“The Alchemist” book review
DREAMS ARE MADE TO BE FOLLOWED.
LIFE IS MEANT TO BE LIVED.
SOME BOOKS ARE MEANT TO BE READ, LOVED AND PASSED ON.
THE ALCHEMIST IS ONE OF THOSE BOOKS.
“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho is a timeless masterpiece that captures the essence of self-discovery and personal fulfilment. Follows the story of Santiago, a shepherd boy who embarks on a journey to pursue his dreams and find the hidden treasures of his soul. Coelho’s writing style is magical and inspiring, and his narrative teaches valuable lessons about perseverance, hope, and the power of the human spirit. This book will take you on a journey of self-discovery and make you believe in the power of your dreams. Don’t miss out on this life-changing read!
Summary
The Alchemist is a classic novel in which a boy named Santiago embarks on a journey seeking treasure in the Egyptian pyramids after having a recurring dream about it and on the way meets mentors, falls in love, and most importantly, learns the true importance of who he is and how to improve himself and focus on what really matters in life.
Plot
An Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago dreams of a treasure while in a ruined church. He consults a Gypsy fortune-teller about the meaning of the recurring dream. The woman interprets it as a prophecy, telling the boy that he will discover a treasure at the Egyptian Pyramids.
After Santiago sets out he meets an old king, Melchizedek, or the king of Salem, who tells him to sell his sheep so as to travel to Egypt and accomplish his “Personal Legend”. Early on his arrival in Africa, a man who claims to be able to take Santiago to the pyramids instead robs him of the money he had made from his flock. Santiago then has to work for a crystal merchant to earn enough to get to the pyramids.
Along the way, the boy meets an Englishman who has come in search of an alchemist and continues his travels with his new companion. When they reach an oasis, Santiago meets and falls in love with an Arabian girl named Fatima, to whom he proposes marriage. She promises to marry him only after he completes his journey. Frustrated at first, he later learns that true love will not stop nor must one sacrifice one’s destiny to it, since to do so robs it of truth.
The boy then encounters a wise alchemist, who teaches him to realize his true self. Together, they risk a journey through the territory of warring tribes, where Santiago is forced to demonstrate his oneness with the “Soul of the World” by turning himself into a dust storm before he is allowed to proceed.
When he reaches the pyramids and begins digging, he is robbed by thieves, who ask him what he is digging for; he replies that a dream has led him to buried treasure. The thieves scoff, and the leader remarks about a dream he once had about treasure under a tree at a ruined church. Santiago realizes the treasure he sought was where he had his original dream all along.
Here are five of the most important lessons from the book that you can implement in your life:
1. Fear is the bigger obstacle than the obstacle itself.
Any new pursuit requires entering uncharted territory that’s scary. But with any great risk comes great reward. The experiences you gain in pursuing your dream will make it all worthwhile.
2. What is true will always endure
Truth cannot be veiled by smoke and mirrors — it will always stand firm. When you’re searching for the “right” decision, it will be the one that withstands the tests of time and the weight of scrutiny.
3. Break the monotony
Gratitude is the practice of finding the good in each day. Life can easily become stagnant, mundane, and monotonous, but that changes depending on what we choose to see. There’s always a silver lining, if you look for it.
4. Embrace the present
There’s no point dwelling in the past and letting it define you, nor getting lost and anxious about the future. But in the present moment, you’re in the field of possibility — how you engage with the present moment will direct your life.
5. Your success has a ripple effect
Growth, change, and evolution are weaved into the fabric of reality. Becoming a better version of yourself creates a ripple effect that benefits everything around you: your lifestyle, your family, your friends, your community.
Here are some of the Quotes from “The Alchemist” that will never leave our hearts:
If what one finds is made of pure matter, it will never spoil. And one can always come back. If what you had found was only a moment of light, like the explosion of the star, you would find nothing on your return.
- The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.
- So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.
- There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.
- One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.
- When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.
- It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.
- And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
- Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own
- The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.
Conclusion
The book explains his journey and the different experiences that he encounters when following his fantasy. All through the excursion, Santiago meets numerous new individuals and a ton of trouble which at last assists him with learning and develop the whole way.
