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Summary: The kind of book that will completely change your universe
Review: I read this book with a highlighter. The last book that moved me like this was Atlas Shrugged (and The Fountainhead). The author has managed to convey the meaning of life through the eyes of the main character. It is simple despite the complexity of what is being conveyed. It is so relevant and meaningful that you will never look at life the same way after you have read it.
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Summary: Whay lies under the sand of the desert,,,
Review: As weird as it may seem, many Brazilians that I have met on the internet considered The Alchemist a living proof of a death of a culture that was once the cradle of many great authors of this century such as Clarice Lispector, Graciliano Ramos and not to forget Guimaraes Rosa. One Brazilian citizen even judged the book not only as an example of the poverty the human race has sunk into, but also as a shadowy simulacrum of an Arabian Night's story. Another Brazilian from Sao Paulo even shared this disdain against the book by inventing a "poem of bad verses on an even worse book": "If you have a brain/ Avoid Coelho's books/ For so much stupidity they contain/ That your mind they'll cook./ Unfortunately, none of the gains/ People say they took/ Through the heavy strains/ Of reading that book/ Could help you obtain/ The happiness for wish you look/ For that is not as easy and plain/ As fishing a snook." I personally can not but agree with the unblemished reviews of the many critics. Opening The Alchemist is indeed like dipping into a box of chocolates: rich and tempting. Coehlo spoons in surprise after surprise, creating a spicy dish that you simply cannot put down... Paulo Coehlo is a master teller of tales, a wizard of words who hypnotizes the reader as he transports him into another dimension, or a distant universe... Santiago, a young Andalusian shepherd, follows the path of a mystical dream that beholds treasures far beyond imagination. From his homestead in Spain where he risks his future by selling all his sheep, the journey of Santiago begins. He then finds himself in the markets of Tangiers where he becomes a victim of fraud. However, the young shepherd regains his faith and retrieves all his money through vigorous work. Once again, Santiago continues his quest as he crosses the desert with a caravan. The sands of the desert hold for him many mysteries and secrets just like the oasis holds the buds of Love and hope. Finally, our young hero reaches his destination to discover that the treasure he seeks lies at same, exact spot where he started his long journey. Throughout his pursuit of the unknown, Santiago is guided by many omens and spiritual messengers that reflect the spirit of good in the world: "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." The young shepherd's quest holds the universal wisdom of life and quenches our thirst of knowledge with many fundamental lessons and morals. This book possess also the simple truth about ourselves, and enlightens us on the power of freedom, the importance of following our dreams and listening to our hearts rather than being chained by our minds. Without any doubt, every person can relate to Santiago and his many adventures for this universal book holds a part of every reader, presenting human nature in it's naked form. Nonetheless, I can not deny that The Alchemist holds many themes that appear in Paulo Coehlo's other books. In fact, in "By the river Piedra, I sat down and wept" many ideas remind us of The Alchemist, reflecting a faint repetition in the author's ideas. This yet does not depreciate the value of this book of marvels. "In the end is the word, and in the word is with man and the word is man". Whatever the critics or some other minorities state, the final word is with the many readers; the readers throughout the world that have proven the power of such a book that has become one of this centuries most captivating classic...
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Summary: Minimalism Good Cause for Internalizing
Review: Coelho is a pure mastermind of minimalism. His art makes any serious writer dumbstruck with envy. If your life was not changed by the time you set this book down, check your pulse . . .
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Summary: This was an excellent story about following your dreams.
Review: This is a beautiful story that explores the meaning of love, life, and the importance of following your dream. The Alchemist is a thought provoking book that takes you on a magical journey through a young shephard boys home in Spain to the Egyptian desert. He yearns to travelin search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. As the boy searchesfar and wide, he follows omens along the way that lead him to the desert. He there has a fateful encounter with the Alchemist. The Alchemist teaches him to enjoy life and take it as it comes. The shepard then discovers love and how it is the universal language. He falls in love with a girl that is at the oasis at the desert. Together they discover how precious life is and learn to enjoy every second of it. The story of the treasures Santiago, the shepard boy finds along the way teaches us, as only few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to out hearts, learning to read the omens strung along our lifes paths and, above all, following our dreams. I reccommend this book to others because it has an excellent plot. It is suited for people who follow their dreams. It is a beautiful story that makes you think of life in another whole perspective.
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Summary: This book is brilliant
Review: This book learnt me the true values of my life. Its message is that we must follow our heart to discover our own myth.
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Summary: my favourite book!
Review: this is the best book ever! it shows the reader that when you believe in your self you can achieve anything if you really want it bad enough this book has inspired me and i'm sure many other readers.You must read this book!
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Summary: Brilliant book, it will feed your soul. Read it!
Review: I have read most of Paulo Coelho's books and can say that I don't regret it. I have learnt a lot and I am really grateful to him. You will enjoy it, it is easy to read, but the main thing is that it will help you to identify your way. It is food for our soul. We live in a too materialistic world in the Western countries, so books like this make us to stop and take stock. Maybe if you read more on P. Coelho's books you will get a change as I am undergoing. Then trust your heart and think what really matters in life, material achievements or inner spiritual ones?. Good luck for your quest. It is your choice.
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Summary: do not seek happiness out
Review: i don't think that i have to write more, the summary tells nearly everything... we sometimes look for the answers in far places, but everytime we do that we do a mistake, answers are much more near than we think... and another thing... if you want something, but if you really really want it the whole universe, with everything inside it, helps you to make it real... i understood more than these... i'm sure you'll get more than these from this book...
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Summary: Now I'm ready to follow my dreams!
Review: This story is sweetly simple and very inspiring. It makes you realize just how important it is to get back on track no matter how many times you're pushed off . At times during the story, I felt like I was actually reading about myself. This is why I would recommend this book to everybody, because I know everyone can relate to it. Everybody has dreams and can benefit from the motivation it will awaken in them. I will definitley read this book over and over again.
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Summary: The simple truth about us and ourselves
Review: The one and only thing I was reminded while reading it was that I should never stop talking with my heart. Never to stop writing down my night dreams. Always hear what I want and go for it. This very simple story, represents a life struggle of a free person which I beleive everyone deserves to be.
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