The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho: My Favourite Book

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by

Neerav Bhatt

the alchemist by paulo coelho

Reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho had been at the back of my mind since seeing it listed in the BBC Big Read top 100 books while living in the UK during 2003.

When I finally read it unlike The Da Vinci Code there was substance behind the hype. The Alchemist is now my Favourite Book

A simple yet effective tale about a Spanish shepherd boy who travels across the desert in search of his destiny, the books premise is that you should follow your dream now, not defer it forever into the future and that you make your own luck by striking out to achieve your dream not waiting for luck to come to you

One of the many memorable quotes from the book is:

“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” (Melchizedek, The Old King)

The Alchemist is the most famous work of author Paulo Coelho. It is a symbolic story that urges its readers to follow their dreams. The plot draws largely from an English legend, “The Pedlar of Swaffham”, which has been also used by Leo Perutz in “By Night under the Stone Bridge” and Borges’ Tale of Two Dreamers, collected in Universal History of Infamy.

Many have compared The Alchemist to Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince, a children’s book about another boy, the Prince, who leaves his home in search of greater things, learning valuable lessons about life and love on the way.

I recently read that Coelho’s online activities include promoting free pirated copies of his books on a blog called “Pirate Coelho”. “I always thought that when, at the beginning of your career, you strive to be read, you can’t change your mind later and become greedy about it,” Coelho told Newsweek

You can buy The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho from Amazon.com

Comments

15 responses to “The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho: My Favourite Book”

  1. elise henderson

    this book was good but you have to give more descriptive summaries for people who don’t want to read the DAMN BOOK!!!!!

  2. Rob Ruffico

    The Alchemist really is an incredible book… it’s been one of my favorites for years.

  3. babyblue

    This is also my favorite book..Aside from “The Little Prince”
    This book will tell us to find our own personal legend..And to reach for our dream.^_^

  4. becky

    I always hear such great things about this book but have yet to read it. I’m going to have to write it down for sure on my “to read” list. Thanks for the review!

  5. Jason Rogers

    Ill have to check it out, sounds good. Especially if its about following ones dreams !!

  6. Rajesh G

    I’ve read and re-read The Alchemist many times over and each time @ every different phase and mood in my life I have been immensely inspired by the story. I wish I could meet Paulo Coelho in person some time..

  7. joe

    Hi this is Joe. I’m trying to find out some information. Could you tell me what is alchemy? What does it involve? Who performs it and Why? Who were were a famous alchemistsof the medieval period.

  8. Reshmi

    Hi, Its really very interesting and fascinating book which can be read over and again like a new story.Each time you read, you will get new meaning to each and every sentence.And more clarity will come to your mind

  9. sam

    Hi, Its really very interesting and fascinating book which can be read over and again like a new story.Each time you read, you will get new meaning to each and every sentence.And more clarity will come to your mind

  10. christhegreek

    The alchemist is my favorite book too!I’ve forced all my friends to read it.It’s like a fairytale for grownups and every sentence has a deeper meaning.Good choice!

  11. peter

    I thought The Alchemist was a very bloated book. It was frustratingly slow and pompously written. Aside from all the hackneyed platitudes about living your dreams, there is nothing in its 200 or whatever pages that isn’t in the 2 pages of the Tale of Two Dreamers in the book by Borges

  12. carmel

    I am planning to buy this book. A doctor of Phsychology recommended me this book when I was about to go abroad. I bet this should be a must read book especially that it talks about reaching for your dream and lessons about life. I love books like that.

  13. kiwi

    Hello everybody
    I don’t advise any one to read the summary of this book but the whole book, because it does not contain lot of pages , and it’s better to understand what the writer had said by yourself
    no one can think instead of you , as no one can acheive your dreams
    the book is amaising , and during my reading I wondered where it was before
    it will be a verry nice , interesting experience to read it

  14. rajkumarpanigrahi

    i like the Alchimist book very much

  15. Aashish

    yes man!it”s the most interesting book i have ever read………….

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