Rating: 
Summary: Flawed But Ultimately Thought-Provoking and Worthwhile
Review: Yes, much of what negative reviewers of this book have to say is true: the writing is blunt and simple, the characters lack depth and complexity, it is quite male-focused in its subject matter and language, it has a bunch of quasi-religious mumbo-jumbo, and so on. This book should not be put on the list of great literature for the ages. There are doubtless many novels that cover subject matter from this book far more artfully. As I read the book, I was aware of its hokeyness and lack of redeeming literary qualities. I am, in fact, usually the first person to criticize books that read like this.And yet, I have to say - and I feel a bit sheepish about this - that I found it meaningful, even profound at times. How can I say this, given my criticisms? First of all, unlike many reviewers, I did not approach this book with great expectations. No one told me that this was Shakespeare or Tolstoy; I had never even heard of it until it was recommended to me recently. And by the end of page 2, I had adjusted my expectations further. This clearly was not going to be winning the Booker prize. But I found the book moving in its simple way. The characters deliver their statements without subtlety, but subtlety is more a literary virtue than a philosophical one. In fact, I essentially came to view this work as a life philosophy expressed as a fable, so I didn't particularly mind that its messages were not buried far beneath the surface. Are those messages novel? No, but what of it? Novelists have been recycling themes for centuries, becuase many themes are of enduring interest and relevance. The point is, the messages are worthwhile and deserving of consideration. They are simple, but I think that simplicity is itself one of the central themes of the book: that life is not that complicated when one follows one's dreams honestly and passionately, or as the book says, "with love and purpose." And yet the book reminds us that it is very easy to give up dreams and abandon one's passion. I have to disagree with one often-mentioned criticism of the book, namely, that it advocates pure materialism. That is, in my opinion, a serious misinterpretation. The book is written in the style of a fable, and therefore the goals people strive for are the typical gold-and-buried-treasure stuff. But I think one would have to misread the book quite severely to think that it is advocating material gain. The book is not at all about the specific goals that the protagonist pursues. It is about the importance of wanting something urgently and how the wanting seems to reorient the universe in harmony with that goal (just as a magnetic field can reorder the particles around it), how genuine passion and enthusiasm are rewarded with success, how those who love us encourage us to pursue our goals, and how the act of reaching for goals - whatever they are, and whether or not ultimately reached - plunges us into a strong current that carries us to places that we can never expect or know when we embark. There is something here in common with the beliefs of the Romantics, in that much of the value of the goal is in the journey that it leads us on -- the experiences gained and the lessons learned. It's not a fair criticism of the book, I think, to say that it doesn't tell us what happens when people's goals conflict with one another, or disclose that circumstances outside of our control often render us unable to reach our goals however sincerely we may pursue them. We don't need a book to tell us that. Anyone who has made it out of childhood knows that, and I have to believe that the author is well aware of this as well. I suspect that through his simple tale, he is trying to provide some kind of argument against the kind of cynicism or fear that the world can sometimes instill in us, and encourage us to keep diving into that "strong current" to see where it takes us.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful book, Wonderful Writer!
Review: Inspirational! You have to read this book, It will change your life!
Rating:
Summary: Far from cheesy
Review: With the amount of life lessons that come from The Alchemist, it would be easy for the author's writing to come across as cheesy, or even arrogant. Quite to the contrary, the story is written beautifully and is far from cheesy. Short and sweet, The Alchemist gets to the point and doesn't waver through the last page of the epilogue.
Rating:
Summary: Good book for teenagers
Review: This book is a good read for teenagers. I read it when I was one, and was very inspired. More recently I reread it, and found it nothing special. I think the story is very simplistic, the development of characters not very deep, even when it comes to the main character. It is a good book as a pastime, or even to deliver the message (chase your dreams).
