The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream
by Paulo Coelho
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Book Summary Information
Author: Paulo CoelhoEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1995-05-10
ISBN: 0062502182
Number of pages: 176
Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco
Book Reviews of The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream
Book Review: The Alchemist Rocked
Summary: 5 Stars
Following one's destiny may be one of the most difficult journeys one may end up taking in their lives. Many people keep saying that they will follow their dreams, but end up pushing them aside to live a regular life. In the novel, The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, it was unmistakable that determination and ambition will motivate those who want to pursue their dreams, and will persuade those who hold off their dreams to go and chase them. This is an enchanting tale that will help people reflect upon the meaning of life, in a touching and meaningful manner.
The story is of a young Andalusian shepherd by the name of Santiago, who left home to travel the world with his faithful flock of sheep. He had an unusual dream in which he saw himself come across hidden treasure in the mystic pyramids of Egypt. Santiago decided to leave it all in order to pursue a life changing journey in search of the magnificent treasure.
After wandering throughout various regions of Spain, Santiago arrived at a town called Tarifa, where he met a king that told him that he had discovered his destiny and that he should pursue in finding the treasure, by following omens. Santiago decided to leave his native land and search for the treasure that just seemed to be destined for him.
Upon his arrival in Africa, Santiago was confronted with many obstacles such as not speaking the language or understanding the Arabic traditions. Lonely and discouraged, the shepherd was about to give up and return back to his land, where he would be accepted and happy. However, seeing the importance of following dreams, Santiago decided that, "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." Using this piece of advice, Santiago went on to help others who were on the verge of giving up their dreams and continued on the path towards his treasure, when he met an alchemist.
The alchemist he encountered helped Santiago realize the Language of the World, the Soul of the World, and many other various parts of life that made Santiago better understand his life and his goals. In the end, it was Santiago's wisdom and relation to the world that he got to accomplish his dream of finding the treasure, which happened to be the journey he took to see the Pyramids.
The Alchemist was a simple yet philosophical book that seemed to make one have a more abstract outlook on life. Every page was full of spiritual consolation and the morals the novel presented were powerful and significant. Some of the important messages Coelho was trying to convey were of following your dreams and trying to understand the meaning of life.
Another thing Coelho was messaging was that, "One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving." This message, as plain as it may be, was one of the most genuine statements made throughout the whole story. It gave a sense of how love was so natural for Santiago to understand and grasp, that it reflected the effect love provides to humans in general.
The writing style was simplistic and beautiful. "It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary; only wise men are able to understand them," said the alchemist to Santiago. A reader would probably appreciate that this novel was written in an uncomplicated manner so that one could have more value for the meaning of the ideas the author expressed.
There was a lot of symbolism throughout the novel as well. Omens represented optimism for Santiago and encouraged him to fulfill his dreams. Many of the lessons learned in The Alchemist can be related to the real world and applied to everyone's life. This book does a good job of touching hearts through its poetic flow and inspiring messages.
As striking as the story was, the only thing that would need more improvement would be the development of the characters. One would probably feel that they could relate to Santiago through the experiences he went through, but there wasn't much depth in his desires and thoughts, apart from repeated information over and over again. The repetition was beneficial to reinstitute the messages Coelho was conveying, yet that resulted in little advancement of the characters. Other than that, The Alchemist was wonderful in its simplistic beauty and gripping messages.
I completely recommend this book, because it's a coming of age book that will help people appreciate the little things in life and encourage those who have brushed aside their dreams, to once again get up and try again. As Santiago declared upon being victorious in achieving his dreams, he said the words, "Life really is generous to those who pursue their destiny." These words should hearten people with inspiration to follow their dreams and live a life in which no one would have regrets.
Summary of The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream
Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world, and this tenth anniversary edition, with a new introduction from the author, will only increase that following. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasures found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.
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 sniff 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 Andalusian 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." --Gail Hudson
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