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Summary: The Alchemist
Review: After reading this book The Alchemist, it really helped me to pursue my dream. This is the type of book that makes me understand more about my self and about life. But,I didn't really like all the fiction I'm into nonfiction. However, this story was great and I think people should read it. If, they like fiction books.
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Summary: The Beauty is in the Simplicity
Review: When I thought about reviewing this book, I had many things to say...but after reading some of the other reviews which pick apart and criticize it, I can see the meaning of the book even more clearly.
The writing is simple and clear- not juvenile. It's entertaining and brings a message which does not need to be complicated, except for those who are not ready to see the truth. They are the ones who like their truth heavily veiled and masked, as their self-gratification is in the pursuit. The reality is, the only place you need to look for the truth is in yourself. There is no search required- just your own personal journey.
Life does not need to be complicated, and the folks who have made negative comments about those who enjoy this book have obviously missed the point of it entirely- and they bring to mind the phrase "Casting Pearls before Swine."
You are not going to get anything valuable from this book unless you are READY for the spiritual knowledge which it contains. And that is one of the main points of the book anyway.
Personally, I received deep spiritual messages and peace from reading The Alchemist- and I have been on my own spiritual path for over two decades. This book presents information that only those who have actually paid attention to their journey would understand and appreciate.
If you read it and don't like it, I suggest you forget about it for at least 5 years and pick it up again. You might be surprised.
Update, 10/2003:Oh. My. Gosh. I can't believe how many people just "don't get" this book!!! Look: the point is not about anyone's "Personal Legend"!!!
THE POINT, is that what you search for is usually RIGHT THERE all along, and that the journey you take to find it is about learning lessons and growing as a person. Get it yet? LIFE IS IN THE JOURNEY, NOT THE DESTINATION!!
Santiago set off to find his "pot of gold," and after a long journey during which he grew mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, he finally discovers the location of the treasure. He follows the directions and find it RIGHT WHERE HE STARTED!
GET IT?!!!
You have what you need inside of you all of the time. You don't need to search outside yourself- you need to look within. THAT is the point.
Sheesh.
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Summary: crystal's review of The Alchemist
Review: The Alchemist is one of the book's that I enjoyed reading because it's about how people risk their life's in order to follow thier dreams. Santiago gave everything he had and left he's country to find he's treasure. He never gave up on what he wanted in the whole world.
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Summary: highly recommend!
Review: Most people say that this book is not for children. Well, not knowing this, i went on and read it. Im 14 years old, and i found it very very inspiring. The novel teaches you valuable morals in such a beautiful and simple way. For some people, you dont have to look so hard to understand what Coelho is trying to express. But either way, it is always up to you how you interpret his work. To me, Paulo Coelho is an absolutely marvelous writer. Im very sure that he has more inspiring, and exhilirating novels to come. I highly recommend reading this book to those who enjoy very delightful and possitive novels.
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Summary: For some simplicity is a farce, for me it is life's essence
Review: I read the review on the book and find it disgusting how some people are calling this novel cunning and cleverely written for making it a bestseller. Well the message from me to these overgrown grown ups is to make and effort and make their life less complicated. Probably they were looking for another self help book, which will solve all their lifes misery. Or probably they are too skeptical about their own lives. Or they can't expect life to be so simple, they will only appreciate a thick book which will give all the methods avaialable in this world to solve all sorts of problems and they could get a return for each penny they spent on it.So they drill down a simple story. Well maybe for them following their dreams is too unrealistic, they accept life in its full pessimism. Or maybe they don't like people who follow their dreams. Whatever is the problem with these folks, I think they are missing the message. The message is live your dreams even if it is gold, live with your heart and to its full capacity. So go ahead and read the novel, forget about the skeptics, they want to get all their lives problems solved by reading one book. The purpose of life is to live, don't make it overly complicated.
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Summary: a true realisation to how i feel
Review: a brilliantly written book but you need to have the patience, "hence why good things come to those who wait". If you are lost in life's race then i would suggest reading this book and others related. It can give you the kind of direction where general notice boards can often mislead you. much too regularly you miss life and its different components which make a "you". take your time and enjoy the ride, the only person who has put a time limit on you is yourself.
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Summary: Candy for unsatisfied souls
Review: Coelho's style in this didactic story is too blunt for people who enjoy subtly. For the story, Coelho clearly draws on ideas from modern occult religions (e.g., the importance of omens, the alchemist as wise man, the existence of an unspoken universal language, the Soul of the World), which are presented along side Christian ideas (page 117: "It's not what enters men's mouths that's evil" said the alchemist. "It's what comes out of their mouths that is." [cf. Matthew 15:11]). The book is also filled with platitudes that can be found in many self-help books today (page 143: "There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure."). But, if you find comfort and profundity in the idea that everything in the world is interconnected, you will probably like this book. If you find that idea rather uninspiring, regardless of whether it is true or not, you will probably find this book boring.The most clever aspect of this simple book is how the author protects from doubt one of the main claims made in the story. It is stated over and over again in the story that the universe will help people achieve their Personal Legends (i.e., dreams). It also says that the Soul for the World will test us severely before we achieve our dreams. In other words, the universe will help you achieve your dreams, but it won't seem that way--in fact, it will seem the opposite. So if you doubt that the universe is helping you achieve your dreams, it is because you are being tested. If you achieve your dreams, the claim may appear true; if you have yet to do so, it is because you are still being tested. What objective evidence could be offered to show that this claim is false? This devise employed in The Alchemist is perhaps more cunning than clever. In fact, to say something is true but doesn't seem true is a common way that gurus at self-help seminars protect themselves from the occasional naysayer who demands a refund. "If you don't believe what the guru is teaching," the naysayer is told, "it is only because you have yet to see the truth of it."
Most of the people who love this book I imagine are ambitious unsatisfied souls who are starving for encouragement. More nourishing words can be found elsewhere. Two recent books that inspire with more nutrients are Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer and Living a Life that Matters by Harold Kushner. Like The Alchemist, these books don't pretend to have the Answer (no specific techniques for solving problems are given), but unlike The Alchemist they provide down-to-earth words of encouragement, albeit in a non-fiction format. May we all find peace in the Truth. ---cc
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Summary: It is a guide, not a recipe... feel inspired
Review: This book doesn't aim to tell you what to do to be happy. It merely points out that happiness is just a step away and that you can achieve if you set your mind to it, because when you really want something, the whole universe conspires so you can have it. It didn't make me start a journey, it didn't change my life, but it is a reassurance to me of how much you can accomplish, and a "read again in case of emergency" type of book for those moments when life puts you down. I'll keep it close always and will surely tell everyone I know about it.
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Summary: Worth reading but leaves more to be desired
Review: A book worth reading, very simply written and has an extremely moral message. But I think the book could have had more depth. Quite religious - if you like this kind of 'spiritual' stuff, a high recommendation. Some parts are really quite lovely. And I like the ending. Overall, worth a read!
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Summary: Written for little children
Review: I'm not sure if its the writing style or the translation, but this book makes you feel like you're in Nursery School. But then again, I felt the same way about Siddartha by Herman Hesse. Very basic concepts that illiterate people find profound.
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