Review The Alchemist
Goodreads says “Paulo Coelho’s enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its simplicity and wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an Alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a meditation on the treasures found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is art eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.”
It seems this is a book one must either love, or hate. I’m most definitely on the love-side. In fact, the Alchemist was one of my many sources of inspirations to start this blog. And more than the non-fiction books and blogs it has inspired me to think about life design, even though it doesn’t offer any specific recommendations like the blogs or the non-fiction books. For anybody interested in life design, this is a must read. Since reading it last week, I have convinced at least three people to read it, and it is certainly on my to-buy list because I will read and re-read it forever.
The book is written as if it were a parable, which I really liked in this case. I was expecting entertainment, but I got more out of it. And while I usually like meaty books, with plot twists and an abundance of characters, I enjoyed the simplicity of this one. I can’t possibly tell whether you will like it, but what the hell, at 180 pages, you should try it!
Some interesting quotes:
“If a person is living out his destiny, he knows everything he needs to know. There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: fear of failure.”
“There is only one way to learn. It’s through action.”
“Every blessing ignored becomes a curse. I don’t want anything else in life. But you are forcing me to look at wealth and at horizons I have never known. Now that I have seen them, and now that I see how immense my possibilities are, I’m going to feel worse than I did before you arrived. Because I know the things I should be able to accomplish, and I don’t want to do so.”
“Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.”
“If good things are coming, they will be a pleasant surprise,” said the seer. “If bad things are, and you know in advance, you will suffer greatly before they even occur.”
