Everyone (save one guy) said I would love this book. Three of my four roommates have their own copies. That one guy was right. Now this may be because he planted that seed of discontent, or it may be because this was the least creative and most redundant book I've read in a while. It answered the question, what happens when you put The Hero With a Thousand Faces, The Bible and 1001 Arabian Nights in a blender? That said, I didn't hate it. Two of the central themes (which were hammered in over and over again) are two of my favorite world views - ones I hold very dear to my heart. I understand that everyone has their own path and if it takes this silly little book to realize these two important messages, I'm just happy the reader finally discovered these truths. A) As the far more prolific writer Joseph Campbell says, Follow Your Bliss and B) As the far more prolific writer Ralph Waldo Emerson says, Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen. (See the pattern.) To explain my aversion to the third nail in the coffin of stolen redundancy, I will tell you story. I have a small collection of fortunes from fortune cookies. (I have always been in the habit of collecting good omens.) To make the list, a fortune must convey a good message when applied to life and even better when the requisite "Dirty Fortune Cookie Ending" is added. During my freshman year of college, I got the fortune "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also . . . . . between the sheets." Hilarious, right?! Sex, love, treasure, oh the glorious metaphors. Fast forward two years, when I discover that my hilarious fortune is actually A BIBLICAL QUOTE! Straight out the OT. Well, I was shocked and appalled. I was being proselytized to by a cookie! Now, I realize that this is my own issue, but I don't want a bible-thumping cookie or 200 year old Alchemist ramming the OT down my throat. To anyone thinking about reading this book, I have given you the two things that need be learned from it. Now go read some Joseph Campbell.

كلّ شيء مكتوب !

ما إن انتهيت من قراءة هذه الرواية حتى أحسستُ أن الدنيا سكتت ، و العالم سكت

و أنني أريدُ أن أسكتُ باقي عمري ..

أتأمل الحياة .. لعل روح العالم تغمرني فأفلسف الحياة كما شاء لي قلبي

مليئة هذه الرواية بالرموز و الحكم و التراث و الأخلاق بل وحتى الآيات الإسلامية



تحسّ و أنت تقرؤها برياح أندلسية تلفح فكرك ، تجعلكَ تبتسم بين حكمة و أخرى

ببساطة القدر ، و تعقيد البشر .. بعمق المعاني ، و سطحية الفهم

هذه الرواية تجسّد القدر و الحكمة في أسمى معانيها ، كما نؤمن بها تمامًا

أحببتُ حكمها جدًا " كيف يتحدّث الكون لغة واحدة هي الحب ، العمل ، متعة الهدف

و كيف نتعلّم تقديس الحياة من حولنا على بساطتها، والتفكّر في كلّ أحداثها على أنّها منحٌ و إشارات يلقيها الله في طريقنا لتقودنا نحو ذواتناو مجدنا

و كيف أن الكنز قريب جدًا جدًا من أحدنا كما كان قريبًا عند شجرة الجميز التي نام تحتها سانتياغو أو الفتى - كما يسميه الكاتب - إلا أن العمل من أجل الحصول و الجهد المبذول و التعب المضني في سبيل الوصول.. كان هو الغاية .. و هو سرّ الوجود و " الإنجاز العظيم " فما معنى الكنز إن لم تستحقّ الحصول عليه !!

أحسستُ بالقرب الشديد من جوّها ، صورة الراعي ، و الخيميائي .. إكسير الحياة والإنجاز العظيم ..روح العالم و الأسطورة الشخصية

حقًا ، لقد خلق كلّ منا لـ يحقق أسطورة

و الحياة لا تمنحُ الفرص إلا للراغبين

Audio narrated by Jeremy Irons (4h)

So....that's it, huh? I have been staring at my phone for about 10 minutes trying to figure out what I should write for a review. Realistically, I know that not every book can promise fire works, but I found "The Alchemist" to be really really really*GASP* (whispers) boring.

I know I am going to spend a lot of my life in the future apologizing to other readers around the world who absolutely adore this book, but it felt a bit predictable and flat for me.

این کتاب رو تو لیست "الکی معروف ها" دیدم ، ولی واقعا اگه نگاه عمیقی داشته باشید خیلی کتاب معناگرا و پرحرفی هست ، نمی دونم چرا این کتاب رو تو اون لیست قرار دادن!

