The Alchemist

By Paulo Coelho

A special 25th anniversary edition of the extraordinary international bestseller, including a new Foreword by Paulo Coelho.

Combining magic, mysticism, wisdom and wonder into an inspiring tale of self-discovery, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations.

Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Feb 24, 2015
• ISBN: 9780062416216

Paulo Coelho

One of the most influential writers of our time, Paulo Coelho is the author of thirty international bestsellers, including The Alchemist, Warrior of the Light, Brida, Veronika Decides to Die, and Eleven Minutes. He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters and a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Paulo is the recipient of 115 international prizes and awards, among them, the Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur (Legion of Honor). Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1947, he soon discovered his vocation for writing. He worked as a director, theater actor, songwriter, and journalist. In 1986, a special meeting led him to make the pilgrimage to Saint James Compostela (in Spain). The Road to Santiago was not only a common pilgrimage but a turning point in his existence. A year later, he wrote The Pilgrimage, an autobiographical novel that is considered the beginning of his literary career. He lives in Geneva, Switzerland.

Reviews for The Alchemist

[lukerik-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A diverting little fantasy.It's perhaps spirituality-lite in the sense that it doesn't cover the full gamut of human experience. It's simply saying that you should follow your heart. It doesn't deal at all with what to do if your heart's just told you to kill a whole load of people and now you're feeling that twinge of guilt - but then I don't think that kind of thing is within it's remit.My main problems with it are threefold.In a couple of places it doesn't hold true to it's own inner laws.Some of its premises are simply factually inaccurate.If this is a symbolic novel them Coelho needs to make it clearer exactly what some of the things in it are supposed to represent.I'm not sure why people have found it lifechanging. Where they wandering around wanting to find buried treasure and it was only one they'd read this that it occurred to them to start digging? It may be of course that we are losing something in translation. If you read a modern rendering of Chaucer it's rubbish but the originals are stunning.If you want spirituality read Gibran's The Prophet. If you want allegory read Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. If you want symbolism read Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.

[dferb_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This alleghorical tale of a shephard's quest for his "treasure" is a pleasant story with a deep meaning. It has a great message of trusting the "omens" that appear to point the way to your true destination. There are many nuggets of inspiration. I enjoyed the theme of reaching your dreams and not settling for the ordinary.I enjoyed the story, and probably would have LOVED it in another setting. I was reading it for a book night at school, so it felt like an assignment and I had to rush through it. In a more relaxed setting, over vacation, on a beach, etc. I'm sure I would have been more impressed. I plan on reading it again during one of those quieter days.

[jonathanb8 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is very interesting. I love the twists and turns of "The Alchemist." The book gets a little confusing at the middle to the end. Overall this book is decent.

[jolerie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Santiago is an Andalusian shepherd with dreams of travelling the world. He inadvertently crosses paths with a Gypsy woman who tells his fortunes and from that moment on, Santiago dreams of seeing the world takes on a very different meaning. Along the way, he will meet a king, a crystal merchant, an Englishman, and an alchemist. Each person will impart their share of wisdom and life lessons and in the end, Santiago discovers the secret of life and but more importantly, his purpose and role in it.The Alchemist is a book that I can see people absolutely loving, or thinking that it's complete trash - I fall neatly somewhere in between those two extremes. Santiago's journey to find the truth should be a theme that resonates with everyone, but the delivery of that sojourn was rather abstract that often times I found myself wandering what exactly was Coelho trying to say. The whole book read like a giant parable with the occasional biblical quote and character thrown in for added measure. In he end, the mish mash of theological sophistry was lost on me and I got lost in the quest along with Santiago. He eventually found his truth and purpose, but I am still left wandering in Coelho's desert of dreams and legends.

[ignorantleafy_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As an allegory, this book does a good job of illuminating the sort of things that you already know, deep down--possibly from watching Disney movies--but have yet to articulate. I remember being grateful to it for that. It was not, however, the thrill of a lifetime. Still, as someone said to me, "It's one of those books you have to read so you can discuss it with everyone else at the cocktail party."

[obedah-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Paulo Coelho is one of those writers whom you must read. Like Richard Bach, and "Johnathan Livingston Seagull." You can read so much into this book, but on the surface it's simply the journey of a shepherd boy who follows his dream. There's enough schmaltz to go around, which detracts a little, but to me, the journey is the adventure.

