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The Alchemist (Perennial Classics)

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The Alchemist Kindle Edition

by Paulo Coelho (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.6 148,826 ratings

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A special 25th anniversary edition of the extraordinary international bestseller, including a new Foreword by Paulo Coelho.

Combining magic, mysticism, wisdom and wonder into an inspiring tale of self-discovery, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations.

Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams.

From the Publisher


	Maktub	The Alchemist	The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel	The Pilgrimage

Customer Reviews	58	148,826	1,592	3,494
Price	$19.77	$14.99	$13.29	$10.99
	Maktub (meaning “it is written”) is not a book of advice—but an exchange of experiences, a journey of faith, self-reflection, and transformation.	One of Oprah's Best Self-Help Books of a Generation. The story of a young shepherd who learns to listen to his heart, read the omens strewn along life’s path, and follow his dreams.	One of Oprah's Best Self-Help Books of a Generation. Illustrated by Daniel Sampere, The Alchemist is the story of a young shepherd who learns to listen to his heart, read the omens strewn along life’s path, and follow his dreams.	The captivating account of Coelho’s pilgrimage along the road to Santiago.


	The Valkyries	Warrior of Light	The Devil and Miss Prym	Life: Selected Quotations

Customer Reviews	888	4,248	1,131	151
Price	$12.21	$10.84	$9.99	$14.36
	The acclaimed author of The Alchemist makes a 40-day quest in the Mojave Desert with his wife and discovers a poignant message about letting go of the past and believing in the future.	150 short passages detail the spiritual and practical elements necessary for the attainment of the Personal Legend—the life-long path to a fulfillment of a dream.	A stranger arrives with a notebook and eleven gold bars, searching for the answer to a question that torments him: Are human beings, in essence, good or evil?	A selection of memorable quotes from Paulo Coelho's beloved works, illustrated by the renowned Norwegian artist Anne Kristin Hagesaether.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com 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 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

From Publishers Weekly

This inspirational fable by Brazilian author and translator Coelho has been a runaway bestseller throughout Latin America and seems poised to achieve the same prominence here. The charming tale of Santiago, a shepherd boy, who dreams of seeing the world, is compelling in its own right, but gains resonance through the many lessons Santiago learns during his adventures. He journeys from Spain to Morocco in search of worldly success, and eventually to Egypt, where a fateful encounter with an alchemist brings him at last to self-understanding and spiritual enlightenment. The story has the comic charm, dramatic tension and psychological intensity of a fairy tale, but it's full of specific wisdom as well, about becoming self-empowered, overcoming depression, and believing in dreams. The cumulative effect is like hearing a wonderful bedtime story from an inspirational psychiatrist. Comparisons to The Little Prince are appropriate; this is a sweetly exotic tale for young and old alike. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA-- This simple, yet eloquent parable celebrates the richness of the human spirit. A young Spanish shepherd seeking his destiny travels to Egypt where he learns many lessons, particularly from a wise old alchemist. The real alchemy here, however, is the transmuting of youthful idealism into mature wisdom. The blending of conventional ideas with an exotic setting makes old truths seem new again. This shepherd takes the advice Hamlet did not heed, learning to trust his heart and commune with it as a treasured friend. Enjoyable and easy to read, this timeless fantasy validates the aspirations and dreams of youth.
- Sabrina Fraunfelter, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Coelho is a Brazilian writer with four books to his credit. Following Diary of a Magus (1992--not reviewed) came this book, published in Brazil in 1988: it's an interdenominational, transcendental, inspirational fable--in other words, a bag of wind. The story is about a youth empowered to follow his dream. Santiago is an Andalusian shepherd boy who learns through a dream of a treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. An old man, the king of Salem, the first of various spiritual guides, tells the boy that he has discovered his destiny: ``to realize one's destiny is a person's only real obligation.'' So Santiago sells his sheep, sails to Tangier, is tricked out of his money, regains it through hard work, crosses the desert with a caravan, stops at an oasis long enough to fall in love, escapes from warring tribesmen by performing a miracle, reaches the pyramids, and eventually gets both the gold and the girl. Along the way he meets an Englishman who describes the Soul of the World; the desert woman Fatima, who teaches him the Language of the World; and an alchemist who says, ``Listen to your heart.'' A message clings like ivy to every encounter; everyone, but everyone, has to put in their two cents' worth, from the crystal merchant to the camel driver (``concentrate always on the present, you'll be a happy man''). The absence of characterization and overall blandness suggest authorship by a committee of self-improvement pundits--a far cry from Saint- Exupry's The Little Prince: that flagship of the genre was a genuine charmer because it clearly derived from a quirky, individual sensibility. Coelho's placebo has racked up impressive sales in Brazil and Europe. Americans should flock to it like gulls. (First printing of 50,000) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review

A remarkable tale about the most magical of all journeys: the quest to fulfill one s destiny. --Anthony Robbins, author of Awaken the Giant Within"

A most tender and gentle story. It is a rare gem of a book. --Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D., co-author of Change Our Mind, Change Your Life"

