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.

Minor spoilers ahead- though nothing that will ruin the journeyThe Alchemist may seem like a simple tale, but it’s rich with hidden meaning. At its heart, the novel is about pursuing your “Personal Legend,” or true purpose, and how fear and comfort often hold us back. Santiago’s journey is more about transformation than distance. Along the way, he discovers that the treasure he seeks might not be what he expected at all.Each part of the story offers a quiet lesson. The desert teaches stillness and strength, the alchemist shows that real wisdom is lived rather than explained, and even Santiago’s sheep reflect how easy it is to stay in routines instead of taking a chance. The novel gently nudges readers to listen to their hearts, follow the signs around them, and believe that the world helps those who chase their dreams.The power of The Alchemist is in how approachable it is while still being deeply reflective. It doesn’t need complex twists to be moving. It simply asks you to look inward and consider what truly matters to you.

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.

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 was an excellent read and listen. If you have read books and material on manifesting and the power of your sub-conciuous mind, you will certainly want to add this one to your collection!

My grandson gave me this beautifully crafted novel which he thoroughly enjoyed. I am so glad he did so! We can discuss together our reflections on the many unique I chapters of life’s transformational journey this excellently authored work tells about. In turn learn we can find and share insights into our own and each other’s unfolding life stories, true life tales we can pass along as they are lived.