|
| |||||||||||
What are readers saying about The Alchemist - Gift Edition?
|
A Reader posted a review at 2009-05-31 10:25:35.
(Language: English)
  
[Quote: The dunes are changed by the wind but the desert never changes]I enjoy reading the inspiring journey of the young shepherd who believes in his dream and gets out of his comfort zone to an unknown territory to find his Personal Legend in The Alchemist. Along the way, he lost his money to a con man and ended up working for an old Muslim man who dreams of going to Mecca but never get to go as he is afraid that if his dream is realized, he has no reason to go on living. He said that the thought of Mecca kept him alive. When the shepherd suggests that he improved his business by selling tea in a crystal cup to cater for the demand of the thirsty travellers, he is apprehensive as he does not like change as he cannot cope and as he said, one has to live with his mistakes and that frightens him. The thought of expanding his business is fearful to him as he does not want to get out of his comfort zone. He is so used to the ways things are and have no idea how to deal with changes. With his enthusiasm, the shepherd makes him realized how immense his possibilities are and he started selling tea in his crystal cup and attracts many more customers. After 11 mths and 9 days, the Shepherd saved enough money and he was contemplating if he should go back to his old lifestyle or if he should continue to pursue his dream. He decides to carry on with his journey and proceeds to Egypt to look for his treasure. This decision makes him tremendously happy and that's where the Alchemist came into picture. On his desert journey, he met an English man who is reading and learning to be an Alchemist and went to the desert in search of the Great Master. At the end of the day, we realise that he is searching for something rather superficial and not the true meaning of the alchemy as portrayed by Paulo Coelho. The shepherd observes the caravan and listens to the wind and learnt the language of the universe. He also learnt that if you really want something, all the universe conspired to help you achieve it. And that every search begins with beginner's luck and ends with the victor been severely tested. He also learnt that the fear of suffering is worse than suffering itself and that no heart has truly suffered when he goes in search of his dreams as each search brings him closer to God and eternity. The caravan's man who brings him across the desert relates his story of how disaster taught him to understand the word of Allah and that people need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need or want. In life, we are afraid of losing what we have, be it our life or our possession, but this fear evaporates once we realised that our life story and histories of the world were written by the same hand. The tribal war at the desert forced them to divert to an oasis and there he met his true love, a desert woman who wants her husband to wander as free as the wind that shapes the dunes and will wait for his return. He also meets an alchemist who eventually lead him into the desert in search of his treasure and guides him to understand the true meaning of alchemy. It is about penetrating to the soul of the world and discovering the treasure that has been reserved for him. This book is about his journey and how he goes all out to pursue his dreams and the things he learnt along the way. A meaningful read. One that I had read twice and believe, I will re-read again. 
|
Yes (0) 
No (0) |
|
A Reader posted a review at 2007-08-05 09:48:47.
(Language: English)
This book is remniscent of 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' and 'The Little Prince'. It's a simple but creative commentary on the search for true happiness and growth in life. Although I do not espouse all the viewpoints Coelho holds, I appreciate his fine efforts to live life fully and help others to see the meaning behind it. I am grateful for literature that challenges others to discover faith in self and in God. Santiago is an Andalusian shepherd boy who desires nothing more than to see the world. As he travels through Spain, Morocco, and Egypt, Santiago comes to a personal spiritual enlightenment and understanding of self. 'As the alchemist himself says, when he appears to Santiago in the form of an old king "when you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true". This is the core of the novel's philosophy and a motif that echoes behind Coelho's writing all through "The Alchemist". As King Melchezidek says, the greatest lie in the world is that at some point we lose the ability to control our lives, and become the pawns of fate. It is interesting to see that Coelho presents the person who denies to follow his dream as the person who denies to see God, and that "every happy person carries God within him". However, few people choose to follow the road that has been made for them, and find God while searching for their destiny or mission on earth.' "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." Check out a good review of the book at: http://bookreviews.nabou.com/reviews/thealchemist.html
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2009-10-30 06:39:37.
(Language: English)
I love this book immensely. My sister loaned it to me, and it didn't hit me at first. The second time I read it - ten or more years later, it spoke to me. It is about a man's spiritual voyage in life. He goes out looking for treasure and rediscovers himself, finds the love of his life only to lose it temporarily, and learns valuable life lessons along the way. I kept reading and rereading sections over and over again. It took me months to finish this book, when you can finish it after reading it in about four hours. I love - love - love this book. This book concentrates on man's spiritual journey in life. The part I love the most is when fe falls in love and decides to give up the dream he has worked so long to accomplish, so he can marry the love of his life, a beautiful girl he meets in the desert. Surprisingly, she urges him to leave her and finish his journey to find "his treasure". She will wait for him and tells him that she knows he will come back to her. It speaks to me, because I wanted that in life - to be able to get my dreams and have the one I love wait for me. Luckily, all of my goals and dreams were accomplished BEFORE I got married. He, also, told me that if I left him it would be okay because I would always be married to him. So, it gives me a lot of hope if I ever have a new dream or goal that might require me to leave him for awhile. This book was loaned to me by my sister, Joanne. I read the book and reread it about ten or so year later. Rereading it made a big difference. I related to the book's life lessons and messages more at an older age than when I was younger. The book is a quick read and can be read in four hours. It took me months to finish this book when I reread it a second time, because I kept reading and rereading sections of the book.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-07 09:11:29.
