Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 869.342
EAN: 9780061122415
ISBN: 0061122416
Label: HarperCollins
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 208
Publication Date: 2006-05-01
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 2006-04-25
Studio: HarperCollins

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.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Naive
Comment: There are some simple and nice ideas in the book which perhaps would work for kids under 10. For adults the concepts discussed are naive and the storyline is simplistic and character development is thin. I was very disappointed.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Overall, quite enjoyable
Comment: I do agree that the author can be quite redundant. This could be due to the fact that it has been translated. Had the original been written in English, I am sure the author would be able to spice up the diction a bit.

Even though it was simply written, it evoked such imagery; I found that I could not put the book down. It was quite entertaining, and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. I have a feeling that I will read it again in a few years, and have an even better understanding of its meaning, and its reflection on my life as well.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: There are no coincidences.......
Comment: After reading "The Alchemist", I gave the book to both my children. My son has just graduated from college, and my daughter is a sophomore, and in many ways this book distilled a message I have been trying to teach them in one way or another since they were very young. Although the setting and the story is exotic for many of us (the story is about a young Andalusian shepherd boy who leaves everything familiar to go in search of a "treasure" in Egypt) the message is universal, eternal and very simple. That message is to live your Life consciously and thoughtfully in order to determine the path your Life should take.

My own life has been amazing. Like the young shepherd, I left everything that was familiar to me and I allowed myself to be guided by my own strong yet inexplicable feelings, signs and omens, doors that opened unexpectedly, and people I met along my path. As a result, I met and married my Soul Mate in a country not my own, and have two children who have brought immeasurable and unspeakable joy to me.

But you have to be willing to have faith, to believe in yourself and the voice of your heart. You even need to occasionally disregard the so-called good advice of people close to you in order to do something which at first makes no sense, something not entirely easy to do, and that is discussed in "The Alchemist" as well. For me, this book was astonishing and affirming because I immediately appreciated the Truth of it. I felt compelled to pass it on, hoping that all my "teaching moments" could take the form of a simple parable, to be remembered and renewed, for years to come.

As others have demonstrated, this is not the book for everyone, just as there is no universal religion or view of the world. Because it was written by a Brazilian, there are language traits, cultural perceptions and beliefs which are alien and might bring discomfort to many people who live in the United States. But for others who really believe they are here for a purpose, this little book is nothing but encouraging.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: It feeds your soul
Comment: ..that is, if you have one (I'm surprised by some of the reviews on here). If you have a soul, imagination plus depth and life experience, you will find this book delightful. If you don't not possess these qualities you will be lost. You definitely have to had your share of dark moments in your life to understanding the message that the book portrays: one of hope,struggle,patience and faith. Overall, very easy read and well worth your time. Your soul will thank you.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Lame, lame, lame.
Comment: Maybe this book is somehow better read quietly on your own. We heard so many good things about it that we read it as a family. We were rolling on the ground laughing at the lame conversations with the boy, his heart, the wind, etc. If you are seeking good life advice, read Ben Franklin's autobiography and his selected writings. But life is far too short to waste any of it on this silly tale.

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