The Alchemist

A Fable About Following Your Dream

By Paulo Coelho

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Average Rating: (See all 9 reviews) Format: Paperback, 192 pages, New edition Edition Other Information: 1 map Published In: United Kingdom, 06 September 1999 Quantity Available: 1 24 hour shipping "The Alchemist" is a global phenomenon, selling over 30 million copies worldwide. This exciting new edition includes exclusive content, such as a new forward to the book by the author, an interview with Paulo Coelho, and much more, providing an in-depth look at this much-loved title. Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. This is such a book - a magical fable about learning to listen to your heart, read the omens strewn along life's path and, above, all follow your dreams. This is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who dreams of travelling the world in search of a worldly treasure as fabulous as any ever found. From his home in Spain, he journeys to the markets of Tangiers, and from there into the Egyptian desert, where a fateful encounter with the alchemist awaits him. With Paulo Coelho's visionary blend of spirituality, magical realism and folklore, "The Alchemist" is a story with the power to inspire nations and change people's lives. Reviews 'His books have had a life-enhancing impact on millions of people.' TIMES 'One of the few to deserve the term Publishing Phenomenon.' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY 'Coelho's writing is beautifully poetic but his message is what counts! he gives me hope and puts a smile on my face.' DAILY EXPRESS 'I love The Alchemist.' OPRAH WINFREY 'The Alchemist is a beautiful book about magic, dreams and the treasures we seek elsewhere and then find on our doorstep.' MADONNA About the Author Paulo Coelho was born in Brazil and has become one of the most widely read authors in the world today. Renowned for his best-loved work 'The Alchemist', he has sold over 65 million books worldwide and has been translated into 60 languages. The recipient of numerous prestigious awards, he is a storyteller with the power to inspire nations and change people's lives. Prizes 'The Alchemist' is a global phenomenon, selling over 30 million copies worldwide. This exciting new edition includes exclusive content, such as a new forward to the book by the author, an interview with Paulo Coelho, and much more, providing an in-depth look at this much-loved title. / Paulo Coelho is one of the most beloved storytellers of our times. His books have sold more than 75 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 61 languages. / He is the recipient of numerous prestigious international literary awards. / 'The Alchemist' has achieved the status of a modern classic. Fans include Madonna, who declared it was her favourite book. / We are relaunching our Paulo Coelho backlist with a high-profile marketing strategy and spend. Publisher: Thorsons ISBN: 0722532938 EAN: 9780722532935 Dimensions: 19.0 x 13.0 centimeters

I agree with the previous reviewer
3 of 5 Stars – Customer review on 25/05/2006 - "finding your spiritual path because of this book? *ahem* Seems like quite a stretch. I enjoyed the book for what it is but don't see it anymore than a fairy tale."

This book is an endearing story but somewhat vague and not the life changer you hear mentioned.
It depends how you define your dream I guess. I'd rather follow my adventure, which doesn't imply I know what I'm going to find.
Having read it, I thought slightly less of the person who'd recommended this too me - she had read it in idyllic circumstances so can perhaps be forgiven.

This book is one of my all time favourites but judging by the fact that there are 65 million copies in print, I can safely say I'm probably not alone in that either.

The Alchemist, if you're not familiar with the work (gasp! horror!), is a grown-up fable that at its very heart is a story about a man, the woman he loves and following your destiny. Anyone who has ever had a dream can find inspiration within the pages of this novel, and, as the novel so poignantly points out, each one of us has a dream or a personal legend to fulfill. I think one of my favourite lines is what the Old King says to the boy on their first meeting:

“When you’re following your personal legend, all of the universe conspires to help you achieve it."

Every credit should be given to the translator who managed to convey the simple beauty of Coelho’s writing which is one of the reasons the book works so well. This is just one of the best feel good books out there, perfect in its simplicity yet complex in its spirituality. Because it borrows parts form Egyptian Mythology, the Bible and the Qu'ran, it has the ability to touch the hearts of a diverse population of people.

An interesting fact about The Alchemist, it was listed as one of the five most frequently stolen books from Melbourne bookstores. Life has such an amusing sense of irony!

A beautifully simple and yet complex story. It's an absolute classic and well worth reading and keeping on your book shelf to be read and re-read over and over again.

This is such a great book and very inspiring, emotional, and heartfelt. It tells the tale of a man determined to follow his dream and pursue his passion. This is one of the books you have to read before you die, it is simply fantastic! An absolute must read!

while reading this book, i found it to be very interesting and optimistic. it was a really great read, and in many parts of it i found myself constantly not wanting to put it down, just so i could keep reading and going with its incredibly powerful and positive flow, and i think it would make a fine addition to anyones bookshelf.

A simply written inspiring story about a young sheep boy following his dreams. It is riddled through with optimistic thoughts about following your dreams, direction in life, and connection with others.

As a moving story, it does a good job. As a life changing concept, it does little. The realities of life do not quite fit into this story so don't expect to find many answers to life here. If you want an uplifting story that puts a different spin on life then it might just put a smile on your face :)

i liked the alchemist.
although it's a thin novel and rather simplistically written, it's enjoyable
so optimistic and hopeful in every way imaginable. quite didactic.
the book dedicates itself to underscoring the importance of finding a 'personal legend' and pursuing dreams. some parts of the book, i found were quite quotable - for instance:

It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.

Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.

...at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the worlds greatest lie.

This is a book that can be approached in a startling number of ways - taken as a life manual I don't really think it would work, but as a wide eyed and beautiful fable about following your dreams and your heart it is irresistable. A shepherd boy's dreams send him on a pilgrimage where he will enncounter the alchemnist.

This book has been pitched as one that will "change your life". Well, definitely not life-changing for me and I didn't think it created any lightbulb moments either. It was an enjoyable fable to read but I don't think it was particularly inspiring - it's an old tale retold in a different setting. Maybe I'm being jaded and cynical, but finding your spiritual path because of this book? *ahem* Seems like quite a stretch. I enjoyed the book for what it is but don't see it anymore than a fairy tale.