(Language: Italian)
Dreams, symbols, signs, and adventure follow the reader like echoes of ancient wise voices in "The Alchemist", a novel that combines an atmosphere of Medieval mysticism with the song of the desert. With this symbolic masterpiece Coelho states that we should not avoid our destinies, and urges people to follow their dreams, because to find our "Personal Myth" and our mission on Earth is the way to find "God", meaning happiness, fulfillment, and the ultimate purpose of creation. The novel tells the tale of Santiago, a boy who has a dream and the courage to follow it. After listening to "the signs" the boy ventures in his personal, Ulysses-like journey of exploration and self-discovery, symbolically searching for a hidden treasure located near the pyramids in Egypt. When he decides to go, his father's only advice is "Travel the world until you see that our castle is the greatest, and our women the most beautiful". In his journey, Santiago sees the greatness of the world, and meets all kinds of exciting people like kings and alchemists. However, by the end of the novel, he discovers that "treasure lies where your heart belongs", and that the treasure was the journey itself, the discoveries he made, and the wisdom he acquired.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2009-04-24 08:50:03.
(Language: English)
Wonderful book! A fabulous reminder that things are not as they appear, that we all have far more purpose and value than we acknowledge, and that the God we seek is closer than we could have ever imagined. We are all being called to our "Personal Legend" only a small number of us have the audacity to heed the call. Highly Recommended!!! Here are a couple of my favorite quotes: "Whenever we do something that fills us with enthusiasm, we are following our legend. However, we don't all have the courage to confront our own dream." "...we are told from childhood onward that everything we want to do is impossible. We grow up with this idea, and as the years accumulate, so too do the layers of prejudice, fear, and guilt. There comes a time when our personal calling is so deeply buried in our soul as to be invisible. But it's still there." "If God leads the sheep so well, he will also lead a man, he thought, and that made him feel better." "Maybe God created the desert so man could appreciate the date trees." "I don't know why these things have to be transmitted by word of mouth, he thought. It wasn't exactly that they were secrets; God revealed his secrets easily to all his creatures." "When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream." "God created the world so that, through its visible objects, men could understand his spiritual teachings and the marvels of his wisdom." "People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don't deserve them." "The fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself, and no heart has 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." "All people who are happy have God within them." "...very few follow the path laid out for them-the path to their Personal Legends, and to happiness. Most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place." "When you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed." "Does a man's heart always help him?" the boy asked the Alchemist. "Mostly just the hearts of those who are trying to realize their Personal Legends. But they do help children, drunkards, and the elderly, too." "If a person is living out his Personal Legend, he knows everything he needs to know. There is only thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure." "The world is only the visible aspect of God." "The boy reached through to the Soul of the World, and saw that it was the soul of God. And he saw that the soul of God was his own soul. And that, he, a boy, could perform miracles." "No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And he normally doesn't know it."
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2010-06-22 06:38:38.
(Language: English)
I wanted to read this after I heard that it had set the Guiness World Record for most translated book by a living author (something like 67 languages) and had sold on the order of 65 million copies worldwide. I thought: 'Wow. Must be fabulous!' ... Well, not so much. Basically it's an allegory where a young man goes off to seek his fortune only to discover, after much trial, that it was at home all along. The prose is simple (almost sparse), but that may have something to do with the translation from Portuguese. Coelho's attempts to present life's lessons in a subtle fashion are in vain (too many 'duh' moments). The story itself is intriguing though, almost an adventure tale, and is lined with mystic shamen, unattainable women, and warring sheiks. Perhaps it's the simplicity and the fantasy that has attracted so many readers around the world. One big advantage ... if you start reading it and find it not to your taste, you'll likely find there aren't many more pages to finish. It's a very short and quick read.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2010-01-03 01:49:09.
