The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.60 You Save: $8.39 (56%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $2.80 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Alchemist
Book Review: A most consuming story of a shepherd boy on search
Summary: 5 Stars
Not often do you discover a goldmine in the simple story of a Shepherd boy. Santiago is seeking his Personal Legend to find his destiny in the Language of the World and in his heart of love. Traveling from Andalusia and beloved, Fatima, meeting the King of Salem, the Englishman, finally the mystic, Alchemist, he learns to turn himself into the wind, overcoming his fears of an African desert and those distant Pyramids of Egypt he discovers his Treasure! In discovering his treasure he loses his fears, learns things along the way he would have never discovered without following his dreams!
An enchanting, yet slowly paced read, for fear of missing some details along the way...Retired Chaplain, Fred W Hood
Book Review: A mystery
Summary: 1 Stars
"The Alchemist" is the kind of book that some will love and others will hate. It depends upon how much you are grounded in your own belief system, how much you embrace pop new age philosophy, or how open you are to anything that just "sounds good."
Much of "The Alchemist" is redundant, and a re-packaging of many different philosophies, proverbs and sayings. Most of these things are obvious truisms, such as the idea that in pursuit of one's dreams or goals there are obstacles along the way that need to be overcome ("if at first you don't succeed, etc...."). As such, "The Alchemist" doesn't offer anything particulary brilliant or new, so the popularity of this novel is itself a mystery.
Part of the trouble for me is the telling of this story in its "dumbed-down" style. The simplicity of the telling might appeal to some but I like something with a bit more meat to it. Once the cosmic philosophy is removed, there is nothing left but a children's fable that is rather bland at best, since none of the characters have any depth to them. They are mere props being used for Coelho to impart his own philosophy.
Perhaps from a philosophical point of view, the most disturbing aspect of Coelho's novel is the lack of any moralizing over good and evil. Individuals trying to pursue their dreams may sound like an innocent enough theme, but in the real world, the goals/dreams (or pursuit of one's "Personal Legend") of many people are selfishly effected at the expense or sacrifice of others. This apparently doesn't matter to Coelho's indifferent universe. One gets the impression that Coelho's universe will conspire to help you regardless of whether what you are seeking is the good, the bad, the materialistic, or the spiritual...the important thing is that you are persistent and are adept at reading the omens along the way.
Coelho's contradictory belief system is made evident in the interview of the "Plus" version of "The Alchemist." He describes himself as a Catholic, yet not tied into believing in the religion's espousing to be the "Ultimate Truth." The problem is, that is what Catholicism teaches, and if you do not subscribe to that, then you really should not call yourself a Catholic. The notion that all beliefs point to the same truth is itself a contradiction, since most belief systems are exclusionary by definition.
This illustrates how sloppy Coelho is in his thinking and writing, and if you are going to try and enjoy "The Alchemist", just don't think about it too deeply.
Book Review: A parable that will open your eyes
Summary: 5 Stars
I highly reccommend this book to anyone who is feeling hopeless, lost, or feeling worried that they aren't living up to their ideas of success. As an artist, this book changed the way that I think about learning and growing as a human and musician.Book Review: A personal favorite of mine
Summary: 5 Stars
I was actually assigned this book for a business class. This was a very quick read. Not since childhood had I read such an interesting parable. And since reading this book I've only read one other, The Five People You Meet in Heaven.
I have not read any of Coelho's other works, so I do not know if this is typical of his other writing. This book is excellently written, which each character and scene portrayed in great detail yet using few words. As the review states this book is truly "dazzling in its simplicity and wisdom."
While searching for buried treasure, the main character Santiago learns valuable life lessons and ultimately finds himself. I would recommend this book to college graduates. It demonstrates the power of following your heart, trusting your intuition, and not just getting caught up in seeking monetary treasure.
This book will make you think and reflect. A must read for any age, but particularly those embarking on a new path.
Book Review: A seemingly simple tale, beautifully written
Summary: 5 Stars
Because it is so simply written, one may think this novel is banal, novice, a dull read. But on the on-step, Coelho mesmerizes the reader through the eyes of his protagonist, the seemingly simple shepherd, Santiago. As Santiago embarks on his Personal Journey, we learn some very enlightening lessons regarding life and the universe and its workings at hand. I read this one through the night, because I couldn't put it down. The delicate prose drew such a vivid portrait and I found myself cheering Santiago on his journey, which was at many times difficult, his choices limited by obstacles along the way. Very uplifting story, resonating such themes as courage, change, love and one's own personal purpose in life.