The Alchemist, 25th Anniversary: A Fable About Following Your Dream

A simple coming-of-age parable which, by means of its straightforward style, achieves profundity. This book has been touted for years. Several friends have declared this their favorite book; a co-worker recommended that I read it; online book forums can’t get through a recommendations thread without The Alchemist among the top responses. I figured it would be difficult for the book to make a true impression because of how highly touted it has been. I was wrong. I am impressed.

This book drips with wisdom and yet is so unassuming that the reader is welcomed to embrace what rings true and shrug off the rest. The Alchemist tells the story of a shepherd who leaves his flocks to follow a dream of great treasure at the pyramids in Egypt. In his wanderings, he remains open to whatever experience comes his way. He meets a cast of fascinating, fun characters who share their wisdom, experience, and misadventures with the young shepherd.

The writing style is simple, the translation beautiful. The prose is poetic yet approachable. As the story progresses, a reader can’t help but listen to the simple wisdom on offer. I enjoyed nearly every page of this book and was satisfied with the story’s full-circle conclusion. I felt that I learned and grew alongside this peripatetic shepherd; I maintained an open heart ready to welcome all wisdom, even from unexpected people and places.

A few tidbits that particularly stood out: -“I couldn’t have found God in the seminary, he thought, as he looked at the sunrise” (13). A perfect example of the sort of wisdom this book offers. This rings true for me as I have a graduate degree from a seminary and a few weeks of wilderness backpacking under my belt. The sunset and a rock to sit on after a long day of schlepping have a deep theology on offer which couldn’t be contained in the many books I’ve read on the topic of spirituality. -“We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it’s our life or our possessions and property. But this fewar evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand” (79). As an agnostic with an education and history of biblical studies, this sort of welcoming, simple wisdom is encouraging. Coelho doesn’t ask you to convert to his philosophy, but simply to engage. -“You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say. That way you’ll never have to fear an unanticipated blow” (134). This is a main theme: listen to your heart, keep your eyes open to the world, remain present in your experiences, welcome omens as guideposts, avoid artificial absolutes. The shepherd in this passage goes on to confess that his heart is afraid of suffering. His friend the alchemist responds, “Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity” (134). What a beautiful message that strikes me at a perfect time. I am hoping to pursue my heart’s dream of writing. “From then on, the boy understood his heart. He asked it, please, never to stop speaking to him. He asked that, when he wandered far from his dreams, his heart press him and sound the alarm. The boy swore that , every time he heard the alarm, he would heed its message” (136). -“When we strive to become better an we are, everything around us becomes better, too...when we love, we always strive to become better than we are” (155).

This is a beautiful book that I will treasure, recommend, and re-read.

A

Everyone has talked about this book, from Madonna, Pharrell, and Oprah, to my mother. "Life-changing" is what I heard.

As a reader, I couldn't resist. It's a book and I love books.

From the start I could see that this would be a book I could sink my teeth into. I started out strong, but I kept getting distracted by...everything. The phone, the television, kids, my husband, you name it.

Days went by and I hadn't gotten past the third chapter of this very short book that I wanted so desperately to read. Then it hit me! Download the audiobook.

I began listening to The Alchemist during my long car rides throughout the city. I feasted on Santiago's journey for two days until the very end. What did I learn? Was it as life-changing as I'd expected it to be?

For starters, the book was narrated by Jeremy Irons who did an amazing job! They could not have picked a better person. His voice enriched the life of Santiago.

The take away—it didn't change me, per se. I'm not ready to get off the path I'm already on. However, it did reinvigorate my belief in dreams. Hell, I've been a dreamer my whole life. And what do all dreamers know? It's hard, so hard to stay on the path to your dreams until you realize them.

Just like Santiago, I have been knocked around by life. I have thought many times, Why write? Why not just continue working as an occupational therapist until retirement? Wouldn't that make life easier?

Santiago also considered ditching his plans to seek his treasure to live out his life as a shepherd or work at a crystal shop until some ripe old age.

How long is too long to stay on the path to your dreams?

I began writing at the age of six. I would have my mom or one of my grandparents cut paper in half for me, and then staple the pages together. Then I would write stories about ants, bugs, and animal adventures in my first grade penmanship. When I turned nine, my mother bought me a thesaurus, a dictionary, and a typewriter. Not dolls or games. What nine year-old gets a typewriter for her birthday?

Best gift, ever!

In middle school I made up wild and ridiculously fun stories with me as the lead. It was a way of escaping my reality during those tough years. In high school, I began writing scripts. I loved script writing so much, I sent scripts in to NBC at the age of sixteen!

When I turned 18 I gave up on my dreams to be "an adult". I listened to voices that were not my own. After college, I concentrated on marriage and kids. I was happy, but something was missing.

In 2004, my passion came back to me. I started having the best dreams and I began writing them down. In 2005, I completed my first book! Did it become a bestseller? Nope.

By 2007, I was taking a screenwriting class. I was like a teenager again. I took to it with renewed zeal. Without fear I sought representation for my scripts. Sent them to Disney. Did I make a movie? Sell a script? Nope.

Fast-forward to 2017, now thirteen years on this path to achieve my dreams! And I have! Well, parts of it. I have indie-published four books, and a fifth one is on the way. I have a growing fan base! Wonderful ladies write to me or post on my social media pages that they love my series and my writing!! It feels amazing to read, and I always try to respond.

Did I ever quit? Nope.

Why, in the middle of this review did I share my own story with you? Because, I am Santiago. We all are. We are all born with talents and dreams! Every child has a desire and dream of what they want to be. Most of us give dreams up to become "adults". But why? Why can't we be that person? After all, childhood is the most raw, honest, innocent, unbiased time of our life! Who better to pick our destinies then our child selves?

"Little D.W." chose my career—a writer. It has been a source of happiness, escape, creativity, passion, and love for me.

I still have one foot in the rat race. Imagine how crazy I look right now, running in both directions! But I am Santiago, my treasure is so close that I can smell it, feel it, taste it! I am ready to jump out of the rat race with feet and run at full speed toward my dream.

I am Santiago. You are Santiago! Do yourself a favor and pick up this book, it's short and sweet, yet packed with power. You may be a dreamer now or may have been a dreamer once upon a time. Whichever it is, if you are still in the rat race running toward nowhere, I recommend this book to get you back on track. Your treasure, whatever it is for you, is out there waiting for you to go after it!