(Language: English)
This book sold 56 million copies worldwide and is a favourite to majority who've read it. Unfortunately, I am not one of them. I was recommended this book by dear friends, their faces glistened as they talked about it. I was so eager to reach the bottom of the book and feel the same enthusiasm friends felt about it but at the end, I was frustrated that this book did not appeal to me at all. This is when I realized, a good book is one that relates most to its readers. Majority of the 56 million or more people who read the book, related its content to themselves really well. Thus found it a good book. Perhaps, I am not one who favours wasting time and effort living towards a direction without a goal in the first place, and also I do not believe the whole of life is as simple as Paulo Coelho put it, where what you want, the universe will bring it to you. The Law of Attraction may work in many ways, but also fail in many ways, especially in tragic life events. Besides that, I did not enjoy the part of the book which stereotyped gender roles. The little girl at the oasis, was depicted to not stop the little shepherd from accomplishing his destiny, and that she should be like all the other women there, who wait faithfully for their men to return. I do not really understand why Paolo chose a girl to play this part in the story, which could easily be mistaken for narrow-minded gender stereotyping. Well, probably some female readers found their happiness by imagining their faithful wait for their loved one to return to them. But a modern woman like me refuse to fall in this traditional gender stereotype; as I believe, woman have their own destinies to live too. In fact, I believe it only makes sense that soulmates join together in their quest for each other's destiny, sharing the ups and downs and outcome of their journey, instead of being left alone to wait faithfully while the other is on his quest.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2008-04-17 05:19:56.
(Language: English)
Again a book filled with hopes and assurance that our dreams will indeed be rewarded if we follow them.This is the story of ‘Santiago’ a shepherd boy in a journey of his lifetime, in pusuit of his dreams. He was destined for higher fortune, and he knew it. And once he starts pursuing his dream, the universe is conspiring with him to makes his dream come true.“If you really want something, no matter what it takes, or no matter what people say, the whole universe comspires with you in accomplishing it†This is the motto of the book. It’s all about following you dream.When Santiago starts his journey his father tells him, “Travel the world until you see that our castle is the greatest, and our women the most beautifulâ€. In this journey Santiago experiences many wonders in the world. At times Santiago also is depressed from not seeing immediate results and plans on quitting and going back to being a shepherd, but he somehow persists. The old man whom he meets somewhere in he middle of the story teaches him many a valuable things in life. At times the reader gets an image of the man as a personification of God.The story teaches us that the most valuable things in life are the most simple things, and it needs a lot of intelligence to appreciate them. The story also teaches us “the treasure lies where our heart truly isâ€.The narrative style of Paulo Coelho is so enchanting and he was able to transfer all the mysticism and philosophy into a simple piece of work. Though it’s a small book of only 200 plus pages, the reader gets an immense pleasure of having done a journey across Persia to Africa in just one sitting.Iit’s a good read, jsut read and don’t miss it.Chris’s rating: 5/5
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-01 02:53:26.
(Language: English)
My Heart Is Afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky."Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams."Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. The Alchemist is such a book. With over a million and a half copies sold around the world, The Alchemist has already established itself as a modern classic, universally admired. Paulo Coelho's charming fable, now available in English for the first time, will enchant and inspire an even wider audience of readers for generations to come.The Alchemist is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist.The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, above all, following our dreams
|
|
|
Emily posted a review at 2008-03-28 11:23:13.
(Language: English)
Let me go over once more the rating system here on iread: 3 is a definit "liked it". Therefore, I hope no fans are offended by the fact that I gave this 3 stars, though I would like to mention that if half-ratings, were possible this would be a 3.5. I fought between a three or a four, but decided to go with the lower score. I don't know why. Maybe just to be mean. But there were parts of the book that did move me deeply. Key word: parts. I like a good fable or fairy tale as much as the next person. Actually, I like to think a like them much more than the next person. I had heard of the wonders of this book for years and years and had always meant to read it. Now that I have, I'm pleased. It is a good book that is worth reading. However, I think I would have preferred it had Coelho put all his lovely thoughts down in a nice little essay. As I said, I like my fables, but I like them in a fable format with plenty of symbolism and subtleties that is not explained step-by-step to me. Something that will leave the majority of the interpretation to the reader, which in my opinion makes it all the better. I like to discover things. I don't like them explained to me unless I ask. Really, had Coelho shut up about every detail about the Soul of the World and the Personal Legend, he would have left a beautiful story about a boy following a dream that probably would have had the same message. Maybe not as obvious, but I'm sure the observant reader would have picked it up. That all said, I must remind you that I did like this book and I will probably read it again someday. I know lots of people found the message eye-roll worthy, but I am a sap that appreciates this. In fact, I believe it is a message that rebels against all the cynicim in our world and that the reviewers here that despised the ending did not fully understand it. I also like Coelho's style. I'm a simple girl and I think that if the words get the job done, so be it. Who needs the flowery words? Besides, it's a simple story (minus all the blatant philosophy) suited to simple, pure writing. Heck, I even think there was a decent enough adventure story in there. I admit I did find myself once or twice caught up in the deserts and their beauty. I liked the ideas of wars and tribesman and Englishman. And hey, I loved the romance. I just don't think the sole purpose of these things should be to carry a message. Couldn't the message just be found through them?
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-18 05:12:55.