"A remarkable tale about the most magical of all journeys: the quest to fulfill one's destiny."--Anthony Robbins, author of Awaken the Giant Within

"A sweetly exotic tale for young and old alike."--Publishers Weekly

"As memorable and meaningful as Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince."--Austin American-Statesman

A wise and inspiring fable about the pilgrimage that life should be. --M. Scott Peck"

[His] books have had a life-enchanting effect on millions of people. --London Times"

"[This] Brazilian wizard makes books disappear from stores."--New York Times

A touching, inspiring fable. --Indianapolis Star"

it changed my whole life. I realized of all of the people who had conspired to get me to this place. --PHARRELL WILLIAMS, MUSICIAN AND SONG-WRITER"

It s a brilliant, magical, life-changing book that continues to blow my mind with its lessons. [...] A remarkable tome. --NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, ACTOR"

[This] Brazilian wizard makes books disappear from stores. --New York Times"

"[His] books have had a life-enchanting effect on millions of people."--London Times

"A touching, inspiring fable."--Indianapolis Star

A sweetly exotic tale for young and old alike. --Publishers Weekly"

An entrepreneurial tale of universal wisdom we can apply to the business of our own lives. --Spencer Johnson, M.D., co-author of The One-Minute Manager"

"A beautiful story with a pointed message for every reader."--Joseph Girzone, author of Joshua

"An entrepreneurial tale of universal wisdom we can apply to the business of our own lives."--Spencer Johnson, M.D., co-author of The One-Minute Manager

As memorable and meaningful as Saint-Exupery s The Little Prince. --Austin American-Statesman"

An adventure story full of magic and wisdom. --Rudolfo Anaya, author of Bless Me, Ultima"

A magical little volume. --San Francisco Chronicle"

"A most tender and gentle story. It is a rare gem of a book."--Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D., co-author of Change Our Mind, Change Your Life

"An adventure story full of magic and wisdom."--Rudolfo Anaya, author of Bless Me, Ultima

"A wise and inspiring fable about the pilgrimage that life should be."--M. Scott Peck

A beautiful story with a pointed message for every reader. --Joseph Girzone, author of Joshua"

"A magical little volume."--San Francisco Chronicle

From the Back Cover

Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. 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. What starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure 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.

About the Author

Paulo Coelho, born in Rio de Janeiro in 1947, is one of the bestselling and most influential authors in the world. The Alchemist, The Pilgrimage, The Valkyries, Brida, Veronika Decides to Die, Eleven Minutes, The Zahir, The Witch of Portobello, The Winner Stands Alone, Aleph, Manuscript Found in Accra, and Adultery, among others, have sold 150 million copies worldwide.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00U6SFUSS
Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperOne; 25th ed. edition (February 24, 2015)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 24, 2015
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 10617 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 87 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1514346982

Best Sellers Rank: #4,559 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 148,826 ratings

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Paulo Coelho

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Paulo Coelho is the author of "The Alchemist", he was born in 1947 in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Being the author of 30 books that have sold over 320 million copies in 170 countries, he has become one of the most widely read authors in the world today. Paulo Coelho has been a United Nations Messenger of Peace since 2007 and this has allowed him to continue to promote intercultural dialogue and to focus on the needs of children. He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters and the recipient of over 115 awards and honours, including the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the Grinzane Cavour Book Award and the Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur, to name a few.

Other titles include “The Pilgrimage”, “Brida”, "The Supreme Gift", “The Valkyries”, “By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept”, “Maktub”, “The Fifth Mountain”, “Manual of the Warrior of Light”, “Veronika Decides to Die”, “The Devil and Miss Prym”, “Stories for Parents, Children and Grandchildren”, “Eleven Minutes”, “The Zahir”, “Like the Flowing River”, “The Witch of Portobello”, “The Winner Stands Alone”, “Aleph”, “Manuscript Found in Accra”, “Adultery”, “The Spy”, “Hippie”. Also “Journey” guided journal.

https://paulocoelhoblog.com/

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Susan

A timeless classic of self-discovery!

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2024

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A Fable About Following Your Dream

Twenty-five years ago, Paulo Coelho's 'The Alchemist' first enchanted readers around the world. Since then, this timeless fable has sold over 150 million copies, inspiring countless individuals to embrace their dreams and follow their hearts.

A Journey of Self-Discovery

'The Alchemist' follows the story of Santiago, a young shepherd from Andalusia, who embarks on an extraordinary journey to the distant pyramids of Egypt. Guided by a wise old king, Santiago learns that his destiny lies not in the familiar paths of his past but in the unknown realms of his dreams.

Along the way, Santiago encounters an alchemist, who teaches him the secrets of turning the base metal of his life into the gold of his potential. He learns the importance of listening to his heart, embracing change, and never giving up on his aspirations.

The Power of Personal Legend

The central theme of 'The Alchemist' is the pursuit of one's 'Personal Legend.' This is the unique purpose for which each individual is born, the reason they exist. Santiago's Personal Legend is to reach the pyramids, but along his journey, he discovers that the path itself is as important as the destination.

