The Alchemist

Like the one-time bestseller Jonathan Livingston Seagull, The Alchemist presents a simple fable, based on simple truths and places it in a highly unique situation. And though we may sense a bestselling formula, it is certainly not a new one: even the ancient tribal storytellers knew that this is the most successful method of entertaining an audience while slipping in a lesson or two. Brazilian storyteller Paulo Coehlo introduces Santiago, an Andalucian shepherd boy who one night dreams of a distant treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. And so he's off: leaving Spain to literally follow his dream.

Along the way he meets many spiritual messengers, who come in unassuming forms such as a camel driver and a well-read Englishman. In one of the Englishman's books, Santiago first learns about the alchemists--men who believed that if a metal were heated for many years, it would free itself of all its individual properties, and what was left would be the "Soul of the World." Of course he does eventually meet an alchemist, and the ensuing student-teacher relationship clarifies much of the boy's misguided agenda, while also emboldening him to stay true to his dreams. "My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy confides to the alchemist one night as they look up at a moonless night.

"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself," the alchemist replies. "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."

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Nothing wrong with simple... - Rated
A friend recommended The Alchemist to me a few years ago, and I've only now got around to reading it.

Looking at the reviews on this site, it seems a lot of people are critical of the simple style of writing, and the repetitive structure. Personally, I liked the simple, poetic style of writing. I'm not religious, and approach life from a scientific perspective, but I didn't mind the supernatural elements of the plot- they weren't the key message.

Coelho's message in this book is nothing new- to follow your dreams and to be awake to the possibilities within yourself, but he illustrates it poetically, and focuses on details of the plot that often are overlooked. Often he seems to interpret events in a postive way- something I found life-affirming and inspiring, because it's something that I personally struggle with. I wonder if that is part of the book's appeal to many people?

Excellent - Rated
This is an amazing book. It is a story of a young man who has a dream of hidden treasure. It is a book that alludes to that fact that all of us have a purpose and a dream. Yet many settle and give up their dream, and lose their passion for life. In this book it is stated again and again that each of us has our own Personal Legend, a quest; "When you pursue your personal legend the universe will conspire with you to make it happen." You will follow Santiago on his adventure and during the process be challenged to think about your goals and dreams and what you would have to do to pursue them.

Don't waste your time or money - Rated
This book offers its readers the kind of pseudo-spirituality that appeals to fairly well heeled westerners.

Try telling the starving millions in the Third World that "when a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person realise their dream". Try telling them (and those in oppressive regimes where you can get tortured for reading the wrong book, or expressing the wrong opinion) that "most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place." Try telling the families dying of starvation that "no matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world."

This shallow nonsense is fine for the thirty somethings sitting over their Starbucks coffee during their lunch break who feel that There Is Something Missing from their life. Oh, wow, the universe really is proceeding as it should. I'm important, although I don't know it. Maybe I should listen to the Language of the World (whatever the heck that's supposed to mean) and buy a few more self-help books, thus helping those smiling self-help writers make an even larger annual profit.

There's nothing special or valuable in this book. Even the punchline has been lifted from older stories. It had sold over a million and a half copies, which is sad or funny, depending on how you look at it.

I don't recommend that you make it a million and a half plus one.

Fresh take on an old story - Rated
When I came to read The Alchemist, I was already aware that some people loved it while others had found it boring or without merit.
My own view is that it is well worth a read but don't expect Great Expectations or Hamlet. To be perfectly fair though, I doubt it translates into english as well as it reads in the original portuguese.
It is a simple story of a young man / boy receiving information about his dream and feeling the urge to follow it and the adventures that he encounters along the way.
Strangely enough, readers from England who might devour this book for mysterious, foriegn and esoteric answers about seeking and finding happiness can find the same story in a 15th century english tale that has some historical facts behind it.
This story is The Pedlar of Swaffham, but if you don't already know the end and wish to enjoy The Alchemist, don't look it up - the storyline and the ending are the same. Suffice it to say, the answers are nearer than you think.
Read the book but don't expect a literary masterpiece. Just enjoy the story and the characters and a far off land. Isn't that what reading is all about?

Inspiring & Enlightening - Rated
Wow! I have just finished reading this book and cannot praise it highly enough. As others have said you need to be in a specific frame of mind and desire certain dreams & aspirations to really benefit from this read, if i had read this a few years ago i may not got as much out of it.