The Alchemist

4.6 | 116,794 ratings

Price: 14.99

Last update: 12-30-2024

About this item

AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • OVER 80 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE

“Translated into 80 languages, the allegory teaches us about dreams, destiny, and the reason we are all here.”—Oprah Daily, “Best Self-Help Books of a Generation”

“It’s a brilliant, magical, life-changing book that continues to blow my mind with its lessons. [...] A remarkable tome.”—Neil Patrick Harris, actor

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.

“A magical little volume.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“[This] Brazilian wizard makes books disappear from stores.”—The New York Times

“A sweetly exotic tale for young and old alike.”—Publishers Weekly


	Maktub	The Alchemist	The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel	The Pilgrimage

Customer Reviews	183	115,936	1,622	3,638
Price	$16.47	$11.71	$15.69	$10.49
	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	904	4,338	1,168	151
Price	$12.79	$10.59	$9.99	$14.48
	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.

Top reviews from the United States

-L

interesting read

Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2024

The book is thought-provoking and thoughtfully written. It is very easily read and a quick read. I have heard so much about this book - I had to know what it was people were so consumed by.

Loves2shop34

An uplifting story

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2024

Despite all the Negative Nancy reviews, I enjoyed the book. It definitely had parts that made me think about different facets of life. I like the way it incorporated some things from the Bible. It tells you to follow your heart and intuition and not be scared to do so because there is so much life you can experience if you are open to it. I think everyone can get something out of this book (if you’re not one that feels the need to pick everything apart). My book pages did have rough cut edges but who cares. It was cheap, the print was fine, and I enjoyed it. I would recommend this book.

James Berberich

Journey

Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2024

It is a well constructed journey. I haven’t come across anything else quite like it. It feels very old for something written so recently.

Jonathan Tate

immersive tale wrapped in riddles

Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2024

So many twists and turns and each leaves the reader more satisfied than the last. A great quick read with plenty of good reminders to enjoy the journey as we all pursue our Personal Legends.

Patricia Warren

A Beautiful Fable of Destiny and Self-Discovery

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2024

"The Alchemist" is a beautifully crafted fable that delves into the depths of life’s journey and the importance of pursuing one’s dreams. Paulo Coelho’s storytelling is enchanting, guiding readers through the protagonist’s quest for purpose and destiny. The themes of perseverance, self-discovery, and the interconnectedness of life resonate deeply, encouraging us to look beyond the present moment. This book is not just a tale; it’s an inspiring reminder to follow our hearts and chase our dreams. A truly transformative read that stays with you long after the last page!

Kimberly H

Took me years

Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2024

I remember when this book was at its peak and everyone was talking about it but at the time I had thought it was a self help type of book and was into reading chic lit so now that I'm 50 years old of course my book preferences have broadened beyond chick lit and have started to read books that I wrote off when they were hot I'm glad I was less to this book by spiritual guidance because it was never in my books I might like lists EVER until yesterday so I gave it a shot and so very glad I did it's extremely spiritually enlightening and thought provoking and have been poked back into consciousness of things that I have not had thoughts about for awhile I'm seriously feeling awakening of soul and my inner light again. Thank you GOD for leading me to book and thank you Mr. Paul Coelho for writing this wonderful fun and enlightening book.

Robert L. Buhl

A Keeper

Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2024

Rarely, a book is simple and yet inspiring, complex, challenging and thought provoking! When you winnow your bookshelves, you’ll KEEP this one.

Brian Driver

Good book, but I think the ending is a betrayal

Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2016

As I write this I realize that I am talking about a modern classic, one that I must admit I did enjoy reading overall. But that said, I simply didn’t find this book to be as moving a book as I thought I would.

The novel tells a simple though interesting tale about a boy’s attempts to search for a treasure revealed to him in multiple dreams. Along the way he encounters many people and situations that enable him to learn and grow spiritually, aided by either his clever and inquisitive mind or the guidance of others who effectively serve as mentors.

For the most part, I did like THE ALCHEMIST. I enjoyed the simple style of writing and the stripped-down nature of the tale. We don’t get into the “five senses” kind of environmental description – Coelho’s tale is more of a parable at its heart, and in fact is a story OF the heart and of the mind. I also admired the central character as well: Santiago is not only aptly named, but he is a likable boy full of pleasant good will and a gentle disposition, ready to work and clever when it comes to the things one must do to succeed. He is also brave, and remains positive whether things are going well or they are not, choosing to do the best he can at whatever hand he is dealt by life.

Here, however, comes the problem. While I felt that the book worked for a good deal of the story, it weakened a bit toward the end. Part of it was the story’s mumbo-jumbo manner of religiosity; while I understood the author’s decision to tackle his subject in this simple, unadorned manner, it didn’t hold up at times. Certainly, the notion that there is a hidden one-ness at the heart of all matter is a notion that works well through a simplistic style, a la the clean, stripped-down beliefs at the heart of innocents or the way we conceptualize the purity of, say, the Native Americans culture when it came to nature. But when the boy began addressing the wind and other elements (a point I’ll get to further in a moment), it really broke down for me. It stretched credulity, reducing Nature to a kind of repertory theater. I will speak further on this scene in a second.

HERE I ONE ASPECT THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A SPOILER – SKIP THIS PARAGRAPH.
What I particularly disliked about THE ALCHEMIST is that I felt it broke its own rules. Again, I’m discussing the ending here, so beware. It bothered me that the ending should have been a point when the boy’s budding spirituality took its hold upon the lad. I ask: why would a person who is in essence learning so much about what really matters about life still keep seeking money? His interest in gold is not the same as the alchemist’s interest in it: the elder character is a man who can manipulate the elements in a near-magical manner, a process he leaves the boy to discover for himself (like when he fact almost comically abandons him to magically “make like the wind” for men who will otherwise kill him – comical because once the alchemist places the boy IN the situation, he simply goes off to play with his birds. And one more thing: while the twist at the end was clever, it disappointed me for two reasons: the first, for point I made above, but the second is trickier. The boy learns that the truth the material treasure HE sought is NOT there; it is, he learns, where the OTHER character says it is. Clever, sure… but is the author telling us the other character’s “information” is more true? Why is that? Was it that the other boy was favored? OR, which is probably more true, is it because whatever force it is that imparts such “wisdom” does so knowing that one boy WILL follow his heart and the other won’t. Think: if the other boy does follow his quest then Santiago’s info is going to be wrong. But IF things are meant to work out the way they actually do, then is Coelho indeed telling us that these actions were predetermined? This sends, I think, the opposite message the author wants to send.

THE ALCHEMIST is a book that people will enjoy for its simple values, and the tale of this young boy’s spiritual quest has satisfied many. While I too enjoyed it and liked the boy, I ultimately felt a bit disappointed in what I felt to be a contrived ending. Though I initially liked the twist at the end, the story could have ended on that exact moment and left me happier. As it is, I felt the final portion of the boy’s quest betrayed his AND the author’s intentions, which hurt the novel for me.

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