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Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream Mass Market Paperback – International Edition, September 26, 2006

by Paulo Coelho (Author)

168,998 ratings

#1 Best Seller in Metaphysical & Visionary Fiction

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“A magical little volume.”―San Francisco Chronicle

Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. The Alchemist is such a book.

The Alchemist is the story of Santiago, an Audalusian shepherd boy who travels in search of a worldly treasure. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist.

The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches readers, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life’s path, and above all, following their dreams.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“It’s a brilliant, magical, life-changing book that continues to blow my mind with its lessons. [...] A remarkable tome.” — NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, ACTOR

“it changed my whole life. I realized of all of the people who had conspired to get me to this place.” — PHARRELL WILLIAMS, MUSICIAN AND SONG-WRITER

“A wise and inspiring fable about the pilgrimage that life should be.” — M. Scott Peck

“An adventure story full of magic and wisdom.” — Rudolfo Anaya, author of Bless Me, Ultima

“A touching, inspiring fable.” — Indianapolis Star

“A magical little volume.” — San Francisco Chronicle

“[This] Brazilian wizard makes books disappear from stores.” — New York Times

“[His] books have had a life-enchanting effect on millions of people.” — London Times

“A beautiful story with a pointed message for every reader.” — Joseph Girzone, author of Joshua

“As memorable and meaningful as Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince.” — Austin American-Statesman

“A sweetly exotic tale for young and old alike.” — Publishers Weekly

“A most tender and gentle story. It is a rare gem of a book.” — Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D., co-author of Change Our Mind, Change Your Life

“An entrepreneurial tale of universal wisdom we can apply to the business of our own lives.” — Spencer Johnson, M.D., co-author of The One-Minute Manager

“A remarkable tale about the most magical of all journeys: the quest to fulfill one’s destiny.” — Anthony Robbins, author of Awaken the Giant Within

From the Back Cover

"My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky." 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."

Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. The Alchemist is such a book. With over a million and a half copies sold around the world, The Alchemist has already established itself as a modern classic, universally admired. Paulo Coelho's charming fable, now available in English for the first time, will enchant and inspire an even wider audience of readers for generations to come.

The Alchemist is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist.

The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, above all, following our dreams.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperTorch
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 26, 2006
Edition ‏ : ‎ Fifth or Later Edition
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0061233846
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0061233845
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.74 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.19 x 0.52 x 6.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,519,830 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1 in Metaphysical & Visionary Fiction (Books)
- #4 in Classic Literature & Fiction
- #6 in Literary Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
168,998 ratings

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Paulo Coelho
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Paulo Coelho is the author of "The Alchemist", he was born in 1947 in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Being the author of 30 books that have sold over 320 million copies in 170 countries, he has become one of the most widely read authors in the world today. Paulo Coelho has been a United Nations Messenger of Peace since 2007 and this has allowed him to continue to promote intercultural dialogue and to focus on the needs of children. He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters and the recipient of over 115 awards and honours, including the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the Grinzane Cavour Book Award and the Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur, to name a few.
Other titles include “The Pilgrimage”, “Brida”, "The Supreme Gift", “The Valkyries”, “By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept”, “Maktub”, “The Fifth Mountain”, “Manual of the Warrior of Light”, “Veronika Decides to Die”, “The Devil and Miss Prym”, “Stories for Parents, Children and Grandchildren”, “Eleven Minutes”, “The Zahir”, “Like the Flowing River”, “The Witch of Portobello”, “The Winner Stands Alone”, “Aleph”, “Manuscript Found in Accra”, “Adultery”, “The Spy”, “Hippie”. Also “Journey” guided journal.
https://paulocoelhoblog.com/
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HarperCollins
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168,998 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book readable and thought-provoking, appreciating its timeless message of self-discovery and words of wisdom. Moreover, they consider it a perfect length for impatient readers and well worth the price. However, the pacing receives mixed feedback, with some finding it fast-paced while others find it boring. Additionally, the writing style is mixed, with some appreciating the meaningful quotes while others find it overly preachy. The book's age range also draws mixed reactions, with some recommending it for all ages while others note it contains too much new age content.

