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It is a book for those who have big dreams and high ambitions and also for those who are afraid to dream ’Big’. Some consider the Alchemist to be a spiritual/self-help piece more than a fictional novel – A testament to the brilliant storytelling that Coelho exhibits.Ĭoelho instils new hope in his readers to dream big and persevere amongst all odds through a masterful play of words – A perfect cliched story but worth having in any book-list.The Alchemist is a very inspiring book about ‘Chasing your Dreams’. “There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” - Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist.Ĭoelho, in his masterful writing, brings new light to the common every day. The physical fear of dying in the battle at Al-Fayoum (An oasis in the desert).īut unlike the crystal merchant, Santiago overcomes his many fears, each of which brings him one step closer to his desired goal.A material fear of losing his wealth by departing to Tangier at the start of his journey or joining the desert caravan.A childhood fear of having a gypsy woman interpret his dream.Throughout the book, Santiago is plagued by various fears too: Although he dreams of making the pilgrimage to Mecca, which is required of every Muslim, he fears himself to have nothing else to live for once he makes the fateful trip.īut by not taking the trip, he remains miserable, and the author reinforces the notion that fear acts as an obstacle to a happy and fulfilled life. The merchant, in particular, has allowed fear to rule his life. This is brought to life through the crystal merchant’s character (For whom Santiago works for a year to earn back the money he was robbed of). And that therein is the real takeaway from the book.Īnother critical theme by the author is the dangers of fear as emotions that play on our minds and stop us from achieving our dreams and potential. When we persevere in our efforts to attain our dreams, the universe also does its part.

Santiago’s struggles seem to be graced with a fair amount of good luck, and the more relenting he was, the luckier he got with the universe bestowing upon him many favors.Įven though “It is written” is a recurring theme in the book, Coelho points out that without personal action, what is written doesn’t matter. The old man replies, “It’s this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate.” “What is the world’s greatest lie?” the little boy asks. He faces challenges on his arduous journey, from getting robbed of all his travel money to getting captured by Arab soldiers.ĭespite the setbacks, he perseveres, and Coelho masterfully shows that perseverance makes dreams attainable and fate really is kind to those who don’t give up on them.Ĭoelho frequently touches on this discourse between fate and personal action. With this, the story is set in motion, and Santiago embarks on a bold and life-changing journey that takes him from his Andalusian homeland to the far reaches of the Egyptian desert. In this dream, a child tells him to seek treasure at the foot of the Egyptian Pyramids. The story opens with Santiago, a young and adventurous shepherd who has a recurring dream every time he sleeps under a sycamore tree that grows out of a church’s ruins. Something that makes this novel a pretty enjoyable read.

Captured below are a few key insights from a truly life-affirming book.Ĭaught in the world of magical realism, the alchemist brings touches of brilliance and unique supernatural elements to a mundane and repeated fable of achieving one’s dreams.Ĭoelho deftly captures the central theme of man’s unrelenting struggle to make his dreams come true through storytelling that brilliantly blurs the lines between the magical and the mundane. Through Santiago, Coelho weaves a tale that has captivated generations of readers through the years. “The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.”

But more than that, it reminds us to cherish the simple things in life. Packaged as an allegorical novel, The Alchemist emphasizes the importance of pursuing our goals and overcoming our fears. The story’s real gems lie not in the buried treasure but in the experiences and wisdom he gains as he braves challenge after challenge to make his dream come true. With the above quote setting the tone, the Alchemist tells the truly fantastic story of a young shepherd named Santiago and his extraordinary pursuit of treasure buried at the pyramids of Egypt. “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” - Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist.