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The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream [Paperback]

Paulo Coelho (Author)
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (316 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 208 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins; New edition (Reissue) edition (2 May 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0722532938
  • ISBN-13: 978-0722532935
  • Product Dimensions: 19 x 13 x 1.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (316 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 309 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
    #10 in  Books > Mind, Body & Spirit
    #62 in  Books > Fiction > Contemporary Fiction

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More About the Author

Paulo Coelho
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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

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."

Review

'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
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Customer Reviews

316 Reviews
5 star:
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4 star:
 (42)
3 star:
 (25)
2 star:
 (32)
1 star:
 (54)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (316 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Important Life Lessons, 9 April 2002
This review is from: The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream (Paperback)
A very uplifting book. The two messages that stood out for me were: 1. When you are following your true destiny then the universe will conspire to help you (even if the going gets tough and it appears impossible at the time).
2. The fear & worrying of something happening or going wrong is usually far worse and more paralysing than if it actually happened. (If indeed it ever does happen in the first place!)
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars You Can't Make A Silk Purse Out Of A Sow's Ear, 20 Nov 2006
By Craobh Rua "Craobh Rua" (N. Ireland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream (Paperback)
Paulo Coelho was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1947, has been awarded France's Legion d'Honneur, Italy's Grinzane Cavour and was inducted into the Brazilian Academy of Letters in 2002. "The Alchemist" is invariably blurbed as "much loved" and was first published in 1988.

"The Alchemist" tells the story of Santiago, a native of Andalusia. He had trained, briefly, for the priesthood though had always been keen to travel. As a result, he left the seminary and - since the only Andalusians who travelled were shepherds - bought some sheep. As the story begins, he has just arrived - aptly enooough - at an abandoned church where he is planning to shelter for the night. That night, for the second time in about a week, he dreams of being taken to the Pyramids by a girl. There, she promises him a hidden treasuer if he comes to the Pyramids when awake. Although he has his dream interpreted in a nearby town, he only decides to follow his dream following a conversation with a man who calims to be the King of Salem.

"The Alchemist" is a very short, pleasant, easily-read book and has a message I'd really love to believe : everyone has a single goal in life (even if we don't realise it) and that the Earth itself wants us to be happy. Maybe I've just become too cynical over the yeras, but I couldn't honestly describe it as anything other then fluff - very likeable fluff, admittedly, though still fluff. Coelho himself has become an alchemist of sorts with this book, though he hasn't needed to turn lead into gold : he's made his fortune telling people to chase their dreams and to follow the right omens.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Like a magic spell that wears off after you finish, 29 Mar 2008
By Dmitri M. A. Hubbard (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream (Paperback)
This book is enchanting when you read it, you will get wrapped up in it and possibly finish it in a single session. After you have finished, wait a week. Then try to remember anything about the book. Truth is, you probably can't. Now go and pick up a copy of Siddartha by Herman Hesse. Read that. Wait a week. See if you can remember anything about it. Chances are, you probably can.

This book gives you a quick fix, very similar to the inspirational feel you get when you thumb through a self-help book in the bookstore, and become inspired by. Equally, now, you probably cannot remember the name of the self-help book, but is that a bad thing? Who can tell.

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

5.0 out of 5 stars Very inspiring
I found I could not put this book down. The first of Paulo Coelho's books I have read and have since read 'Manual of the Warrior of Light' and today bought 'The Fifth Mountain'... Read more
Published 9 days ago by P. Pallett

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiration guaranteed !
This is the first book I have read by Coelho, and I am not a great reader , but this has led to me reading a further two by same author... Read more
Published 10 days ago by Geoff the Chef

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading
This book is up there for me.
I say it is required reading for the world, generations.
It's such a simple book but the message, the wisdom in it is ...wow
Published 12 days ago by Superdan

5.0 out of 5 stars The Alchemist
Great book,I actually put it down once before I finished it! Recieved it in good time from the date of order,good protective packaging too.No complaints,happy with the service!
Published 16 days ago by Anthony

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful read
I bought this book having read it already. This is one of those books that you feel to pass on to a friend as soon as you've read it as you want them to undergo the same... Read more
Published 16 days ago by Dinidu Ellepola

3.0 out of 5 stars I'm not sure about this book....
This is my first foray into Paulo Choelho books and I picked this one as it was recommended as a good starting point. Read more
Published 18 days ago by Martin Belcher

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful simplicity
Yes this is a simple story with a simple message that is repeated a lot in it's short number of pages. Read more
Published 20 days ago by KNine

4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Brilliantly written and a great story! The best aspect about the book though, is the fact that you as the reader can relate to the mini-examples given in the book and integrate it... Read more
Published 1 month ago by flotationtherapy

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but a bit of an anti-climax ending
I was introduced to this book by a male friend that never reads - hence I felt it was a must that I read it, also around the same time everywhere I looked every London commuter... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sammy

1.0 out of 5 stars Trite
This book should be avoided by anyone who enjoys literature - it is a self-help book for the religious, full of the most leaden cliches and waffle. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Reader

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