Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #361 in Books
• Published on: 1999-09-06
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

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."

Synopsis
"The Alchemist" is a global phenomenon, selling over 30 million copies worldwide. This exciting new edition includes exclusive content, such as a new forward to the book by the author, an interview with Paulo Coelho, and much more, providing an in-depth look at this much-loved title. Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. This is such a book - a magical fable about learning to listen to your heart, read the omens strewn along life's path and, above, all follow your dreams. This is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who dreams of travelling the world in search of a worldly treasure as fabulous as any ever found. From his home in Spain, he journeys to the markets of Tangiers, and from there into the Egyptian desert, where a fateful encounter with the alchemist awaits him. With Paulo Coelho's visionary blend of spirituality, magical realism and folklore, "The Alchemist" is a story with the power to inspire nations and change people's lives.

About the Author
Paulo Coelho was born in Brazil and has become one of the most widely read authors in the world today. Renowned for his best-loved work The Alchemist, he has sold over 30 million books worldwide and has been translated into 42 languages. The recipient of numerous prestigious awards, he is a storyteller with the power to inspire nations and change people's lives.

Customer Reviews

Inspiring & Enlightening
Wow! I have just finished reading this book and cannot praise it highly enough. As others have said you need to be in a specific frame of mind and desire certain dreams & aspirations to really benefit from this read, if i had read this a few years ago i may not got as much out of it.

Not quite Harry Potter and Marmite
JK Rowling's stories of the bespectacled wizard are simple, engaging, easily digested and, most importantly, re-connected kids with books and their imagination! Coelho has certainly helped do the same for professionals worldwwide. Coelho is to management literature what Rowling is to fiction and shares her phenomenal success because he connects with the parts few authors reach with his blend of simple storytelling largely following well established patterns explained by the "sage" Joseph Campbell's mono myth theories. Rather like Mr Potter and that iconic savoury spread Marmite,however, folk tend to either love or hate Coelho's "naive" literature. It certainly seems to fill a spiritual gap, it's very accessible and thousands are willing to proudly display his works on their corporate self-development bookshelves. But if you're looking for writing with hefty substance, deep insights or brassy punchlines don't be surprised if you find his work a little lightweight. There again - can his millions of fans be wrong? Take a nibble, go on.......!

A simple masterpiece
When I was a novice reader this was thee best book I ever read... Puring with original insights, but a year later after reading (Peaceful warrior, conversations with God & others, I tried for a second read & to my shock it is now like reading a child's book (its too simple)
But I'll never forget the first time reading this treasure!