The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream

Rating:
Summary: Bad Book
Review: Personally, I don't really like this book, Santiago's personal legend is to find treasure and live a happy life. BORING!!! That is not a great personal legend, I think it doesn't really count. I think personal legends would be more like, getting a job you love, and making lots of money with it.
I don't think I have a favorite part in this book, but I do have a least favorite. I did not like it when Santiago read the flight of the hawks. People should not know what is to come in the future, it could devastate them forever, until the thing happened. They would always be thinking about it. I have read many hundreds of books, and this would not be a book that I would recommend to people.

Rating:
Summary: Short Book But One to Be Savoured and Contemplated
Review: I picked up this book while traveling and it was just a perfect book for me at the time. Paul Cohelo writes of the journey of a young man and a teacher of life, or 'an alchemist.'

I realize that some may view this story as very simplistic or even a boring read. I myself found it fascinating from my lived experience of viewing 'life as journey.' I recall one of my college teachers years ago speaking of Kierkegaard and his writings on Purity of Heart As The Will to Live One Thing. Cohelo's story has rekindled my interest in that theme as well as some of the themes that Don Juan in the Carlos Castenada series addresses to his student.

An excellent and thought provoking book not to be rushed despite its brevity.


Daniel J. Maloney
Saint Paul, Minnesota USA

Rating:
Summary: An Absolute Delight!
Review: I reread this book often and I give it as a gift to like-minded friends. It's not for everyone. If you view life as a journey; if you are introspective; if you seek continuous self-improvement, then you will find a soulmate in Santiago, the hero of this book. For the very practical and pragmatic, this little story may seem fluffy. But for those of us who are dreamers AND doers, Coelho speaks directly to the soul.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoy life!
Review: I really loved this book. I find it sad that many reviewers didn't like this book because they didn't like the message. The message isn't about finding riches and a beautiful bride. Yes, that would be shallow. This book is about enjoying life, and following your dream.

As children, we have big dreams. Then, as we age, somehow we forget them. We are told what to do. We get stuck at jobs we don't like, and are never really happy. But there are people in this world who remember their dreams. People who find joy in life. These people are truly happy!

So, if you think the messages like "enjoy life", and "follow your dream" are stupid, then perhaps this book isn't for you. But I am sorry for you, because life is beautiful!

Rating:
Summary: At least it's a fast read
Review: A fast read because it contained almost nothing worth thinking about and the writing was boring. It ignores reality, complexity, and responsibility and dwells on a happy-go-lucky idiot savant who definitely does NOT illustrate any Christian principles. Or any other religious principles I know of. If you want a good tale of philosphy from Andalucia, try Miguel de Unamuno.