"whoever you are, or 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." ...."And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

We all have that piece inside of us, our soul, a place that harbors all the wisdom, inner peace, love, and security we could ever desire (plus some). And every once in a while, a piece of art comes around that touches that place. The Alchemist has done that for me, many times over. The fable is based on a boy that gives up all he has ever known and travels to find his personal treasure. Along the way, he learns valuable lessons about life, love, and dreams.

It is hard for me to describe how much this book has affected my life. The jewels of wisdom found in the text are pasted all over my home, in my wallet...I read this book once a year (at least), and every year I find more wisdom is revealed to me. This is honestly a must-read for anyone, but particularly those of us reaching a crossroads in life - high school seniors, college seniors, those toying with a career change, anyone just feeling "stuck"...please read this book!

This was the book that made me fall in love with Paulo Coelho -- and it happened well before he was an international sensation. I have recommended this time and time again to my friends and family, especially when I find someone who feels they need to make some drastic change to figure something out in their life.

The book begins with a boy (Santiago) who tells his father that he wants to travel. The father tells him that the only people who travel are shepherds, so the boy tells his father he'd like to be a shepherd then. Santiago later has a dream about hidden treasure and follows his dream of finding that treasure. What follows is the boy's journey as a shepherd and what he learns along the path to fulfilling his dream. What follows for us as readers is also a journey of self-discovery and where we can look to find our Answers to Life's Questions ... and what we may find when we, too, follow our dreams.

Every once in a while comes a story teller like this one.....someone who captures your imagination and tells a story so profound that leaves you thinking about it for a long time.
The Alchemist is a very simple story of a shepherd who dreams of hidden treasure. He sets of on a journey to realise his dream....but the story is much more than a shepherd finding his treasure. Its about following your dream, its about following what your heart truly desires, even if it means, moving to unknown terrain.

The book is so fast to read, being such a simple story, but even today I keep going back to read it again and again. There is something so uplifting about reading this book. How it talks about the universe always conspiring to make the true wish of your heart come true. The way it talks about how all the world and the creatures in it are connected. Every time I read it I turn misty eyed !

A wonderful uplifting story. A must have for eeryone, read it as a fairy tale for your children, read it for yourself, whenever you need a lift, whenever you feel alone and let down. I guarentee that this book will have you feeling better.

It would be easy to dismiss The Alchemist. After all, it often gets slotted in the middle of a muddle of self-help and spirituality books. Its story is simple, its writing plain. It offers no quick tips for skating through life or easy plans for future success. However, despite its lack of the more obvious qualities of its genre, it shouldn’t be put aside for more obviously promising picks. This tiny volume has more inside its few pages than a library of typical self help books.

The Alchemist follows the simple journey- one might say quest- of Santiago, a shepherd, as he pursues his dreams. Along the way, he has many encounters, some mundane, some fantastic, but each illustrates a principle by which he chooses to live his life. I love this book. Every time I reread it (and I do so often, at least once a year) I find something new to aspire to in Santiago’s journeys, and something new to admire in Coelho’s simple, sure prose. A must read for anyone who tries to live their life true to their dreams.