(Language: English)
“Every search begins with beginners luck and ends with the victor’s being severely tested.” By Paulo Coelho “The Boy didn’t know what a person’s ‘destiny’ was… It’s what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young knows what their destiny is.” page 22 “The boy and his heart had become friends, and neither was capable now of betraying the other.” The Alchemist “Treasure is uncovered by the force of the flowing water, and it is buried by the same currents” page 25 “When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.” page 28 “In order to find the treasure, you will have to follow the omens. God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens that he left you.” page 30 “Don’t forget that everything you deal with is only one thing and nothing else. And don’t forget the language of omens. And, above all, don’t forget to follow your destiny through to its conclusion.” The Alchemist page 32 “When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision. “ The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho “Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life.” The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho “There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho “Courage is the quality most essential to understanding the Language of the World. “ The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” The Alchemist, page 23, by Paulo Coelho “When you want something with all your heart, that’s when you are closest to the Soul of the World. It’s always a positive force.” The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho “It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” Page 11 “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho “When you are in love, things make even more sense, he thought.” “The soul of the world is nourished by people’s happiness. And also by unhappiness, envy, and jealousy. To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only obligation. All things are one.” The Alchemist p. 23 by Paulo Coelho “I don’t live in either my past or my future. I’m interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we’re living now.” The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho “When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there’s no need at all to understand what’s happening, because everything happens within you.” “Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. 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.” The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho “Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.” You’ve got to find the treasure, so that everything you have learned along the way can make sense. “ “All you have to do is contemplate a simple grain of sand, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation. Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there.” The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho “In his pursuit of the dream, he was being constantly subjected to tests of his persistence and courage. So he could not be hasty, nor impatient. If he pushed forward impulsively, he would fail to see the signs and omens left by God along his path.” The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho “The alchemists spent years in their laboratories, observing the fire that purified the metals. They spent so much time close to the fire that gradually they gave up the vanities of the world. They discovered that the purification of the metals had led to a purification of themselves.” The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho “I learned that the world has a soul, and that whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of things. I learned that many alchemists realized their destinies, and wound up discovering the Soul of the World, the Philosopher’s Stone, and the Elixir of Life. But above all, I learned that these things are all so simple they could be written on the surface of an emerald.” The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho “The boy reached through to the Soul of the World, and saw that it was part of the Soul of God. And he saw that the Soul of God was his own soul. And that he, a boy, could perform miracles.” The Alchemist page 160
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2009-08-17 05:37:34.
(Language: English)
Wow. If you get nothing out of this review, the punch line is: "Read this book. Now." I only wish I understood Portuguese so that I could experience this story to the fullest in its original language. Through a simple story about an Andalusian shepherd boy, who is named only once at the beginning of the story and henceforth referred to as 'the boy,' Coelho manages to create a breathless tale, finding immense depth in the simplest language. You will enter the boy's world and feel his struggle to seek out his "Personal Legend", and, if you're anything like me, you will question, expand, and renew your own trust in God and the plans He has for you. The Alchemist is deeply spiritual, but not to a specific religion. The boy is identified as Christian, while many characters he encounters are Muslim or otherwise. Coelho is unafraid to weave God's work throughout all of them, revealing His will in the balance. Some of the theology may not all sit well with a lifelong Adventist like myself, but the core principles of trusting in divine planning are there. As Coleho writes, "When someone truly desires something, the whole universe will conspire to help him achieve it." This may, at first, sound like Coelho is advocating God as some sort of universal slot machine which will eventually pay out to anyone, but, if you read the story, you will realize that He does acknowledge the inevitable hardships of life and the uncertainty of the future. As Christians we know that all things work together for our good, even if the final revelation of that good is only seen after this life on Earth. The alchemist, as he is helping the boy to realize the true nature of his treasure, states “Wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure.” Of course this is taken from the words of Christ, and it underscores one of the main themes of this book. If you are truly searching for something with all your heart, you will find it. The question is, where is your heart? Again, this is a fable, not a religious book by any means (Coelho in fact has gone on to write several books that I would find objectionable,) but the spiritual impact of it is immense if you're looking for it. My favorite quote is this one: “My heart is afraid that it will suffer,” the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky. “Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search for its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.” Just read it! :D
|
|
Jonathan posted a review at 2013-02-07 07:36:00.
(Language: English)
There's not much more praise I can lend to this book that has not been lavished already. A few select quotes: "What's the world's greatest lie?" The bit asked, completely surprised. "It's this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie." "It's what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their personal legend is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen in their lives. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their Personal Legend." "And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." "It's called the principle of favorability. When you play cards the first time, you are almost sure to win. Beginner's luck [...] because there is a force that wants you to realize your Personal Legend; it whets your appetite with a taste of success." "The secret if happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon." "If good things are coming, they will be a pleasant surprise," said the seer. "If bad things are, and you know in advance, you will suffer greatly before they even occur." "Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. 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." "Every search begins with beginner's luck. And every search ends with the victor's being severely tested." "If a person is living out his Personal legend, he knows everything he needs to know. There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure." "Then you'll die in the midst of trying to realize your Personal Legend. That's a lot better than dying like millions of other people, who never even knew what their Personal Legends were."