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Readability Thought provoking Adventure Length Value for money Pacing Writing style Age range

4,963 customers mention "Readability"4,721 positive242 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a parable that is thoroughly enjoyable to read.

"...It feels like a tale or fairy tale (possibly due to the fact that it is a translation) but reads like a classic...." Read more

"The Alchemist is a powerful and moving story filled with wonder, wisdom, and beautiful symbolism woven with heartful moments...." Read more

"...A modern fable with ancient soul. If you’ve ever wondered whether your life has a deeper path, this book is a quiet nudge to go looking." Read more

"...Even so, it’s still a great story with several layers. An easy read. I think this would be a good book to read to let elementary school kids...." Read more

2,419 customers mention "Thought provoking"2,325 positive94 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, filled with wisdom and interesting life lessons, with one customer noting how it connects on many profound levels.

"...The lessons within are insightful and hopeful if you're into that sort of thing...." Read more

"...From start to finish, it overflows with meaningful analogies, spiritual insight, and timeless truths about dreams, destiny, and transformation...." Read more

"...of a shepherd named Santiago, but beneath the surface is a deep exploration of purpose, intuition, and the quiet wisdom of the universe...." Read more

"...book has made me ponder how i can better live in the moment and achieve goals, no matter how small, sooner rather than later...." Read more

448 customers mention "Adventure"346 positive102 negative

Customers enjoy the adventure in the book, describing it as an enchanting fable that reveals great adventures and helps readers chase their dreams, with one customer noting its many twists and turns.

"...The main character feels real and the events themselves are relaxing and perplexing at the same time...." Read more

"...I was sitting at the edge of my seat for the climax and the ending didn't disappoint, and brought a mix of joy, happiness and tears to my eyes...." Read more

"...is pure magic: a timeless reminder to listen to your heart, chase your dreams, and trust the journey...." Read more

"...The plot of the story was not innovative, nor complex, which made reading easy also...." Read more

148 customers mention "Length"116 positive32 negative

Customers appreciate the book's length, describing it as fairly short and perfect for impatient readers, with one customer noting it has 182 pages.

"...You are Santiago! Do yourself a favor and pick up this book, it's short and sweet, yet packed with power...." Read more

"...It’s easy to see that the journey was a treasure as well. Great short read." Read more

"...away you thought your mid wasn’t able to , good spiritual and Intellectual small book" Read more

"The Alchemist was quite short, but filled with inspiration...." Read more

117 customers mention "Value for money"105 positive12 negative

Customers find the book well worth the price, appreciating its value for life.

"...of a mere novel; it's a profound journey that has added immeasurable value and insight to my own existence...." Read more

"...My book pages did have rough cut edges but who cares. It was cheap, the print was fine, and I enjoyed it. I would recommend this book." Read more

"Quality product for reasonable price." Read more

"...It's short. It's delightfully illustrated. It's cheap. And it's actually worth your time." Read more

261 customers mention "Pacing"144 positive117 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it fast-paced and noting that the plot picks up speed, while others describe it as boring and repetitive.

"The Alchemist isn't just a novel—it’s a quiet, powerful conversation between your dreams and your doubts...." Read more

"...It kind of fell flat for me." Read more

"...This book came into my life in perfect timing. And if you're considering reading the Alchemist, it's come to you in perfect timing as well." Read more

"...It’s a shame because it takes away from the overall experience. A little more care in production would’ve made a big difference." Read more

136 customers mention "Writing style"84 positive52 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style of the book, with some appreciating its meaningful quotes and nice sentences, while others find it overly preachy.

