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Summary: Beautifully written Fantasy, not reality.
Review: Writing as a psychologist and the author of the Dream Cards and other books on dreamwork, I would say this book presents a seductive and unrealistic view of life. Did anyone get the message at the end. Santiago digs up his treasure and it is a long buried box of gold statues and other things which the Spanish conquistadors stole from preColumbian peoples. It is loot based on evil and contrary to spiritual principles which are clear that you waste your time in life if you spend it trying to accumulate physical wealth. We thought the lead character was learning something in his travel and challenges: How to conduct himself in the world so he can lead an effective and fulfilling life. The author presents an unreal picture of life, suggesting you get helped out by magical people and events. Imagine young people putting themselves into all sorts of difficult situations and expecting to be bailed out. As a psychotherapist I have to suggest to people that there is no parent out there waiting to save you from your folly, no alchemist waiting to make physical gold for you to save you when you are in trouble. Another attitude in the book is that women are to be avoided because they divert one, presumably male, from the journey. This is so unreal. The best lives are often created by companions who are intimate together, whether male and female or companions of the same sexual orientation. This book is Las Vegas in metaphor, a viewpoint that incourages you to gamble with your life in all sorts of unrealistic ways. It is beautifully written and full of standard New Age attitudes which people would like to believe are true. Yes, follow a guiding source in life, but it is often not your personal dream. Tales of treasure to be found feed the personal ego and often lead such inflated people to waste much of their life until they come into reality, if they ever do. Beware the seductiveness of clever fantasy.Strephon Kaplan-Williams
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Summary: Great book!
Review: First I read it four years ago, and since then many times.I like simplicity of it and it gives me a lot of inspiration.
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Summary: If i can read it...
Review: well...to start i had to read it for an advanced english class at school and and i was disappointed to read it over the summer..of course i had to, and it surprised me a lot.. the obvious is that the book talks of following your dreams... but it also talks about fate and the world around you... read it...its a good book (not the same reviewer as the one below)
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Summary: Do yooh really like this book as much as i do?
Review: wow is almost all yooh have to say about it!! i had to read this book for a summer reading project and the title at first seemed a bit dull. and now i think this book is the best book i ever read!! it impacted me so much and my friends are awed by it. this i think is meant for people of all ages. especially the people in high skool and college. they need this kind of "push" to make life touching decisions.
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Summary: A few words say it all...
Review: Wow, is all I can say. The truth about human destiny set forth in such a simple, direct, yet vivid and powerful manner is exquisite. Coehlo's short fable empowers all who read it becausewhile you may not yet know your destined path in life, be open to "omens" of change and opportunity. Many people sadly go through life without the courage and passion to break out of their security nets and comfortable routines in search for their personal destiny, in search of the meaning in life. And while you may not book a trip to the Pyramids at Giza after reading the book, it will certainly force a deep introspection into yourself: who you are and what you want out of life. I encourage ANYONE to read it. Because after all, you can only give fully to others when you have fulfilled yourself. The journey begins with the self.
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Summary: Be not afraid to follow the signs of the world...
Review: Some of the moments in the book can uplift you in ways you never thought possible. It teaches you to believe in the signs of the world, to follow them in order to get to your personal treasure: to loose the fear of the unknown, of loosing what you've become attached to.
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Summary: Can't relate...
Review: This book was hard to follow for me. Perhaps because his quest was typically male (boyish) and as a woman I found it hard to imagine that young men are that two-dimensional. To think that fullfillment of a dream must be a journey taken alone... Santiago makes nothing happen on his journey. In his quest,things only happen to him, not because of him. Santiago gains insight-big deal. One reviewer from Santa Clara wrote "I am a self professed evangelist of the book since I've read it. Absolutely love it's lessons without the "preachy" feel, and love the fact that the situations are those which every one of us can relate to - though all may not recognize them as they happen to us." I read the book because of that review...I wish I could get together with this person and discuss that. Lessons learned in the Alchemist are learned on stand-bye, they are not learned from experience. That's no way to grow in life.
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Summary: This book is for anyone willing to search for their destiny.
Review: The Alchemist is easy reading with a clearly defined messege. Yet, within the simplicity is a depth of wisdom about life that one must work to understand. Anyone searching for their destiny or just needing an extra push to persure dreams should spend a few hours reading this delightful book. This is also definately a book to give recent graduates of any school or age.
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Summary: A Childish Fable
Review: I thought The Alchemist was a childish fable written for a sixth grader. It didn't have the same adult action scenes as LUMINOUS by Peter Quest. While LUMINOUS shared the same "Follow Your Dream" message, it also had several powerful scenes that I'll never forget.
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Summary: everything you need to know about fallowing your dreams
Review: The best book of all times. you really have to read it to know how far a young guy will go through to achieve his dreams.
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