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2009-01-01 02:13:41.
(Language: English)
The core of The Alchemist is revealed in this paragraph: "...there is one great truth on this planet; whoever you are, whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It's your mission on earth." -The Alchemist, p. 23. This was my third reading of The Alchemist, and it was still fresh and meaningful. It's a spiritual book, so in this review I'll compare it's directive to the directives of Vedanta and Buddhism. Vedanta instructs us that a well-rounded human life includes these four elements: dharma (divine purpose), artha (wealth), kama (pleasure), and moksha (liberation). The Alchemist implies that our dharma (divine purpose) is revealed by our desires, and that you can either follow the journey to the fulfillment of your desires by listening to your heart and observing omens (the language of your own personal dream-world), or be cowed by fear and a lack of self-worth. In this, we are granted free will. Buddhism's focus, however, is on the knowledge of your true nature, or liberation (moksha). A prerequisite of liberation is "desirelessness." To desire is to become ever more embroiled in the illusion of the multitude of forms, instead of the reality of one Spirit. To be desireless is to release your hooks from the seemingly disparate aspects of Maya, and rest at last in your true nature as the One. The Alchemist is rooted in the sensation of desire, and how to fulfill the ache created by that desire. I get that - because there is a bleak purposelessness in a lack of desire; besides even moksha is preceeded by the fervent desire for moksha. The Buddha was filled with desire for liberation, until he awakened to the true nature of reality, and then desired nothing but Being itself. The Alchemist proposes that the Universe fulfills Itself when we listen to and follow the desires of our hearts. Another feature of The Alchemist that I love is summed up thusly: "before a dream is realized, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so that we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we've learned as we've moved toward that dream. That's the point at which most pople give up." -The Alchemist, p. 132. I've found this to be true through certain of my own experiences, like the making of my film. In the pursuit of your personal purpose (which is revealed in your personal desire) are trials by fire - don't take them personally, it's just the underlying design of the world. If you plow forward, you will find the universe conspiring openly to fulfill your dreams. A brilliant book, with something new every time.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2011-02-04 05:08:15.
(Language: English)
Wow...I wasted 4 light-reading days on this? I cannot understand how this became a best seller worldwide, and how it has been translated into like 900 languages. I mean, I can totally understand how, for something to get that popular it would have to appeal to the likes of many non-readers. But if found this poorly written morality tale to be of minimal consequence. For christ's sake (LITERALLY!), if I wanted to read this sort of material I would read the bible. At least while reading that I know what is the ultimate point. Here I started reading something that just turned into a "god is good, adventure and believe in yourself" good vs evil tale. And not even one that was well versed in any sort of outstandingly creative mechanics. Not to mention that the storyline itself is unoriginal. This was the first book in as far as I can remembered, that has actually pissed me off. I've been disappointed with books before, but this just made me angry.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-22 12:06:43.
(Language: English)
The Chinese Alchemist is the 11th book in Lyn Hamilton’sarcheological mystery series, and the formula works well. Toronto antiques dealer Lara McClintoch travels the world in search of valuable objects and inevitably finds crime.The books combine travelogue with information about antiques -- and the overall tone is fairly light.The Book:In this latest mystery, Lara travels to China to find a special nesting box, and Hamilton includes a narrative from the past about the box and its companion pieces.This was written lonChinese Alchemist, The - Lyn Hamiltong ago by a eunuch in the service of an emperor of the T’ang dynasty.Lara is competing with a rival buyer for the box.Her rival is a curator of Asian art at the Cottingham Museum in Toronto.Both are determined to get the box, which had been removed from a New York auction at the last minute.The Author:Candace Fertile teaches Canadian literature at Camosun College in Victoria BC.What I Thought:Lara is a nice heroine, although somewhat overly lucky, given the dangerous situations which she throws herself into.Hamilton presents her research in a pleasing manner, dotting the novel with facts about China and Chinese art.The prose is smooth and perky in the parts narrated by Lara, as befits her personality. For example, in describing her rival, Lara notes,: "I’d given him ample opportunity over tea to confess what he was doing. He’d chosen not to do so. that fast led me to the conclusion that he was not just an eccentric genius of overweening ambition, but essentially a slug."Hamilton’s archeological novels definitely qualify as entertainment, with the added attraction of fascinating material on places and cultural artifactsThanks for reading my review.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2009-09-29 09:13:30.
