I recently read Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist.
It’s a short novel about a young shepherd boy, Santiago, who keeps having a recurring dream about treasure.
The story follows him as he leaves his life behind to chase after this dream.
On the way, he faces setbacks, meets strange characters, learns lessons, and basically gets pushed to figure out what really matters to him.
Reading the book, there were parts that I really resonated with, and then there were parts that completely lost me.
The Parts I Liked
The storytelling kept me engaged the whole way. It’s told almost like a tale, with a lot of wisdom tucked into the boy’s journey.
What I enjoyed most were the lessons hidden in the story, things that apply just as much today as they probably did back when the book was written.
For example, early in the story, Santiago gets robbed. Instead of giving up or feeling sorry for himself, he figures out how to pick himself up and keep moving.
That inspired me: when you’re knocked down by life, do something, don’t just sit there in the mud.
Another big one: the boy sells his sheep, all he owns, to chase this dream of “treasure.” He loved those sheep, they were his whole life, but he let go of them to take a chance on something bigger.
That inspired me too... If you really want something, you have to sacrifice something. Something has to give.
There’s also the part with Fatima, the woman he falls in love with. Instead of asking him to stay, she tells him to go follow his dream.
That stuck with me... people who truly love you won’t hold you back from being yourself. They’ll want you to live true to yourself.
And then later, when his life is literally on the line, Santiago accepts the possibility of death calmly, because he knows he’s been living the way he wanted, chasing his dream.
That made me stop and think. Imagine being able to face death and say: “Yeah, I lived the way I wanted.” That’s deep.
It’s an inspiration to live authentically, know what matters in your life, and chase your dreams knowing you only have one life and it could end at any time.
These are just a few lessons in the book. Some you’re reminded of, and others just hit harder as you read.
The Parts That Lost Me
Now, here’s where the book lost me.
Some sections are overly mystical. Santiago talks to the wind. Then the sun. Even his own heart starts speaking to him... literally. I couldn’t connect with that, it just felt too far-fetched.
He follows his dream… literally. The boy’s dream is interpreted, and what happens in the dream is exactly what he does. Too neat. Rarely will you see that happen in real life, huh?
And then there’s this old king he meets at the start. This man somehow knows everything about Santiago’s life and his dreams. No explanation, no logic behind it. Just “he knows.” That part I was like... how? How on earth would he have known?
Also, the book has very, very ancient ideas, for example "treasures" and many others that don’t really connect to our modern life.
So, Should You Read It?
I’d say yes... but with the right mindset.
Don’t go in expecting a realistic story where everything makes sense.
Read it more like a tale, where the story is just a vehicle for ideas. Some of those ideas still hit hard today, even if the “talking to the wind” moments make you roll your eyes.
Wrapping up...
The Alchemist left me thinking about my own life, about the things I say I want, the risks I’m too scared to take, and how I deal with setbacks when they happen, about living authentically.
I definitely didn’t connect with all of it. But it managed to make me question if I’m actually chasing after my own version of “treasure” or just playing it safe. And that, I think, makes it worth the read.
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