Rating: 
Summary: Not a helpful book
Review: Paolo Coelho's spiritual roots were very occultic - he was greatly influenced by a friendship with Aleister Crowley, a satanist who referred to himself as "The Great Beast" and was well known as "the wickedest man in the world." Both Crowley's wives went insane and five of his mistresses committed suicide. Mr Coelho later developed less damaging beliefs and continues his quest for spiritual truth in this book. He is a gifted writer with an excellent mind. However, he is not a Christian and many of my Christian friends think he is. The church in general has failed to educate its members about what the Bible really says, and this ignorance combined with a hunger for spiritual truth is making people turn to the kind of mythical primordial soup found in "The Alchemist". It is intellectual chewing gum - occupying the mind while providing no substantial nourishment for the inner man. I believe people would be better off reading deeper teaching about the God of the Bible, rather than submitting to the manipulation by Churchianity and quasi-spiritual gurus like Mr Coelho. Helpful books for seekers after spiritual truth include:
Nelson's Spirit Filled Life Bible
God's best secrets by Adrew Murray
My utmost for His highest by Oswald Chambers
New evidence that demands a verdict by McDowell
Strong's Concordance
Books by Madame Guyon
Nicky Gumbell's Alpha books
Rating: 
Summary: "To follow your dream" Now what?
Review: *The Alchemist* is a simple fable with no conventional plot. Santiago is an Andalusian shepherd boy who one night dreams of a distant treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. He deliberately leaves Spain and starts a thousand-mile journey to Egypt to literally follow his dream. As promised in his unqiue dream, Santiago bumps into "spiritual messengers" to point him to the right direction and more importantly, to spur him on toward his destination. Santiago then meets a well-read Englishman, in whose book he 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." Eventually Santiago meets a true alchemist who emboldens him to stay true to his dream. To me this book seems a little monotonous and at points I am in fact bored by the reading. I read it at the first place out of the curiosity that this very novel has been translated to more than 40 languages. The question of whether this story of simplicity is dazzling or boring leaves entirely to the readers. What I really hate is that after spending all the time reading I am left with an ambiguous ending. 2.5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: I can't stop reading this book
Review: A shepherd boy named Santiago traveled to the Pyramids to realize his dream. On the way he faced some obstacles, but he overcame them one after another. It is because he believed in forces within himself. When you finish this story, you will become aware of this force, and you will also begin to understand what prevents you from realizing your dream. This story does not have a conclusion, but each situation is a conclusion. Therefore every time you read it, you will discover something new wisdom. And this book is rare in that it explores a difficult theme using simple and easy to understand language.
Rating:
Summary: One is same in different ways
Review: This book was reccommended to me by a stranger, a learned lady whom I met on the bus. When she explained the book to me, my first reaction was another "pretend philosophical" book. Since she spoke of it so hightly, I bought it any way. The book does not treat you like a listener but more of an observer of events. It does not compel you to self analyze or gives you the secret to life or death but makes you think. I like the book because it stays with you. Parts of it jump at you as one goes about eating, sleeping, brushing, finding truth and earning money
Rating:
Summary: A Look at the Discovery of Self
Review: Coelho's Novel 'The Alhemist' is an amazing oddessy of self exploration. Its focus is that of young man at the verge of adulthood. He is fighting the prescribed action of behavior and banking his future on the words of a Sage and the promise of a grat treasure. It is in the search for this treasure that we discern the hidden wisdom, and simplistic poetry of life's journeys. This book is recommended highly for all about to enter a new stage of life, or all who wish to discover a new journey within themselves.
Rating:
Summary: Boring
Review: I read this book recently, and have to say it is the most boring, dull and confusing book i have ever read. True, you should chase and reach your dreams, but must they be found in such a uninspirational and dull way? There are some interesting concepts but they are also equally confusing. Due to the mass hype and praise of this book, i read it a second time - hoping to grasp something i missed...but i just felt bored and wished i hadnt spent valuable time of my life reading this...maybe this is a revolutionary book for some but i just didn't like or believe in the unrealistic and often at times ridiculous storyline
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