(Language: Polish)
Raz pewien kupiec posłał swojego syna po Tajemnie Szczęścia do najmądrzejszego z ludzi. Przez czterdzieści dni chłopiec wędrował przez pustynię, aż dotarł do pięknego, starego zamczyska na szczycie wzgórza. Mieszkał w nim, ten którego szukał. Chłopiec ujrzał salę, w której panowała atmosfera wielkiego poruszenia: wbiegali i wybiegali kupcy, po kątach, gorączkowo gestykulując, rozprawiali goście, w tle przygrywali grajkowie, a na suto zastawionych stołach stały najwspanialsze tamtejsze przysmaki. Mędrzec zajęty był rozmową i chłopiec musiał cierpliwie czekać bite dwie godziny, nim nadeszła jego kolej. Mędrzec wysłuchał go wprawdzie uważnie, ale powiedział, że nie ma czasu by odkryć przed nim Tajemnicę Szczęścia. Zaprosił go do obejrzenia pałacu i przykazał wrócić za dwie godziny. - Chciałbym Cię jednak o coś poprosić - dodał na koniec, podając chłopcu łyżkę z dwoma kroplami oleju. - Kiedy będziesz przechadzał sie po moim pałacu nieś tę łyżkę tak, aby nic z niej nie uronić. Chłopiec wchodził po schodach i schodził, nie odrywając oczu od łyżki. Po dwóch godzinach znów stanął przed obliczem Mędrca, który go zapytał: - A więc widziałeś już perskie dywany w mojej sali biesiadnej? Zachwycił cię ogród, który z górą dziewięć lat tworzył Mistrz Ogrodników? Podziwiałeś piękne pergaminy w mojej bibliotece? Zawstydzony chłopiec wyznał, że nie widział nic. Dbał bowiem tylko o to, by nie uronić ani kropli oliwy z łyżki. - Wobec tego wracaj i poznaj cudowności mego świata - powiedział Mędrzec - Nie wolno nigdy ufać człowiekowi, którego domu nie znasz. Teraz już spokojniejszy, chłopiec wziął łyżkę i znów zaczął spacerować po pałacu, tym razem przyglądając się bacznie płótnom wiszącym na ścianach i malowidłom na sklepieniu. Podziwiał góry wokół ogrodu, delikatność kwiatów i smak, z jakim ułożono tu każde dzieło. Wróciwszy zaś przed oblicze Mędrca, opowiedział dokładnie o wszystkim, co zobaczył. - A gdzie dwie krople oliwy, które powierzyłem twojej pieczy? - zapytał Mędrzec. Chłopiec spojrzał na łyżkę i ujrzał, że po oliwie nie zostało nawet śladu. - Oto jedyna rada, jaką mogę ci dać. - rzekł Mędrzec nad Mędrcami. - Tajemnica Szczęścia jest ukryta w tym, by widzieć wszystkie cuda świata i nigdy nie zapomnieć o dwóch kroplach oleju na łyżce. . .
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2009-12-13 10:48:57.
(Language: English)
The Alchemist was for me an awkward blend of Herman Hesse and the "if you visualize it, it will come" books like The Secret. You know -- the books people say helped them to get a nice house and car and successful career in business. In the mist of all this, is an interesting and romanticized view of century old Arabic ...desert culture. Plot is simple: A nameless Shepard is told by an ancient king that he has to take a journey to fulfill his "Personal Legend" of finding gold in Egypt and that the universe will help him. On the way he stumbles, meets all different kinds of people, falls in love and experiences the mystical (he actually turns into wind). The book could have been good but all and all came off to me as cheesy and annoying. For instance, the women in the desert are supposed to wait for their "men of the desert" to come home from either wars or their journeys to find their "personal legends/treasures". So loving a man and letting him find his "personal legend" while she waits in a secluded Oasis cleaning/cooking etc is a woman's "personal treasure"? And the book says trust your heart but also trust God/Allah that war is meant to be? While I liked the book's fable like quality and feel it did have some good advice about overcoming fear of the universe and the fear of failure, there just wasn't enough there for me. Perhaps it was lost in translation? The book was written in Brazilian originally I think?
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2007-06-23 04:49:33.
