traveling with Santiago all the way to the pyramids. On the way the alchemist teaches Santiago many things and shares his wisdom of the "Soul of the World." Eventually Santiago returns home to Andalusia where he finds a real treasure in the church where he had his original dream. This treasure enables him to travel back to the oasis where his love Fatima is waiting for him. I find the characters in the book are not very well developed, we do not find out much about them. Another criticism I have found while researching material for my review is that the book makes it look like following ones dream is something that only men can do. The only woman in the book, Fatima passively stays back and waits for her "hero" to eventually find his way back to her. At 150 million copies sold this is a mute point because I am sure not only men bought The Alchemist. Self-help or literature what’s not to like, The Alchemist has a great message “if you really want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

A beautiful story. I found myself not wanting to put the book down, intrigued to find out what the boy's 'treasure' was. We often give up when we are closest to our truth and I found myself wanting to know if the boy would give up. A simple story to remind us that the universe will conspire together to help you get what you want. The book didn't change my life and I certainly didn't read it as a 'self help' book. It was a simple reminder that I need to live in the moment and pay attention because I may miss the universe telling me a secret that will direct me or change my life in a positive or negative way.

This was a wonderful read. I really enjoyed the journey and cast of characters! I will probably find myself reading it again!

A feel good journey of the mind and soul. I would highly recommend to anyone with an adventurous mind and spirit seeking meaning in life.

I've read this book twice and purchased it for some friends who wanted to check it out. It's not a bad book. I just don't see what the hype was over. It was going pretty good until it started getting a little "fiction-y".. The build up was pretty good. I think the author's "Paulo Coehlo" life story is more interesting and real life.

The story is a definite masterpiece, with long lasting far reaching inspiration that will lead you on a hunt for your Personal Legend. The book had a clean finish, the pages were irregularly cut, so some had longer edges than others but this not an issue.

I have always been curious about this book because of the reviews and hearesay. Well, I finally read it. Honestly, I am not a big reader and am looking to change that. I read this and was inspired and transformed. I even bought the graphic novel version for my son who mostly reads graphic novels.

This book was recommended to me by a friend and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s a great read and self reflection. My opinion, everyone should read this book. It does have a religious connotation, so keep that in mind.

I love this book. I read it in high school for my theology class, and I remember HATING this book so much! After a few more years of experience under my belt, and after many suggestions, I picked it up again (hesitantly), and I was AMAZED at how much I took away from it, in a way I had not been open to in high school. I will be reading this again and again for many years to come. It was a book I had to have - I bought it after I borrowed it from the library.

The Alchemist should be mandatory; it teaches so many life lessons. You cry, laugh, and wait in anticipation for Santiago to turn into the wind. Every time you read it, you read something new.

I thought this was a decent teen book. Very straightforward. Message is nice but not nuanced. As a comparison, I was listening to the The Invisible Man while reading this and found that to be much more layered and complex as a piece of literature.

I can’t believe I got all the way through this audio book, the best part of the book was when it ended!, I didn’t like Jeremy Irons voice, I didn’t like the story. What is all the fuss about? Seriously why are there so many good reviews? Ug!!!

I chose this book as a friend referred it to me and I absolutely loved it! I love the story about the shepherd boy who was so determined to find his Personal Legend that he would risk losing it all in order to find it. He trusted his heart and knew it would pay off. Definitely inspired me to trust my heart and do what it is telling me more often

This story of a shepherd boy following his heart is a deceptively simple adult fairy tale, or as others have called it, a fable. The language is spare, and the story never misses a beat. It is beautifully done. The only suggestion I would have is to allot the time to read it in one sitting if you can to experience its full impact . You'll be thinking about it for a long, long time afterward.

This is the first book I've read by Paulo Coelho - but it definitely won't be my last! In "The Alchemist", Paulo demonstrates his wonderful ability to "sew" spiritual truths into a page-turning story - enabling the reader to learn important lessons while being entertained at the same time. "The Alchemist" is about a shepherd boy who, after a series of dreams, is led to go searching for his "personal legend", or "right path". During this journey, the boy meets many interesting people - each with something to teach him. Over time, the boy learns that there is a "universal language" -one that is understood not only by all people, but by all things. He also learns about the importance of seeking your "personal legend", and how omens can be used to help everyone in this endeavor. And love, he learns about the importance of love, and much, much more... Overall, I found "The Alchemist" to be an interesting, important book. It serves to remind us of many spiritual truths that tend to get lost in the shuffle of our everyday lives. As such, I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in spirituality - it's definitely a worthwhile read!

This book!! The actual look and feel of the book is amaze balls! I just adore the texture of the pages and it’s so pretty. I’ll admit I only first ordered this bc my muffin baby angel papasito Shawn Mendes said it was his fav book but wow was he right!! Proof that he is gawd, k that’s all.

We all seek the meaning of our individual path. What we experience along the way becomes the shape of our existence. We must be willing to listen and obey what life is teaching us. When we are compelled towards a greater life and becomes our soul's vision, we must seek and grow beyond what we are now. This is The Alchemist and his teachings.

