The Alchemist

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

 

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (April 25, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0061122416

Amazon.com Review
Like the one-time bestseller Jonathan Livingston Seagull, The Alchemist presents a simple fable, based on simple truths and places it in a highly unique situation. And though we may sniff a bestselling formula, it is certainly not a new one: even the ancient tribal storytellers knew that this is the most successful method of entertaining an audience while slipping in a lesson or two. Brazilian storyteller Paulo Coehlo introduces Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who one night dreams of a distant treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. And so he's off: leaving Spain to literally follow his dream.
Along the way he meets many spiritual messengers, who come in unassuming forms such as a camel driver and a well-read Englishman. In one of the Englishman's books, Santiago first learns about the alchemists--men who believed that if a metal were heated for many years, it would free itself of all its individual properties, and what was left would be the "Soul of the World." Of course he does eventually meet an alchemist, and the ensuing student-teacher relationship clarifies much of the boy's misguided agenda, while also emboldening him to stay true to his dreams. "My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy confides to the alchemist one night as they look up at a moonless night.

"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself," the alchemist replies. "And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity."

I will admit that it must have been personal reviews that made me send for this book, for if I had read "spiritual messengers" I may not have gotten the book.

This is a short but powerful book letting you know that life should be lived everyday and you shouldn't put off following your dreams.

The first  half of the book I was enjoying very much.  There is much to be said about life and fulfilling your dreams,  but the more it went along the more it bordered religion. 

As many who read my blog know.. I am of the belief that religion is a very private affair and I really don't care for it put in contemporary books.  It's unusual for me to have purchased this book.

However because of the fact that it does repeatedly indicate that following your dreams is a good thing.. it's worth the read alone.  It is written very well in the guise of a storyteller, which was quite enjoyable.