The pursuit of our Personal Legends often requires us to overcome obstacles, face setbacks, and leave behind the familiar. 'The Alchemist' reminds us that these challenges are essential for our growth and that the rewards we gain from following our dreams far outweigh the risks involved.

The Importance of Following Your Heart

One of the most profound lessons Santiago learns is the importance of following his heart. Despite the fears and doubts that may arise, he trusts his intuition and takes the path that feels right to him.

'The Alchemist' teaches us that our hearts hold the key to our true nature and our purpose in life. When we listen to our hearts, we are guided to the people, places, and experiences that align with our destiny.

A Timeless Classic

'The Alchemist' has become a beloved classic for a reason. Its timeless message of self-discovery, the pursuit of dreams, and the power of following your heart resonates with readers of all ages and backgrounds.

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of this literary masterpiece, let us remember the lessons it teaches. May we all embrace our Personal Legends, trust our hearts, and embark on extraordinary journeys of our own.

In the words of Coelho, 'And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.'

4 people found this helpful

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Patrick F

Approachable Wisdom and Beautiful, Simple Prose

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2020

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A simple coming-of-age parable which, by means of its straightforward style, achieves profundity. This book has been touted for years. Several friends have declared this their favorite book; a co-worker recommended that I read it; online book forums can’t get through a recommendations thread without The Alchemist among the top responses. I figured it would be difficult for the book to make a true impression because of how highly touted it has been. I was wrong. I am impressed.

This book drips with wisdom and yet is so unassuming that the reader is welcomed to embrace what rings true and shrug off the rest. The Alchemist tells the story of a shepherd who leaves his flocks to follow a dream of great treasure at the pyramids in Egypt. In his wanderings, he remains open to whatever experience comes his way. He meets a cast of fascinating, fun characters who share their wisdom, experience, and misadventures with the young shepherd.

The writing style is simple, the translation beautiful. The prose is poetic yet approachable. As the story progresses, a reader can’t help but listen to the simple wisdom on offer. I enjoyed nearly every page of this book and was satisfied with the story’s full-circle conclusion. I felt that I learned and grew alongside this peripatetic shepherd; I maintained an open heart ready to welcome all wisdom, even from unexpected people and places.

A few tidbits that particularly stood out:
-“I couldn’t have found God in the seminary, he thought, as he looked at the sunrise” (13). A perfect example of the sort of wisdom this book offers. This rings true for me as I have a graduate degree from a seminary and a few weeks of wilderness backpacking under my belt. The sunset and a rock to sit on after a long day of schlepping have a deep theology on offer which couldn’t be contained in the many books I’ve read on the topic of spirituality.
-“We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it’s our life or our possessions and property. But this fewar evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand” (79). As an agnostic with an education and history of biblical studies, this sort of welcoming, simple wisdom is encouraging. Coelho doesn’t ask you to convert to his philosophy, but simply to engage.
-“You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say. That way you’ll never have to fear an unanticipated blow” (134). This is a main theme: listen to your heart, keep your eyes open to the world, remain present in your experiences, welcome omens as guideposts, avoid artificial absolutes. The shepherd in this passage goes on to confess that his heart is afraid of suffering. His friend the alchemist responds, “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” (134). What a beautiful message that strikes me at a perfect time. I am hoping to pursue my heart’s dream of writing. “From then on, the boy understood his heart. He asked it, please, never to stop speaking to him. He asked that, when he wandered far from his dreams, his heart press him and sound the alarm. The boy swore that , every time he heard the alarm, he would heed its message” (136).
-“When we strive to become better an we are, everything around us becomes better, too...when we love, we always strive to become better than we are” (155).

This is a beautiful book that I will treasure, recommend, and re-read.

A

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J. Rill

A great 25 year-old book!

Reviewed in Brazil on March 29, 2024

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I loved having the chance to read the 25th anniversary edition of this great book.

Vijay Lakhera

Masterpiece ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reviewed in Canada on March 20, 2024

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An absolute masterpiece that weaves a mesmerizing tale of self-discovery and destiny. Paulo Coelho's enchanting storytelling takes you on a journey filled with profound wisdom and timeless lessons. The characters are beautifully crafted, and the narrative is both inspiring and thought-provoking. A literary gem that deserves every bit of its acclaim, The Alchemist is a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration and purpose in life.

One person found this helpful

Grissara Santana

Ideal para iniciar a leer!

Reviewed in Mexico on January 4, 2024

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Lo compro por que estoy retomando el habito de la lectura y este es muy bueno para iniciar, el libro también lo compre en ingles para practicarlo mas. Ojo, el libro tiene “uneven pages” es a propósito y es parte de la edición de 25 años, para que no se asusten!

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Stu Johnston

Brilliant but Simple

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 30, 2024

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Very simple but meaningful message in this book. More than once I felt emotionally overwhelmed, although I couldn’t explain why. Deffo worth reading; I managed it in 2 sittings. Highly recommend!

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