[yoschmitty · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a wonderful book. Coelho's simplistic writing style provides insights and spiritual ideology to live by.

[carolynschroeder · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I read this on the recommendation of a dear friend (after a break up) and it was a very soothing, easy to read fable about finding one's destiny. A reviewer below stated that it felt "fortune cookie" ish, and that is rather a good description. It also feels very spiritually "done before." However, every once in a while those little papers inside the cookies do indeed speak to a person, and some did to me. It is easy to read, has some interesting reflections on a nomadic life, the pearls of the desert, love, the beauty of meeting new people and crossing their paths and probably some of those lesser things in the book like that I enjoyed the most. No question, it is not for everyone. But if you are a person who likes to wander a bit, likes a good fable and does not expect a Pulitzer here, you will enjoy it.

[drbubbles_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A simple fable, meaning no more than it says and saying no more than it means, that doubtlessly has been and will continue to be overinterpreted and argued about as an actual program for happiness.Still, in and of themselves, there's poetry in them thar words. I'm rather surprised that I did actually read it. And all in one sitting, too, mainly because of the style and the language.

[herbcat_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a fable. Don't even begin to expect deep character development or plot and dialogue. It is very readable: the prose is smooth, the details fulfilling, the images sharp. It is a real trip back into time, maybe a simpler time, but a dangerous one at any rate. The shepherd boy can read, having been sent to school in order to better himself and his financial status, his parents hoped. So he reads of other places and times and dreams of the long ago and the far away, the dangerous and the wealth of treasure found. He look to omens for guidance and meets some interesting and colorful characters. He has adventures and discovers some truths about himself and about mankind. Did he find happiness? Was he happier than before he started his journey? Read it yourself---it isn't quite what you're expecting.

[lovesbooks12 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Alchemist is all about pursuing your dreams, no matter what. The story is about a shepherd boy from Spain going on a journey to find the treasure he believes is hidden near the pyramids at Egypt. To do this he must sell his sheep meaning giving up his livelihood and basically his life in order to follow his dream. This book is one big metaphor for what is takes to accomplish your goals in life. Along his journey the shepherd meets people who have given up hope and let their dreams die, those who are to scared to chase their dreams, and those who will actually fight to make their dreams happen. Though it is a short novel that is an easy read I really liked the overall message of never giving up on our dreams. So for any looking for meaning in life or for those mustering up the courage to actually pursue their dreams this is the book for them.

[mirrani_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I never would have thought that I would enjoy a book with so much spiritual suggestion in it, but from the very beginning I realized I was going to not only fall in love with it, but pass it around to friends and family, singing its praises all the while.The story is about a boy who sets out to discover the world, not simply because he craves it, but because that is his Personal Legend. It really gets a reader to thinking what their own Legend might be.This was a quick, engaging read that wasn't originally a book I would have picked up if it hadn't been suggested to me through librarything's One Librarything, One Book posts. I'm afraid to say too much about it otherwise, because that would change the journey of other readers. When you pick up this book, I honestly believe it is one that you should pick up with no expectations or censorship from others in how the book goes. This book will most likely take many readers on a trip to discover their own Personal Legends without their even realizing it.

[abergsman-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I really can't stand this book. I have never quite understood what all the fuss is about with Paulo Coelho.

[bookaddict85 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Alchemist is a simple fable that alludes to the fact that all of us have a purpose and a dream in life. It is a simple book, but nonetheless inspiring. It is a story about a young boy named Santiago who has reoccurring dreams about a treasure, when he goes to see a gypsy about the meaning of his dream she tells him to follow his dream and not to pay her now for her services but to pay her one tenth of his treasure once he finds it. Santiago left home to become a shepherd to follow his dreams of travel. He is hesitant to leave his flock, but begins to follow omens. Through his travels he overcomes many obstacles and meets many people who guide him in his journey. He meets to love of his life Fatima. Santiago tells her that he will need to continue on his journey but rest assured that he will come back to her. Through the story Santiago is led by many spiritual guides, and leaves the readers inspired. All of us have a purpose in life, and we need to listen to the omens around us. Our heart will lead us, where it will need to go. I did enjoy the novel. However, near the end I did want it to end. This book was given to me from a coworker and I’m glad I read it. I do recommend the novel, especially for someone who is struggling to make life decisions. It’s a spiritual and inspiring book that I’m happy to add to my “read in 2009 list.”

