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

Paulo Coelho
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (498 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Book Description

8 Mar 2012

A global phenomenon, The Alchemist has been read and loved by over 62 million readers, topping bestseller lists in 74 countries worldwide. Now this magical fable is beautifully repackaged in an edition that lovers of Paulo Coelho will want to treasure forever.

Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. This is such a book – a beautiful parable about learning to listen to your heart, read the omens strewn along life’s path and, above all, follow your dreams.

Santiago, a young shepherd living in the hills of Andalucia, feels that there is more to life than his humble home and his flock. One day he finds the courage to follow his dreams into distant lands, each step galvanised by the knowledge that he is following the right path: his own. The people he meets along the way, the things he sees and the wisdom he learns are life-changing.

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.


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Product details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins; New edition (Reissue) edition (8 Mar 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0722532938
  • ISBN-13: 978-0722532935
  • Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 19.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (498 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 218 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Amazon 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.’ THE 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

"I feel like the luckiest man on the planet. It's a dream come true for me," to be able to direct and star and bring Coelho's book to the screen." LAURENCE FISHBURNE on the upcoming film adaptation of The Alchemist

"One of my favourite books is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and I just believe that…I can create whatever I want to create. If I can put my head on it right, study it, learn the patterns…I feel very strongly that we are who we choose to be." WILL SMITH

"When I'm on the set with young actors and sometimes you meet people in life who you feel they are a little confused and they want to be re-centered, there are two books that I always recommend. One of them is Siddhartha, and the other is The Alchemist. RUSSELL CROWE


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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
56 of 64 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Important Life Lessons 9 April 2002
Format: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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26 of 30 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring read but not completely blown away! 27 April 2011
Format:Paperback
I bought this book after someone compared its fable style to the wonderful Serendipity's Secret: A novel way to achieve your dreams and find the path to happiness, a book I absolutely loved. Both books tell the story of a journey of self-discovery where the message is all about going after your dreams, listening to your heart and not giving in to your fears. However, whereas 'Serendipity's Secret' is full of practical suggestions about how you can achieve this, the Alchemist left me with a sense of 'So, now what?' at the end of it. Yes, it is certainly an inpiring read and I did enjoy it. However I found it got slightly 'wierd' towards the end, especially when Santiago starts talking to the wind and sand etc. I also couldn't really bond with, care about or root for Santiago in the same way I could for Serendipity, the heroine in 'Serendipity's Secret'. I suppose I like my books to not only inspire but aso give me practical solutions to improve my life so maybe this book was never going to blow me away. I think it's great that so many people love it and I really wish I was one of them. I would, however, recommend it to anyone who needs some inspiration in their life and believe most will feel better for reading it.
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72 of 84 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars Trite, shallow and cynical. 20 Aug 2003
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I was bought this book by a friend when I was going through a brief 'bad patch', which should have been a warning in itself. While it passed the time for a few hours, there was nothing at all profound about it and indeed it's unlikely that something with such trite messages ('try harder - everything will be okay in the end' 'live for your dreams') so blatantly put is going to be much more effective than a mate giving you a slap on the back, buying you a pint and telling you to 'pull yourself together, it's all going to be all right'. For a far more profound, infinitely better written, and more subtle 'self improvement' book, read the uplifting 'Life of Pi', which is all the better for not being written or marketed as a self-help volume. This is literature-lite and philosophy-lite and Coelho comes across as the equivalent of a Harley Street quack. The cynicism of the whole marketing machine behind this author leaves a nasty taste.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Simplicity in its greatness
do not expect a treaty of philosophy. this is a very pleasant and entertaining fairy. I liked it because it entered my mind with a lightness almost natural as I did no effort at... Read more
Published 2 days ago by Alina
5.0 out of 5 stars charming and thought provoking
This is a book which can be read on different levels. It can be a charming story of a shepherd fulfilling his dreams easy to read with some surreal twists. Read more
Published 4 days ago by mozza
5.0 out of 5 stars iconic book
I had not read this book before and it was recommended to me as one which MUST be read. I agree with this and really enjoyed it. It is thought provoking
Published 6 days ago by sue brown
5.0 out of 5 stars Alchemist is cool
This seemingly simple story provides a rich backdrop to attaining our dreams. Well written. The story moves along just fast enough to not be boring.
Published 15 days ago by R. M. Cole
3.0 out of 5 stars A light read
This book is a rather specialised taste and not everyone would enjoy it.
It's an easy read and has some wonderful descriptions, e.g. of the desert. Read more
Published 16 days ago by E A M Harris
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book
Definitely enjoyed this book. It was the first one I had read by Paulo Coelho and have read it twice since. My husband read it and couldn't put it down. Recommended.
Published 17 days ago by Mrs. Mary J. Heywood
5.0 out of 5 stars Love it
I loved this book, A story with many reminders on how to live your life now and in the moment,Fab !
Published 24 days ago by jules
5.0 out of 5 stars Magical story
I loved this book. It was recommended to me by friend who had just quit her job and went in search of her true calling in life. Read more
Published 24 days ago by Pondweed27
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
The message of this book can go over looked. Patience and an open mind allows this book to be a brilliant first read and the message to sink in. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Ellis
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic
What can you say a classic read that people should read, I think he is a fantastic writer so maybe I am a bit biased but I don't think so really this is just a classic end of... Read more
Published 25 days ago by Petapops
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19 year old daughter looking for an inspiring book 1 10 Apr 2012
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