Books : The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream

Rating: - For Those Trying to Fulfill Their Personal Legend
My father picked up this book when he was in Japan and told me I might be interested in reading it. But, to tell you the truth, sometimes it seems like my dad can be far off, but other times he can be spot on. This time, he was right. I couldn't put the book down as soon as I started reading it. I realized that I was much like Santiago and am on the journey to fulfill my personal legend. People tell me that wanting to follow my dream is crazy, but this has really opened my eyes and has made me pursue my dream even more. I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in listening to their hearts and following their dreams. It has changed my life, and I hope that it reaches many more.

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Rating: - Awful waste of time
If you are very naive/idealistic you may like this book and its simplistic message. "Do what you really want to do and the world will conspire to help you achieve it." That's a pathetic message.

It doesn't matter how much you want something, what matters is how hard you work for it. The world does not conspire to hand you things because you feel they are your destiny. The only way you achieve your dreams is through hard work. This book's message encourages you to stumble along toward your dream and it will magically happen for you.

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Rating: - Inspiring
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this magical story of Santiago who was seeking an adventure and dared to follow his dreams. He learned many lessons and acquired wisdom along his path of exploration. This book is written simplistically, but captivates you and draws you into the storyline in a powerful manner. The story setting in the majestic mountains of Andulusia are described as a beautiful place in which Santiago pursued his dreams and found hidden treasures. It is a book that is powerful and provactively written, a good read.

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Rating: - simple
I'm extremely disappointed with 'The Alchemist.' One thing is for sure, I simply had to put the book down half-way through because I couldn't stop cringing at the writing. Now that I'm perusing the reviews of the book, one common denominator of even the 5-star ratings is that even they say the book is "simple."

Maybe I couldn't finish the book because I had heard so much positive word of mouth over the years. Maybe I just had the book hyped up to be some profound read, and instead it was just trite. If you'd like my opinion, for a more eloquent read, I highly recommend anything by Kahlil Gibran and Hermann Hesse's Siddartha.

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Rating: - Like a magic spell that wears off after you finish
"Simple things are the most valuable and only wise people appreciate them."

This book is enchanting when you read it, you will get wrapped up in it and possibly finish it in a single session. After you have finished, wait a week. Then try to remember anything about the book. Truth is, you probably can't. Now go and pick up a copy of Siddartha by Herman Hesse. Read that. Wait a week. See if you can remember anything about it. Chances are, you probably can.

The story centers around the journey of Santiago, who dreams of seeing the Egyptian Pyramids, and his journey to find them, and through observing and following omens it follows a general "rites of passage" which has the same feel to it as the One Thousand and One Arabian Nights.

This book gives you a quick fix, very similar to the inspirational feel you get when you thumb through a self-help book in the bookstore, and become inspired by. Equally, now, you probably cannot remember the name of the self-help book, but is that a bad thing? Who can tell. As Coelho demostrates "when you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true". The book bubbles with similar sentiment.

Therefore, not a great book, but a quick read and not likely to do any longterm harm.