[llthestorygirl · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I went into this book with mixed signals. The grocery store displays claimed it was "the epic journey that has captivated millions!" However, all the book reviews I read and the bloggers who noticed I was reading it seemed to absolutely hate it. This led me to think it was a "love it or hate it" kind of read, but in reality, I ended up being pretty ambivalent about the book. It had both negative and positive qualities, but they more or less canceled each other out in my mind.My main complaint about this book is that it seemed disjointed, both stylistically and in the narrative. The book would seem like a fable, with stereotypical characters and an archetypal plot, and then suddenly, the boy would be acting like a punk teenager, annoyed with his teachers. That didn't fit in with the whole, "I'm going on a mythic journey symbolic of the human quest for joy" theme. I imagine Coelho was trying to make the character more believable and show the resistance people often have toward actually pursuing their goals, but it seemed out of place to me. I think the disjointed narrative may also have been Coelho's attempt to make the book seem true to life, so in some ways I appreciate it. It is true that when I think back on some of the things I have ended up doing, they seem pretty random - switching from a music major to neuroscience (with a few other random stops along the way)? Working with disabled people? Going to nursing school? While I love these things now, if you had told me about them when I was 15, I would have laughed in your face. So, yes, I agree that our lives and our "personal journeys" are disjointed. But in the setting, they felt a little jarring and out of place.I did enjoy a few of the concepts in the book, however. I liked learning that muktab means "it is written." (A major phrase in one of my favorite movies, Slumdog Millionaire, and also the name of a character in the latest Alanna book I'm reading, which fits him perfectly. I never would have picked up on it otherwise!) I thought the love story was sweet. It was mainly when I was reading about the love story that I found some redeeming value in the book. And also - while the information wasn't presented in a way that wasn't especially meaningful to me, I do think it is important to "seek your Personal Legend" - except I call it seeking joy, and it isn't quite as absolutely defined a process as the one described in The Alchemist. If it was meant to be a self-help book, it failed me, because it didn't cause me to reevaluate or change anything in my life.So, to sum up - I didn't love it. But it was ok. Readability/accessibility - It was an easy read. Occasionally disjointed, as previously mentioned.Aesthetics/literary merit - It had a few pretty passages, but in general, didn't work for me. 2Plot: Pretty disjointed, drove me crazy. 1.5Characters: Because this was a fable of sorts, they weren't really developed, but I was expecting that. 2Personal Response: 3. Like I said, it was fine. I didn't hate it, and there were a few parts I liked.Overall: 2

[lisuebie · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I read it. I found it sentimental and overblown. A whole lot too self important and self conscious. Much too selfish to be a good guideline.Seems to me that authors who have a "message" don't generally really have anything interesting to say.

[eheleneb3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Alchemist is a fable about not giving up on your true self and your true purpose in life. I loved this book the first time I read it, because I was at a really low point in my life and I really felt like it SPOKE to me about striving to achieve excellence for yourself and not settling for mediocrity. The premise is that each of us has our own universal truth—that if we follow our utmost desires we will contribute to the soul of the universe and ultimately be happy. I hate cliché or overly-sentimental crap, but this book really hit me when I read it.

[literarylinda · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This Brazilian writer has written several bestselling books popular around the world. His books have had a life-enchanting effect on millions of people. The young boy Santiago searches for his treasure revealed in a dream. It turns into a journey to discover the treasure within. He meets many characters who point him in the direction of his quest. It could be considered a religious book as he searches for God. I enjoyed this quiet, enchanting novel.

[booksfortheliving · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

So many inspiring lines in this novel.

"When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too."

"There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure."

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

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

"Don't give in to your fears. If you do, you won't be able to talk to your heart."

[sweetie_candykim_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I hated this book. It was like a slightly more toreable Sophie's World. It was a lot of mumbo jumbo nonsense that seemed to contradict itself too.

[schmechi · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Aufgrund eines wiederkehrenden Traums verkauft der Hirtenjunge Santiago seine Schafherde und reist nach Ägypten, um dort einen Schatz zu finden, welcher ihm im Traum erschienen ist. Anlässlich dieser Reise hat Santiago zahlreiche Prüfungen zu bestehen und Wendungen zu meistern, welche ihn von seinem Weg abzubringen versuchen. Er taucht dabei in die mystische Philosophie eines Alchimisten ein, welcher ihn lehrt, die "allumfassende Weltenseele" zu verstehen.Coelhos Roman ist eine mit Lebensweisheiten gespickte, sehr athmosphärische Abenteuergeschichte. Das Werk ist ein Plädoyer, seine Träume zu verwirklichen und an seinen Zielen zu arbeiten. Die esoterischen, mystischen und philosophischen Betrachtungen sind hingegen eher etwas für Leute, die an solche Dinge glauben (oder glauben wollen), der Rest der potentiellen Leserschaft wird dem Roman aufgrund der entsprechenden Passagen eher weniger abgewinnen können.

