Books : The Alchemist

Rating: - Not for Me
I want to be up front about this book--it is not one I would have chosen to read myself. The spiritualism and self-help couched in fiction is not a type of novel that appeals to me as a rule. The simple truth is that I read this because my book group was reading it. I'm not going to say I was sorry to read it, but I was not overly impressed by it either.

Overall, I feel this book suffers from the same problem as many books of its type: fiction forces the philosophy to be to simplistic while the obvious philosophy gets in the way of the fiction. Add to that the fact that I personally don't find his philosophy to be that appealing. Following your personal legend is a great concept but I didn't feel our hero's journey left him any better off than staying a shepherd and marrying the merchant's daughter. Besides, for all of the assertions of personal will needed to achieve the personal legend, our hero would never have come close without serious help every step of the way. And what does he end up with? A lot of gold buried near where he started. Pretty materialist, and Coelho comes awfully close to contradicting his own point.

On the other hand, Coelho writes well and this is an easy and pleasant enough book to read. I also must admit that I like being pushed out of my comfort zone every once in awhile. How else might we find that hidden gem we never would have come across otherwise? This just isn't a gem for me. I know a number of people who have found this book incredibly moving and inspirational. I would never denigrate what helps another person. If this is the kind of book that helps you, I have no problem with that. Enjoy it and I will go back to something that appeals to me a bit more.

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Rating: - Paulo Coehlo: the Aesop of Spirituality
Paulo Coehlo's books are either semi-biographical ("The Zahir", "The Pilgrimage") or inspirational fables ("The Witch of Portobello Road", "By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept"). "The Alchemist" falls into the latter category.

"The Alchemist" was a runaway bestseller in Latin America before taking English-speaking spiritual seekers by storm. It is the tale of an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago, whose impulse to travel to the Egyptian pyramids in search of his destiny (which Coehlo called a 'Personal Legend') subjects him to a series of lessons in humility, patience, faith, and loyalty, all disguised as exotic adventures. In seeking worldly success, Santiago learns to overcome adversity, believe in his own personal power, and re-value the often ridiculed concept of dreams.

Coehlo is not a 'self help' author like Dr. Wayne Dyer or Carolyn Myss: he doesn't pose a series of recommended steps for confidence recovery or spiritual enlightenment. His is more of a "show us, don't tell us" method of instruction, and it works. Just as Aesop framed moral lessons in the form of a story, Paulo Coehlo uses powerful parables to show the way to self-empowerment.

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Rating: - Powerful book
There were several different sources that talked about how great this book was. I agree - moving and causes one to review our own life. Must read!!

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Rating: - a classic
this book is great. a simple story on the outside yet a wonderful philosophical view about destiny

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Rating: - A Trip for the Soul
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, is the first book I've read by this author. I had been reading a lot of novels as of late, and was looking for a change, and something short! The Alchemist was the best choice that I could've made.

I would not be considered a very religious, or spiritual person, and I say that because this book can be viewed at many different levels, both from a spiritual journey, a mental journey, emotional, religious, but most important, it is a travel of the mind, and soul. The story is about a Boy, who has a dream of a great treasure. At the time in his life, he is but a Shepherd, traveling the lands of southern Spain with his flock. After meeting a Gypsy and feeling he got "ripped" off, he meets the King of Salem, where he begins to understand about your own "Personal Legend."

From here the Boy begins his travels, his troubles, and quest, to reach his treasure. Along the way he meets people who understand what their Personal Legend is, but either are too afraid to pursue it, or doubt they can achieve it, and those people who never come to realize what their dreams are. The book speaks about doing what you can to reach your treasure, and never giving up.

And sometimes, you don't have to go very far to realize your treasure is right under your feet. From what I took from the book is we should look towards the future, but live in the present, and try to understand the past. I believe everyone will take something different from this book, but as I said, you don't need to be spiritual or religious to take some meaning away after reading.

Life is a journey, and how we choose to get there, either by our own will or something else's, helps us reach our treasure and Personal Legend.