(Language: English)
I'm sorry, but to all those people who say that this is the best book they've ever read... well, continue the journey that The Alchemist started and read some more books. As soon as you've read a few more books that this world has to offer, you'll realise The Alchemist is, at best, a mediocre work. To gain an insight on life read anything else as well. Really, even the instructions on shampoo will teach you as much about life as this book. It is banal, simple, mind-numbingly simple, and horrifically patronising. The book hooks into the reader's superiority, and leads them along the pretence that they are the smartest person in the word and they "get" the notion of the journey: That the search for the prize at the end of the journey is not life's goal, instead one should not ignore the journey along the way. The latter is, obviously, the most important. The plot is summed up by the old playground joke: "A man is crossing a desert, his jeep breaks down, he thinks he can see some object in the distance; he journeys towards the something, on the way he meets a man selling ties, he doesn't need a tie - he needs water, nevertheless the tie-seller offers him a tie - which he refuses; later along the way he meets a man selling ties, he doesn't need a tie - he needs water, nevertheless the tie-seller offers him a tie - which he refuses, further long the way (are you - dear reader - getting bored by now?) he meets another man selling ties, he doesn't need a tie - he needs water, nevertheless the tie-seller offers him a tie - which he refuses; even further long the way (are you - dear reader - getting really bored by now? If not, then perhaps you have a mind of a goldfish and will definitely enjoy The Alchemist) he meets yet another other man selling ties, he doesn't need a tie - he needs water, nevertheless the tie-seller offers him a tie - which he refuses; eventually he reaches his sought goal, the object he had glimpsed in the distance, the object turns out to be a beautiful restaurant; finally his quest for water is over; but... as he tries to enter the restaurant the Maitre d' bars his way, "Sir, I cannot admit you," the Maitre d' explains, "you need to be wearing a tie to enter the restaurant." I've lent my copy of The Alchemist to a not-very-good-friend. I hope I don't get my copy back. If you fancy something that really will change your life and is even more obtuse, read The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby, as well as maybe some D. H. Lawrence. Or perhaps Isaac Bashevis Singer? Unfortunately, when you then read The Alchemist you'll be disappointed. The Alchemist is one of the few books I've read that promised so much, yet gave so little. If you've read the alchemist and really enjoyed it, then try reading the aforementioned authors; although this piece of advice may result in you not admiring The Alchemist so much.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2007-08-07 09:10:19.
(Language: English)
That title is what drew my attention to an article in the New Yorker. Paul Coelho's books are an international pheonomeum with 65 million books in 150 countries. He is at http://www.paulocoelhoblog.com/ I was so intrigued by his biographical article I search out the local library to any books, there was one, The Alchemist. I reserved it and had to wait. Coelho wrote the Alchemist in 2 weeks, in 1987. President Clinton was photographed holding a copy of this book in the aftermath of the Lewinsky scandel, I found that intersting. There is a movie in the works, starring Laurence Fishburne, who also wrote the script and will star as the lead character, Santiago, a Audalusian shepard boy, to whom Coelho proclaims as himself. In the story, Santiago sleeps under the stars with his flocks and dreams of a treasure at the Pyramids. He sells his flocks and buys a ticket to Tangier. In the desert,while searching for his own Personal legend, the boy meets an alchemist who teaches him to follow his omens and he will find his destiny. The alchmist, tells him, "Wherever your heart is, that is where you'll find treasure." The boy finally reaches the Pyraminds after a list of interesting omens and starts digging. As he is digging, a band of gypsies attacks him, takes the one piece of gold he owns. He explains to them he is digging for treasure revealed to him in a dream. They beat him and leave him for dead. As they are leaving, the leader of the gypsies mocks him and tells him, he too has a reaccuring dream about buried treasure, his is in an abandoned church in Spain, but would never be so foolish to cross the desert to search for it. The boy is overjoyed and returns to that church and unearths a chest of gold coins. Coelho is Catholic but had a time away from the faith. Now he shares the mysteries of the faith with others. When asked what the term he created, "Soul of the Earth" is, He replies, "Lets distinquish religion from spirituality. In the end all religions tend to point to the same light.In between the light and us, sometimes there are too many rules. The light is here and there are no rules to follow this light.Though his Catholic upbringing was painful in some ways, he does say, "The value is that they give you discipline and collective worship, and they give you humbleness toward the mysteries.The danger is as in every religion, "I have the ultimate truth" Then you start to rely on priests, the mullah, the rabbi,or whoever.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-16 08:13:37.
(Language: English)
This is a wonderful tale of a boy's search to fulfill his Personal Legend, not only across time but through a journey from his home in Spain across Northern Africa to Egypt. It actually reminds me in some respects of Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress - and even does retain some religious links - but moves much more into general philosophies of keeping one's eyes open for meanings and opportunities within each point of our lives. I don't buy the presented assumption that in their youth everyone knows what their Personal Legend is and should always pursue that early vision. Experience can suggest beatiful new missions, or even show the folly of those sought in the past. We also live in a social, networked environment where listening to our heart is great but much of the world reflexes back to us on the basis of how we interact with others. This latter reality is subordinated to the philosophy of this compelling story, but one sees it at each stage as the boy interacts respectfully, thoughtfully, ethically, and with cultural sensitivity to the many people he encounters. I recommend this book for a range of reader ages and interests.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2008-04-17 03:16:43.
(Language: English)
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.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2010-05-12 05:14:46.
