Alchemist Book Review

Here is a review of the book "the
alchemist" which I have written for a book review contest in Polaris.
And it is adjudged the best and I got the first prize. Thought I
should share the review with you guys.


Bard's B'day Book Review Contest Entry Form

Name of the Book : THE ALCHEMIST

Topic : Fiction, Inspirational & Transformational

Book’s Theme : A magical fable about following your dream


“ When a person really desires something all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream”. To find our "Personal Myth" and our mission on Earth is the way to find "God", meaning happiness, fulfillment, and the ultimate purpose of creation.

Dreams, symbols, signs and adventure follow the reader like the echoes of the ancient wise masters’ voices in “The Alchemist”, a masterpiece that combines an atmosphere of medieval mysticism with the song of the desert. With this symbolic art piece Coelho state that we should not avoid our destinies, and urges people to follow their dreams, because to find our "Personal Myth" and our mission on Earth is the way to find "God", meaning happiness, fulfillment, and the ultimate purpose of creation.

The novel tells the tale of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who has a dream and the courage to follow it. After listening to "the signs" the boy ventures in his personal journey of exploration and self-discovery, symbolically searching for a hidden treasure located near the pyramids in Egypt. In his journey, Santiago sees the greatness of the world, and meets all kinds of exciting people like kings, a merchant, the camel driver who were "teachers without realizing it" and alchemists. Through the journey, he discovers that "treasure lies where your heart belongs", and that the treasure was the journey itself, the discoveries he made, and the wisdom he acquired.

It tells you that everything is possible as long as you really want it to happen. That may sound like an oversimplified version of new-age philosophy and mysticism, but as Coelho states "simple things are the most valuable and only wise people appreciate them". It suggests that those who do not have the courage to follow their " Personal Myth" are doomed to a life of emptiness, misery, and un-fulfillment. Fear of failure seems to be the greatest obstacle to happiness. This is where Coelho really captures the drama of man, who sacrifices fulfillment to conformity, who knows he can achieve greatness but denies to do so, and ends up living a life of void. It is interesting to see that Coelho presents the person who denies to follow his dream as the person who denies to see God, and that "every happy person carries God within him". However, only few people choose to follow the road that has been made for them, and find God while searching for their destiny, and their mission on earth. What is certain is that the symbolism of the text is a parallel to the symbolism and the symbolic language of alchemism, and similarly the symbolism of dreams is presented as " God's language". It is also symbolic that Santiago finds his soul mate, and the secrets of wisdom in the wilderness of the desert. In the desert, Santiago meets his "twin-soul" and discovers that love is the core of existence and creation. As Coelho explains, when we love, we always try to improve ourselves, and that's when everything is possible". The novel skillfully combines words of wisdom, philosophy, and simplicity of meaning and language, which makes it particularly readable and accounts for relating to one's own self.


“The Alchemist", is an exciting novel that bursts with optimism. The Alchemist is interesting, memorable, entertaining, instructive, inspirational and majorly transformational.


It is interesting because it tells people what they want to hear, or rather it tells them that what they wish for but never thought possible could even be probable.


It is memorable as we can reflect, connect and discover ourselves while reading the book. It can be applied to our own lives.


It is entertaining as it takes you through a journey in the desert. It touches the heart of those earnestly seeking its own destiny on the journey of life.

It is instructive and inspirational because it teaches you the wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens, signs and symbols along life’s path while following your dreams. It gives the wisdom that “when something evolves, everything around that thing evolves as well”. The subject of love inspires a beautiful lyricism in Coelho's writing: "I love you because the whole universe conspired for me to come close to you."

It is most of all transformational because “it is about penetrating to the Soul of the World, and discovering the treasure that has been reserved for you.”


After reading The Alchemist, no person will be the same once they understand God's language. In the book Coelho says that Alchemist makes Alchemist. It helps you realize your mentors, "the Kings", who appear in one form or another, in the form of a solutions or a good idea. Everyone who understands this book will definitely pass the legacy and it continues. It is endless. The book continues to transform lives. It makes those who exist to live. Live your dreams.


Like Santiago, we are all in search of treasure, to find the meaning and purpose of our lives. We constantly make our lives better. The Alchemist makes you understand that there is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve! “The fear of failure.“ It says, “ When a person really desires something all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream”. This book reveals the distance between you and yourself. To find the treasure that lies within you, obstacles and problems are those clues that helps you to discover and realize your destiny. So let’s begin the journey.



Alchemist resolves the conflict between love and ambition strikingly. It say’s “When we love, we always strive to become better persons”. “True love never stops you from realizing your life’s goal”. This tale is inspiring, creative and captivating. It gives you a deep insight into the universal soul / force that provides you help to realize your dream when you ask for it earnestly and work for it passionately. It states that there is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it’s because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It’s your mission on earth.” We only limit ourselves. Only we place limitations on us. Dare to explore your life’s mission, to run after your dreams. For, today’s dreams are tomorrow’s realities. Paul Coelho’s writing is easy and simple yet posses the power to inspire and change your life forever reminding us “Don’t forget to follow your destiny through to its conclusion”. It is an ordinary fable revealing extra ordinary truths. If life is like a journey then the book “The Alchemist” is a real signpost to reach your destiny. After all, “To realize one’s destiny is a person’s real obligation”. The book is like an elixir and helps in reading signs and teaches the language that doesn’t depend on words. “If I can learn to understand this language without words, I can learn to understand the world”. The language of God. “To understand this one needs to find a man who understands this language. An Alchemist”. A Mentor who helps to understand that “intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life, where the histories of all people are connected, and we are able to know everything, because it’s all written there. I can now read the signs and learnt God's language. In the process “We make a lot of detours, but we’re always heading for the same destination.” Experience the magic of The Alchemist that helps you find a mentor and transforms the student into a seeker, a manager into a leader and a pessimist into an optimist. To some of the questions like “Why do they make things so complicated?” It provides answers “so that those who have the responsibility for understanding can understand. It’s only those who are persistent, and willing to study things deeply, who achieve the Master Work.” The Alchemist taught “the most important part of the language that all the world spoke – the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love. Something older than humanity. Something that exerted the same force whenever two pairs of eyes met”. A smile, “and that was certainly an omen – the omen he had been awaiting, without even knowing he was, for all his life”. It propels one to test the limits that one sets for oneself. “The world is only the visible aspect of God. And that what alchemy does is to bring spiritual perfection into contact with the material plane.” “Your eyes show the strength of your soul.” Dare! For the universe is there to conspire with you to realize your destiny. “The secret is here in the present. If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it.” It reminds “no project is complete until its objective has been achieved.” The Alchemist is magical and it puts a lasting smile on the face by the end of it. “Life attracts life, life really is generous to those who pursue their destiny.” The book has life in it.



To all the questions like



Has a book ever changed your life?

Has a book raised your consciousness?

Has a book changed the way you feel?

Has a book encouraged you to do something?


There is only one answer and the answers is, Yes!


For those who understand the language of the world, The Alchemist is magical and puts a lasting smile on the face. :-)