"...There were many lines worth highlighting and remembering, especially when one might need some motivation...." Read more

"...a part in the story where it goes from page 35 to page 38 with very little dialogue, which I felt stopped progress of the story...." Read more

"...Her hands never touched me and her words remained kind, but her eyes clouded with anger. I fell back. I ran from the temple...." Read more

"...I like the journey aspect and the people he meets along the way. However, I didn't feel like the ending did the story justice...." Read more

100 customers mention "Age range"63 positive37 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's age range, with some recommending it for all ages and finding it appropriate for both adults and children, while others criticize it for being overly simplistic and lacking depth.

"A simple coming-of-age parable which, by means of its straightforward style, achieves profundity. This book has been touted for years...." Read more

"...It reads at maybe the 3rd grade level, annoying but not necessarily wrong...." Read more

"...This story is in many ways the typical passage of adolescence into adulthood ...." Read more

"...Also, it is certainly suitable for children. I am sure middle-schoolers and high-schooler could take to this...." Read more

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Farah
Wonderful.
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I genuinley adore this book. It is one that I will remember probably for a while, possibly for decades. It feels like a tale or fairy tale (possibly due to the fact that it is a translation) but reads like a classic. The lessons within are insightful and hopeful if you're into that sort of thing. It's a book about the world that manages to find the connection between human nature and the nature of the universe without writing an anthropocentric spiel. The main character feels real and the events themselves are relaxing and perplexing at the same time. At some points you'll butt into the plot, putting your own two cents in on why you wouldn't have done what the character did, but then you'll read further and realize that that was the point, and you'll realize that you've learned the very lesson the character learned alongside the character themselves.

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Amelia Griggs
A Magnificent, Powerful Story - Highly Recommend!
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2025
Format: Audible AudiobookVerified Purchase
The Alchemist is a powerful and moving story filled with wonder, wisdom, and beautiful symbolism woven with heartful moments. From start to finish, it overflows with meaningful analogies, spiritual insight, and timeless truths about dreams, destiny, and transformation.

It delivers a powerful message: sometimes we must go on a long journey to truly discover true happiness.

I listened to the audio version narrated by Jeromy Irons. His voice was excellent throughout the whole book, bringing depth and life to all the characters. Bravo!

Without giving too much away, I do want to say that I was sitting at the edge of my seat for the climax and the ending didn't disappoint, and brought a mix of joy, happiness and tears to my eyes. A truly unforgettable experience.

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4 people found this helpful

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In Good Company
A must in your library
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
The Alchemist isn't just a novel—it’s a quiet, powerful conversation between your dreams and your doubts. Paulo Coelho weaves a deceptively simple tale of a shepherd named Santiago, but beneath the surface is a deep exploration of purpose, intuition, and the quiet wisdom of the universe.

What makes this book magical isn’t just the setting or the language—it’s how it finds you wherever you are in life. Each time I return to it, a different line stays with me, like the book knows exactly what I need to hear.

It’s not heavy with plot, but heavy with meaning. You feel it more than you read it. It reminds you that the journey really is the treasure, and that listening to your heart—even when it’s uncertain—is the first step to something extraordinary.

A modern fable with ancient soul. If you’ve ever wondered whether your life has a deeper path, this book is a quiet nudge to go looking.

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9 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer
Motivating, fun, easy read!
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
The Alchemist was quite short, but filled with inspiration. There were many lines worth highlighting and remembering, especially when one might need some motivation.

The plot deals with a young boy who has a reoccurring dream about treasure near the pyramids in Egypt. He bravely embarks on a journey to seek this treasure, which ends up mainly being the journey itself.

I hesitated in reading this book because I’ve known it to be very religious and spiritual, of which i am neither. Nevertheless, the book did not seem to promote a specific religion, with mentions of both Catholicism and Islam. The characters also see quite tolerant of other religions and of foreigners. Although it can sometimes come off as preachy, I appreciate that the book is not trying to necessarily indoctrinate the reader to either religion.

