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The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream
 
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The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream (Paperback)

by Paulo Coelho (Author)
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (295 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
Price: £3.99 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream + Veronika Decides to Die + Eleven Minutes
Total RRP: £23.97
Price For All Three: £14.94

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  • This item: The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream by Paulo Coelho

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  • Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho

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Product details

  • Paperback: 208 pages
  • Publisher: Thorsons; New edition edition (6 Sep 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0722532938
  • ISBN-13: 978-0722532935
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.4 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (295 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 291 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #1 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > C > Coelho, Paulo
    #21 in  Books > Fiction > Contemporary Fiction: 1970 Onwards
    #26 in  Books > Mind, Body & Spirit

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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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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream
95% buy the item featured on this page:
The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream 3.7 out of 5 stars (295)
£3.99
Veronika Decides to Die
2% buy
Veronika Decides to Die 4.1 out of 5 stars (73)
£4.97
Eleven Minutes
1% buy
Eleven Minutes 3.4 out of 5 stars (48)
£5.98
Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story
1% buy
Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story 4.6 out of 5 stars (85)
£4.42
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Customer Reviews

295 Reviews
5 star:
 (154)
4 star:
 (38)
3 star:
 (24)
2 star:
 (29)
1 star:
 (50)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (295 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
40 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic, 10 Jan 2009
By Fernanda Franco - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This classic, beautiful tale about following one's quest and the power of the "Personal Legend", as the author calls it, was an easy and enjoyable read. I found the story of Santiago's (the main character's) spiritual travels through Spain very inspiring.
It reconnected me with the magic and adventure of going for my dreams. Coelho's wise and direct words, reminded me of the book Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: The 3 Simple Ideas That Will Instantaneously Transform Your Life and Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenmentby Ariel and Shya Kane. I came across them in my own search and their books have touched my heart deeply and have also been catalysts for a profound shift in the way I experience life these days: easy, enjoyable and full of miracles!
I recommend no matter at which point in life you are at, to check out Coehlo's and the Kane's books which are great tools for well-being and modern day enlightenment.
Share them with your friends and family!!
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30 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Alchemist, 12 Mar 2007
By Spider Monkey (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
Coelho's most famous book and the first one I read. This is fairly typical of his style and offers his usual words of spiritual wisdom in an easy accessible (almost fairy story style) read. His books are very simplistic, but have some interesting philosophy and some nice ways of phrasing timeless ideas. As long as you expect an easy, innocuous read, and don't expect the lofty spiritual read often touted, then you should be fine. This is a great story, with beautiful sentiments and is worth it for that alone.
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25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars charming, thoughtful and beautifully written, 7 April 2003
By floombud (Scotland) - See all my reviews
The Alchemist is a wonderful fable teaching some of the key truths in life in a beautifully simplistic way. It's not often that I enjoy a book without good descriptive qualities, but this one is exceptional. I've read it twice, and both times it has left me utterly uplifted and ready for a world that is trying and unfriendly. Short and sweet, it draws you into a different kind of world in which things are black and white in their idealism, yet draws out your awareness of the diamonds in the real world. Although life isn't as simple as the one portrayed by the main character, an Andalucian shepherd travelling to Egypt in search of his dreams; the teachings of this book are effective and beautiful. The writing is light and warm, yet thoughtful beneath. Read this book if you want to learn how to enjoy sheer living for all it's worth.
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