The alchemist was quickly engaging and a short easy read, As a story it was enjoyable, particularly the first third. Although there was a strong moral, as a self help book, for me it missed the mark and the last two thirds became repetitive.

It’s definitely worth reading as it’s so short and perhaps if it was read at a more critical time in someone’s life, it might make more of an impact.

“And, when you can’t go back, you have to worry only about the best way of moving forward.”

Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy, yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different than he ever imagined.

Let me preface this review by saying that although I did not like this book, I totally appreciate the meaning behind the fable and the message being put forward here (well... part of it). It was just done so in the most tedious and boring way possible.

Even now, just typing the words “Personal Legend” makes me want to scratch out my eyeballs. Maybe that’s to do with the manner in which “legend” is used in present day... but I found it cringe-worthy. Throughout the entire novel you are just bludgeoned to death with the concept of your Personal Legend. I hate the notion that if you REALLY want something and you try hard enough that the universe will help guide you to your Personal Legend. I just don’t believe life works like that!

I am all about pursuing your dreams and not being afraid to do so. And that’s the message I can get behind - but the rest was just utter nonsense to me. Perhaps I am not spiritual enough to fully embrace The Alchemist. I was rolling my eyes so often that I almost detached my retinas...

I’m really trying to think of something positive to say - it was short? And there were some nice illustrations... but that’s all I got. I guess the writing wasn’t bad, it was more the story that I found very boring. I also found it to be quite preachy and condescending at times. And now I’m back to being negative... I TRIED!

If you are a big fan of this book (and I know there are many), I hope I don’t come across as mean or insulting. I’m truly happy that this book enlightened you in some way or that it resonated with you, but ultimately, it just wasn’t for me.

One and a half stars.

"When you want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you to achieve it". Well, I want that week of my life back (yes, a week; I ended up avoiding that thing).
The Aesop's fables that came with my chocolates brought me more inspiration than this book. I knew it wasn't my kind of thing. But, it was a recommendation, and everybody was talking about it, so I tried. He describes a couple of clichés using an annoying writing style. Dream big. Make that dream come true, no matter what. Find your treasure. Shepherd. Universe this, universe that.
I want that week back.



Jun 23, 2013
* Also on my blog.

A delightful, quick dose of motivational self-help, The Alchemist is full of feel-good life lessons wrapped in a parable-like story from a well-meaning, slightly overenthusiastic guru. Perfect for when you need an uplifting pep talk.

This Review ✍️ Blog

3.5 stars! A super quick read that was completely different from what I'd normally read. I loved the themes of dreams and pursuing your personal legend. I also loved the adventure/quest vibe.

"when you want something, the whole universe conspires to help you."

The Alchemist, categorized commonly as fiction, self-development as well as philosophy by most readers, did indeed give the feeling that it belongs to all these types, and then some. I believe, however, the meaning of the books is going to be entirely different from reader to reader, depending on his or her personal philosophical, religious, social and traditional systems of belief.

It's true that most might interpret much similarly the parts on not giving up, having unshaken faith and pursuing one's dreams amid numerous challenges. But there are a quite a lot more in this book, which could be interpreted in various ways. The intangible connection shared by everything that is in existence, certain implications that this is actually a one's journey to understanding universe or enlightenment, the drastic differences in how a single situation is viewed and understood by different spectators, are some of these differences.

But in the end, irrespective of your beliefs, you will well enjoy this book, that is most suited your own way of seeing the world.

"The story of one person is the story of everyone, and one man's quest is the quest of all humanity,"

"It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary; only wise men are able to understand them."

The book is full of messages and symbolizes our life actions interwoven in very complex yet elementary patterns that can be deciphered if one persists and has a longing in his heart. It is not just following the heart blindly but never ignoring what it says. Its important message is to keep in accord with your heart no matter where it takes you because the treasure is where there is the heart.

Now, that was the gist of the book. But my reading experience with this book was horrible and, most importantly, boring. It was a letdown except for its insights (which were rather scattered but impactful). It was more like a new age book, with some elements of prophetic vision, aimed at opening a new dimension of spiritual values within. However, it didn't strike a chord.