This took a while for me to get into it but once I did, it was a lovely read. Sometimes the plain, stark style doesn't appeal to me, and that was the same feeling for this book. I wonder if the translation gave it that particular character.

Amazing book with an inspiring story. Paulo Coelho is an amazing writer puts you right in the story and fills you with hope and gratitude for your own life. Please read this book. If you live with self doubt, or hard times or just need inspiration from a story this is the book for you to read. I have read it twice already and as always it was passed to me by word of mouth through happy readers. You will not regret opening this book.

This book is profound and for everyone. Once you read this book, share it with everyone especially children. I think the lessons in this book will resonate with everyone, and when shared with children will encourage them to follow their heart. Which is something that is not taught in school.

Got it as a gift for HS graduation and thought I got it. Kind of a "Oh the places you'll go" feeling. Read it again when I changed majors, major "OHHH" moment for me. Then I graduated college, "now I get it." Starting grad school? "Finally I understand." It's a simple, short read from a lesser talented author that somehow resounds with the search for purpose and meaning. Can't wait to read it again.

Finished this book on a plane from SFO to SEATAC (+/-2 Hrs.) and loved every second of it. I always wondered what was the big hype around this book about and now I can say it's popularity is definitely justified. Purchased the hardcover as a gift for a fan of the book after purchasing the softcover for myself. Both are quality books and the softcover feels a lot more durable than others. The hardcover will last the tests of time and is a much better option for collectors, fans of the novel, or just book enthusiasts.

In The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho uses diction, syntax, and the hero cycle to keep the pace of the book constant, and keep the reader intrigued. But, he does have a few flaws present in the book. The Alchemist is a book about a boy named Santiago, who goes on an adventure to find his “Personal Legend” or treasure. Coelho uses the hero cycle to add more emphasis on the plot, which overall makes the story more entertaining. In the story, the Old King tells Santiago that “when someone wants to realize his or her Personal Legend,” he will “always [be] nearby.” (67) This is an example of atonement with the father, because the Old King’s closeness creates a father like figure in him, who is there to support Santiago. The hero cycle for me made the story more enjoyable and kept me reading. Also most of the book is him trying to obtain his Personal Legend, which is “what you have always wanted to accomplish.” (23) Compared to other books I have read this year in my English class, this one was easier to follow in terms of diction. The language that Paulo Coelho uses in the novel overall is not too difficult to understand. Word choice is done very well, and lets the reader flow through the book at a constant pace. The diction also makes the book a novel for a wide range of readers. The hero cycle with the clean diction made the story very enjoyable. While reading this book, I found that it was fairly easy to understand the passage, and that it was very inviting. Paulo Coelho structures the syntax of the book in an easy-to-understand format. Throughout the book, the syntax helps the reader understand where they are on the page, and it also positively affects the pace set by the diction in the book. Towards the middle of the novel, the boy says that “An army is coming,” and he knows because he “had a vision.” This dialogue is quickly followed up by a response from a camel driver, saying that “the desert fills men’s hearts with visions.” (104) The quick pace of dialogue keeps the book driving keeps the pace constantly in motion. The syntax made it easier for me to follow the story and follow which character was speaking and what they where feeling or doing. Even though I enjoyed a great bit of the book, there was still another bit that I didn’t fully enjoy. At the beginning of the Alchemist, the book seems to go a slower speed then the rest of it. The first portion of the book has a lot to do with introducing Santiago, the plot, the setting, and more. There is a part in the story where it goes from page 35 to page 38 with very little dialogue, which I felt stopped progress of the story. The first part also has to do a lot with how he discovers his Personal Legend. It took me a little while longer to read the first part of the book then the rest because I was mostly bored while reading it. I also felt that there was more descriptive text than the rest of the book, which really dragged out the first part. In conclusion, the book has lots of great traits and only a few bad ones. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend or anyone who enjoys reading about adventure.

I've carried this book with me for 20+ years and have given away many, many copies. This is the perfect book to give a young person who is pondering what life is all about.

Two stars is perhaps generous. I bought the kindle version but I was so bored I couldn't turn a page. My brother, who lives quite a distance away, choose books to read. I'm glad this was his pick and not mine. I finally gave up and got the audio version so I could converse. The best thing about this book is that it is short.

There are some books that can alter your perspectives and this is one of them. So many parts of the book are like brief homilies on life that you will find yourself rereading sections. It's a short book and a tale well told that holds your attention from beginning to end. Add it to your "must read" list.

Paulo Coelho's work takes you back in time to the story of a boy in the search of his personal legend. along every step of the way, you learn bits and pieces about the universal language of the world. You find that in the end we are all one in the same. The wise old people the boy meets and the interesting thoughts he has in his head take your mind down a path that leave you contemplating your own legend in a creative and fun way. This is one of those books that you can read every year and find new gems every time you hop in. Worth the time and the money as an investment in humanity's future.