Instead, it seems Coelho is mainly trying to inspire readers in following their dreams or life purpose. One of my favorite lines is, “When he’s an old man, he’s going to spend a month in Africa. He never realized that people are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.” This line he made me teary eyed, and grounded me in the present. In that moment, i sat back and thought about all the plans i have once i have more money, time off from work, a better schedule, after im done potentially raising a family one day, etc. Of course I’ve always known life is short and i could theoretically go on a plane tomorrow. Yet, i dont, even if i want to.

The risks in following one’s dream can make taking that leap impractical. The Alchemist appears at times to be idealistic. It tries to address the practical concerns by having Santiago work for his funds, which takes almost a year, and facing life threatening situations. Still, there are much more factors in reality such as taking care of loved ones, maintaining a career, nourishment, etc. Other factors such as poverty and danger are not really addressed in the book in a way that would quell one’s fears.

But, i understand this is merely a tale and not an instructional manual. Despite issues rooted in realism, the book has made me ponder how i can better live in the moment and achieve goals, no matter how small, sooner rather than later. Relatedly, the line, “people not need fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want,” did help calm my uncertainty and criticisms. There may be many unanswered questions in how to attain my goals, but i know i am capable! :)

Overall, this was a nice, uplifting read.

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13 people found this helpful

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Jen
One of my favorite books
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
One of my most favorite books. It is translated to English from I believe Portuguese. Even so, it’s still a great story with several layers. An easy read. I think this would be a good book to read to let elementary school kids. They could follow along. But, there’s lots of life lessons in here and it’s still a great book for anyone above the ages 11 or 12. Much younger they may not follow along or have the attention span for it.

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Paulo Branco
A Search for Treasure
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
A symbolic story that reminds us to enjoy our search for treasure and remember the beauty we find on Life's path as we journey towards discovering the Personal Legend buried within our Souls.

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Diane D. Norgard
It was OK
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
I kept reading because everyone thought it was so deep. So I kept reading to find what that was. It was OK but not what everyone hyped it up to be for me.

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2 people found this helpful

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Selcuk
Even better the second time
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
I remember reading this book when I was in my late teens and it inspired me a lot. I never forget the part ‘of you follow your personal legend all the universe conspire to help you realize your dreams’
Lately, after 30 years my friend needed some encouragement in order for him to pursue his dreams and I used the same verse.
Than it got me to read it again, now with much life experience and it felt so much better this time.

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5 people found this helpful

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Anonymous
Classic
Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on June 3, 2025
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Classic novel

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Carmen María Oca
El libro supera mis expectativas...Excelente calidad !
Reviewed in Mexico on December 12, 2024
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Pedi el libro anoche a las 10 de la noche y lo recibo hoy por la mañana !!! Que hace AMAZON para dar un servicio impecable ? GRACIAS !!!

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June Jane
Good looking book for a gift & highly praised
Reviewed in Spain on June 9, 2025
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Bought as a gift - lovely quality book to keep

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Janessa
One of the best books a I’ve ever read
Reviewed in Canada on May 17, 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Such a beautiful cover. The details are perfect. I will read this book over & over again. Worth the money to have this book on your shelf. Arrived in immaculate condition with plastic protection.

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Marah
Perfect
Reviewed in Turkey on May 23, 2025
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Quickly arrived in 2 days in perfect condition, love the cover and quality of the book, I recommend purchasing without a doubt ! <3

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Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream Mass Market Paperback – International Edition, September 26, 2006

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A Life-Changing Story, Even More Beautiful in This Special Edition

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5.0 out of 5 stars Classic

5.0 out of 5 stars El libro supera mis expectativas...Excelente calidad !

5.0 out of 5 stars Good looking book for a gift & highly praised

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books a I’ve ever read

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect

Classic

El libro supera mis expectativas...Excelente calidad !

Good looking book for a gift & highly praised

One of the best books a I’ve ever read

Perfect