(Language: English)
Category: Books Genre: Literature & Fiction Author: Paolo Coelho The Alchemist By: Paolo Coelho Start date: August 12, 2009 Stop date: August 30, 2009 There you go. After how many weeks at last I’m done reading the book due that I only allotted 1 hour per day reading after my work because I’m so exhausted. I learned a lot from the story. I enjoyed Santiago’s journey. It’s all about finding your personal legend. I guess that I’m close to finding mine as well. Here’s some lines I liked the most: >>Excerpts from “The Alchemist”: “At a certain pointing our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us and our lives become controlled by faith. That’s the world’s greatest lie” “If you think that every day was the same, and when each day is the same as the next, it’s because fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.” “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” “There was a language in the world that everyone understood, it’s the language of enthusiasm of things accomplished with love and purpose and as part of a search for something believed and desired.” “People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need an want.” “There is only one thing that makes dream impossible to achieve: ….the fear of failure.” “COURAGE is the most essential to understand the language of the world.”
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-18 01:41:31.
(Language: English)
Dreams, symbols, signs, and adventure follow the reader like echoes of ancient wise voices in "The Alchemist", a novel that combines an atmosphere of Medieval mysticism with the song of the desert. With this symbolic masterpiece Coelho states that we should not avoid our destinies, and urges people to follow their dreams, because to find our "Personal Myth" and our mission on Earth is the way to find "God", meaning happiness, fulfillment, and the ultimate purpose of creation. The novel tells the tale of Santiago, a boy who has a dream and the courage to follow it. After listening to "the signs" the boy ventures in his personal, Ulysses-like journey of exploration and self-discovery, symbolically searching for a hidden treasure located near the pyramids in Egypt. When he decides to go, his father's only advice is "Travel the world until you see that our castle is the greatest, and our women the most beautiful". In his journey, Santiago sees the greatness of the world, and meets all kinds of exciting people like kings and alchemists. However, by the end of the novel, he discovers that "treasure lies where your heart belongs", and that the treasure was the journey itself, the discoveries he made, and the wisdom he acquired. "The Alchemist", is an exciting novel that bursts with optimism; it is the kind of novel that tells you that everything is possible as long as you really want it to happen. That may sound like an oversimplified version of new-age philosophy and mysticism, but as Coelho states "simple things are the most valuable and only wise people appreciate them". As the alchemist himself says, when he appears to Santiago in the form of an old king "when you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true". This is the core of the novel's philosophy and a motif that echoes behind Coelho's writing all through "The Alchemist". And isn't it true that the whole of humankind desperately wants to believe the old king when he says that the greatest lie in the world is that at some point we lose the ability to control our lives, and become the pawns of fate. Perhaps this is the secret of Coelho's success: that he tells people what they want to hear, or rather that he tells them that what they wish for but never thought possible could even be probable.
|
|
|
A Reader posted a review at 2007-12-28 11:24:35.
(Language: English)
The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho is a poetically simple book about following one’s dreams – their own Personal Legend. Here we follow the story of a shepherd named Santiago who had recurring dreams of a hidden treasure near the pyramids of Egypt. Reluctant at first, he met "mythical" people who all point him in the direction of his treasure thus he sold his flock, set out and traveled from his home country of Spain to Morocco to Egypt - learning about the language of the Universe along the way. What started out as a boy’s dreams of travel and adventure became a man’s quest to fulfill a Personal Legend and find the treasure within. It talks a lot about omens and how one should be able to recognize and heed them. I read, heard of and actually know of people who believe in signs (be in form of songs, coincidences etc…) I had a friend who, undecided whether to pursue a relationship asked for a sign in the form of pink roses in the church confessional, when she went to church, lo and behold! there was a pot of pink roses in the confessional!!!....this made me think… how come I never come across such signs? I am afraid I might have been too dumb and ignorant that I have missed it… but then again I have never asked for any specific signs……. Hhhmmmmmmmmmmm….. It also made me wonder whether I have forgotten what my real Personal Legend is… qouting from the book: "Eveyone, when they were young, knows what their Personal Legend is... at that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. they are not afraid to dream, and to yarn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their Personal Legend"... ... well my only dream in life since I was a kid – like Santiago is to travel… and I guess being here I am on the right track in fulfilling my dream!! What made reading the book all the more enjoyable was that I could more picture the events and images in my mind's eye vividly as I am more or less on the same environment… I know of date and palm trees, of hooka (shisha), heard the calls to prayers five times a day, of veiled ladies, of men wearing white linen traditional dresses and have experienced the dessert (camping for two nights!) though not as harshly as Santiago did, and I have yet to see an oasis... ... I loved the book and have re-read it many times...it's a lovely simple story that wakens your soul... Noteworthy lines in the book : Maktub – which is explained in the book to mean “it is written…†When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it… To realize one's destiny is a person's only obligation. It is the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting ...at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the worlds greatest lie. ...there is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, its because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. Its your mission on earth.
|
Share your views!
Similar books