[atomheart_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Simple... beautiful... inspiring... one to re-read over and over.

[daniel5estes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Reminds me of Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. It has a fluffy, feel-good prose, as if in a dream, but lacking a certain substance for my tastes. Nevertheless, I completely get how The Alchemist grew to become one of the most popular books of its time. It pushes all the right buttons—an exotic landscape, believe in yourself, follow your dreams, etc.

[stevelindahl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho to be an unusual work of fiction. It doesn't have what I normally like in a novel, but it has other aspects that kept my interest.This Brazilian novel is the story of a shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his home in Spain to Egypt in search of his treasure. (I thought of writing “in search of treasure” or “in search of a treasure” but the word “his” is important. One quote from the novel reads: Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.)Most of the things that happen to Santiago come about through forces that are outside his own character and for this reason I never cared for him or for any of the other characters in the book. Yet I liked the novel for other reasons. For one thing, it is one of the most quotable books I've ever read. I've already given one sample. Here are some others:People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of. If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own. Every blessing ignored becomes a curse. You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it's better to listen to what it has to say.Although The Alchemist has a plot, I believe the book can be read by opening it to random pages and looking for words of wisdom, the way some people read the Bible.The other aspect of The Alchemist I loved was the way Paulo Coelho mixed secular wisdom with Christian and Muslim wisdom. I was left with the feeling that there are many ways to find truth. What is important is to keep searching.Steve Lindahl – author of Motherless Soul and White Horse Regressions

[krisiti · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Very much a fable, a very straightforward one about the importance of following one's dreams. I am against preachiness as a rule, but I do like fables, and this was so nicely told I couldn't dislike it.It seems a very popular book at the library. It is a bit odd to think of all those armchair travellers I see at the reserves desk identifying with and cheering on the Andalusian boy as he crosses the dessert. Like me. How many of us would leave our home and life for a dream?

[elenchus_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Almost certainly I came to this book later than when it would have made the biggest impression. There's something to be said for gathering commonplace themes in a neat & compelling package (like, say, Who Moved My Cheese?), but in this case the visceral kick was lacking.

[aront-2 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Over rated. The author preaches, lectures and explains too much, instead of letting the story teach us. Also, the plot is totally unoriginal. The main story is found in a famous hasidic folk tale. I don't know if that specific version was the inspiration of Coehlo's story but I have no doubt the same story is found in other folklore as well. The original is short and can be told in two minutes. Coelho drags it out without adding more power or depth to the story.

[greeniezona · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have resisted reading this book for many, many years. It has been on the Modern Classics! tables and Great Books for Grads! tables of every bookstore I've been in for the past twenty years. But I was pretty "meh" on alchemy until quite recently, and the book description always just sounded so twee to me that I couldn't.

But then... The Egyptian pyramids. Maybe not my obsession with djinns, but some common story elements. Ginny recommended a different book by Coelho that I couldn't find. This very very pretty anniversary edition. I fell in.

From page one I had all my walls up against this book turning out to be some The Secret bullshit. But despite this story's renown simplicity, it's not as simple as that. Santiago's journey is never easy. He is mugged and gives up and is held up by war and basically arrested and is mugged again.

It's the alchemist who is probably my favorite, who is probably my favorite, who reads and reads and studies and harasses so-called masters, trying to find the secret, then when he finally meets The Master, he basically says, "OMG. Do the work, already."

I'm coming to this book a little late in life to make this book my manifesto and sell all my sheep to head to the desert. But I like the remind to leave my glass shop behind once in a while. Go check out Mecca.

[asawyer_21 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Quaint and simplistic. A fable to inspire finding and pursuing one's own destiny. Likely not as effective in translation.

[thioviolight · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The storytelling is simple, but the message, while basic, affected me deeply. I read this at a time when I was unhappy with a lot of things in my life, and it inspired me to get out of the rut I was in.