The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream Paperback – January 1, 1995

I genuinley adore this book. It is one that I will remember probably for a while, possibly for decades. It feels like a tale or fairy tale (possibly due to the fact that it is a translation) but reads like a classic. The lessons within are insightful and hopeful if you're into that sort of thing. It's a book about the world that manages to find the connection between human nature and the nature of the universe without writing an anthropocentric spiel. The main character feels real and the events themselves are relaxing and perplexing at the same time. At some points you'll butt into the plot, putting your own two cents in on why you wouldn't have done what the character did, but then you'll read further and realize that that was the point, and you'll realize that you've learned the very lesson the character learned alongside the character themselves.

The Alchemist is a powerful and moving story filled with wonder, wisdom, and beautiful symbolism woven with heartful moments. From start to finish, it overflows with meaningful analogies, spiritual insight, and timeless truths about dreams, destiny, and transformation.It delivers a powerful message: sometimes we must go on a long journey to truly discover true happiness.I listened to the audio version narrated by Jeromy Irons. His voice was excellent throughout the whole book, bringing depth and life to all the characters. Bravo!Without giving too much away, I do want to say that I was sitting at the edge of my seat for the climax and the ending didn't disappoint, and brought a mix of joy, happiness and tears to my eyes. A truly unforgettable experience.

Beautifully written and lessons we should all learn about our faith and its beauty in our own lives. Couldn't put this out down...it called out a time I needed so very much in my lifetime. Our creator is in us all...helping to weave the intricacies of our meaning of existence. Will probably find myself reading again and again.

The Alchemist was quite short, but filled with inspiration. There were many lines worth highlighting and remembering, especially when one might need some motivation.The plot deals with a young boy who has a reoccurring dream about treasure near the pyramids in Egypt. He bravely embarks on a journey to seek this treasure, which ends up mainly being the journey itself.I hesitated in reading this book because I’ve known it to be very religious and spiritual, of which i am neither. Nevertheless, the book did not seem to promote a specific religion, with mentions of both Catholicism and Islam. The characters also see quite tolerant of other religions and of foreigners. Although it can sometimes come off as preachy, I appreciate that the book is not trying to necessarily indoctrinate the reader to either religion.Instead, it seems Coelho is mainly trying to inspire readers in following their dreams or life purpose. One of my favorite lines is, “When he’s an old man, he’s going to spend a month in Africa. He never realized that people are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.” This line he made me teary eyed, and grounded me in the present. In that moment, i sat back and thought about all the plans i have once i have more money, time off from work, a better schedule, after im done potentially raising a family one day, etc. Of course I’ve always known life is short and i could theoretically go on a plane tomorrow. Yet, i dont, even if i want to.The risks in following one’s dream can make taking that leap impractical. The Alchemist appears at times to be idealistic. It tries to address the practical concerns by having Santiago work for his funds, which takes almost a year, and facing life threatening situations. Still, there are much more factors in reality such as taking care of loved ones, maintaining a career, nourishment, etc. Other factors such as poverty and danger are not really addressed in the book in a way that would quell one’s fears.But, i understand this is merely a tale and not an instructional manual. Despite issues rooted in realism, the book has made me ponder how i can better live in the moment and achieve goals, no matter how small, sooner rather than later. Relatedly, the line, “people not need fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want,” did help calm my uncertainty and criticisms. There may be many unanswered questions in how to attain my goals, but i know i am capable! :)Overall, this was a nice, uplifting read.

The Alchemist isn't just a novel—it’s a quiet, powerful conversation between your dreams and your doubts. Paulo Coelho weaves a deceptively simple tale of a shepherd named Santiago, but beneath the surface is a deep exploration of purpose, intuition, and the quiet wisdom of the universe.What makes this book magical isn’t just the setting or the language—it’s how it finds you wherever you are in life. Each time I return to it, a different line stays with me, like the book knows exactly what I need to hear.It’s not heavy with plot, but heavy with meaning. You feel it more than you read it. It reminds you that the journey really is the treasure, and that listening to your heart—even when it’s uncertain—is the first step to something extraordinary.A modern fable with ancient soul. If you’ve ever wondered whether your life has a deeper path, this book is a quiet nudge to go looking.

One of my most favorite books. It is translated to English from I believe Portuguese. Even so, it’s still a great story with several layers. An easy read. I think this would be a good book to read to let elementary school kids. They could follow along. But, there’s lots of life lessons in here and it’s still a great book for anyone above the ages 11 or 12. Much younger they may not follow along or have the attention span for it.