The Alchemist - 10th Anniversary Edition
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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." --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Review
"A magical little volume.""-- San Francisco Chronicle""A wise and inspiring fable about the pilgrimage that life should be."-- M. Scott Peck, M.D., author of "The Road Less Traveled
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
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.
40 of 43 people found the following review helpful
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!)
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!)
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The best way for me to arrange my thoughts on `The Alchemist' is to split my thoughts into two main sections the first would be the story, though really `The Alchemist' fits more into the fable category. Santiago is a shepherd in the Spanish countryside, though educated highly rather than go onto another career he chose to herd sheep as it would cause him to travel and see some of the world and the people, places and quirks of Spain and human nature. As we meet him he has been having a reoccurring dream, a dream of a boy showing him treasure in the pyramids of Egypt though what can it mean? In a village he comes across both a gypsy lady and a king in disguise give him information that sends Santiago on an adventure to find out if dreams should be followed.
I did actually really like the story, I am always up for a fable and this is - in terms of story - rather a charming one. I also liked the characters, a few were a little one dimensional and some were a little contrived, I particularly loved the wise old gypsy woman and Santiago was a nice young man to follow the journey of. Can you feel there is a `but' coming on?
The second aspect of the book is the fact it's not just a story but almost a mixture of self-help book and moralistic clichés messages. You find characters will say things like `there is no such thing as coincidence', `destiny is in your hands' or `a happy man is a one who follows his heart'. I think I made the last one up but you get my meaning. At first you can ignore it, it's rather mild and indeed the best fables and fairytales have some sort of moral message at the end.
The difference with this book is that I started to think `but why would that character say that?' It became almost unnatural that these different random strangers would speak of destiny and omens in a few seconds of meeting each other. It felt forced from them and almost forced upon me as the reader. I then felt that little rebellious streak in me think `who is Paulo Coelho to tell me how to live my life'. I also didn't like the underlying message, and maybe this wasn't the intention, that if you were just a shepherd or a baker then your life was unfulfilled and you should want more. I can think of several of my friends who would do anything to have a successful bakery or cake shop. So in a way all of this jarred with me as to start to affect the story. I lost interest a little and maybe if the book hadn't been so short I might have given up on it.
I did actually really like the story, I am always up for a fable and this is - in terms of story - rather a charming one. I also liked the characters, a few were a little one dimensional and some were a little contrived, I particularly loved the wise old gypsy woman and Santiago was a nice young man to follow the journey of. Can you feel there is a `but' coming on?
The second aspect of the book is the fact it's not just a story but almost a mixture of self-help book and moralistic clichés messages. You find characters will say things like `there is no such thing as coincidence', `destiny is in your hands' or `a happy man is a one who follows his heart'. I think I made the last one up but you get my meaning. At first you can ignore it, it's rather mild and indeed the best fables and fairytales have some sort of moral message at the end.
The difference with this book is that I started to think `but why would that character say that?' It became almost unnatural that these different random strangers would speak of destiny and omens in a few seconds of meeting each other. It felt forced from them and almost forced upon me as the reader. I then felt that little rebellious streak in me think `who is Paulo Coelho to tell me how to live my life'. I also didn't like the underlying message, and maybe this wasn't the intention, that if you were just a shepherd or a baker then your life was unfulfilled and you should want more. I can think of several of my friends who would do anything to have a successful bakery or cake shop. So in a way all of this jarred with me as to start to affect the story. I lost interest a little and maybe if the book hadn't been so short I might have given up on it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Amazing Book
I never read any book before. This was my first book which i read. First few pages of the book made me addicted to it and before i knew it was in a state where i could not close... Read more
Published 11 days ago by Ashwin Vanpal
No that impressed
I guess this is a bit like a movie that everyone has raved about and causes your expectations to be set really high only for you to be disappointed. Read more
Published 17 days ago by Des
The Alchemist
Very relaxing and amazing book. It can make you reflect about filosophical matters or just take it easy and relax a fantastic story.
I'd recommend it!
I'd recommend it!
Published 21 days ago by Xus
Only just fiction
The aspects of the book that surrender themselves to actually being fiction are enjoyable - however, they come in between some irritating and sometimes nauseating bits of... Read more
Published 21 days ago by K. Egerton
Inspiring
On of the most inspiring books I ever read, it's about following your dreams, making them come true and become happy!
Published 22 days ago by Mrv Van Der Sanden
An enjoyable read.
I didn't expect this book to change my life but I really enjoyed sharing Santiago's journey.
If you like a magical read then this is one for you.
If you like a magical read then this is one for you.
Published 22 days ago by SallyJ
Fantastic Fable
Santiago, a young Andalusian shepherd, travels to Egypt after a recurring dream about finding treasure at the Pyramids. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ms. Laura M. Gamble
Excellent book
Elegant and direct style of writing with a handful of deep ideas about the world we live in. You will enjoy the story while being almost obliged to rethink your way of facing the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by LITERATUS
Bloomin Brilliant Book
Fantastick book!!!! thouroughly enjoyed it and is a book everyone should read!... felt lost at the end not knowing what to read next, but was very lucky to stumble across my next... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Olivia Williamson
slightly interesting, but nothing special...
the basic outline of this book is a tale about a shepherd who drops his sheep, to go in search of his destiny - finding a treasure that is sat in egypts pyramids. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Gcrikey
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