Alchemist - 10th Anniversary Edition, The and over 400,000 other books are available for Amazon Kindle – Amazon’s new wireless reading device. Learn more

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
More Buying Choices
356 used & new from $2.99
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
or
Get a $3.15 Amazon.com Gift Card
 
   
The Alchemist
 
 
Share your own customer images
Search inside another edition of this book
Start reading Alchemist - 10th Anniversary Edition, The on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don’t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.
 
  

The Alchemist (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: crystal merchant, crystal shop, Personal Legend, Soul of the World, Language of the World (more...)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,461 customer reviews)
List Price: $14.99
Price: $8.97 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $6.02 (40%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it delivered Wednesday, February 10? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
126 new from $7.17 230 used from $2.99

Formats

 Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition $8.97   -- --
Hardcover $15.63   $13.32 $4.33
Paperback $8.97   $7.17 $2.99
Mass Market Paperback --   -- --
Audio, CD, Audiobook, Unabridged $21.56   $10.99 $10.98
Audio, Download Offsite Link $12.60 or less with new Audible membership

Check Out Related Media
01:19

Frequently Bought Together

The Alchemist + Warrior of the Light: A Manual + The Fifth Mountain
Price For All Three: $27.64

Show availability and shipping details

  • This item: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Warrior of the Light: A Manual by Paulo Coelho

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • The Fifth Mountain by Paulo Coelho

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Special Offers and Product Promotions

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Warrior of the Light: A Manual

Warrior of the Light: A Manual

by Paulo Coelho
4.4 out of 5 stars (44)  $8.63
By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept: A Novel of Forgiveness

By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept: A Novel of Forgiveness

by Paulo Coelho
3.8 out of 5 stars (122)  $10.07
The Pilgrimage (Plus)

The Pilgrimage (Plus)

by Paulo Coelho
4.0 out of 5 stars (66)  $10.19
As You Think: Second Edition

As You Think: Second Edition

by Marc Allen
4.8 out of 5 stars (10)  $9.95
The Fifth Mountain

The Fifth Mountain

by Paulo Coelho
4.1 out of 5 stars (61)  $10.04
› Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Like the one-time bestseller Jonathan Livingston Seagull, The Alchemist presents a simple fable, based on simple truths and places it in a highly unique situation. And though we may sniff a bestselling formula, it is certainly not a new one: even the ancient tribal storytellers knew that this is the most successful method of entertaining an audience while slipping in a lesson or two. Brazilian storyteller Paulo Coehlo introduces Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who one night dreams of a distant treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. And so he's off: leaving Spain to literally follow his dream.

Along the way he meets many spiritual messengers, who come in unassuming forms such as a camel driver and a well-read Englishman. In one of the Englishman's books, Santiago first learns about the alchemists--men who believed that if a metal were heated for many years, it would free itself of all its individual properties, and what was left would be the "Soul of the World." Of course he does eventually meet an alchemist, and the ensuing student-teacher relationship clarifies much of the boy's misguided agenda, while also emboldening him to stay true to his dreams. "My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy confides to the alchemist one night as they look up at a moonless night.

"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself," the alchemist replies. "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." --Gail Hudson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

This inspirational fable by Brazilian author and translator Coelho has been a runaway bestseller throughout Latin America and seems poised to achieve the same prominence here. The charming tale of Santiago, a shepherd boy, who dreams of seeing the world, is compelling in its own right, but gains resonance through the many lessons Santiago learns during his adventures. He journeys from Spain to Morocco in search of worldly success, and eventually to Egypt, where a fateful encounter with an alchemist brings him at last to self-understanding and spiritual enlightenment. The story has the comic charm, dramatic tension and psychological intensity of a fairy tale, but it's full of specific wisdom as well, about becoming self-empowered, overcoming depression, and believing in dreams. The cumulative effect is like hearing a wonderful bedtime story from an inspirational psychiatrist. Comparisons to The Little Prince are appropriate; this is a sweetly exotic tale for young and old alike. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

  • Paperback: 208 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins (April 25, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0061122416
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061122415
  • Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,461 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #210 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #1 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Metaphysical
    #1 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Portuguese
    #1 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Authors, A-Z > ( C ) > Coelho, Paulo

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Author

Paulo Coelho
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

› Visit Amazon's Paulo Coelho Page
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:
Inside This Book (learn more)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
crystal merchant, crystal shop
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Personal Legend, Soul of the World, Language of the World, Master Work, Philosopher's Stone, Emerald Tablet, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pyramids of Egypt
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Alchemist
94% buy the item featured on this page:
The Alchemist 4.0 out of 5 stars (1,461)
$8.97
The Help
2% buy
The Help 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,570)
$9.50
Warrior of the Light: A Manual
2% buy
Warrior of the Light: A Manual 4.4 out of 5 stars (44)
$8.63
Veronika Decides to Die: A Novel of Redemption (P.S.)
1% buy
Veronika Decides to Die: A Novel of Redemption (P.S.) 4.0 out of 5 stars (147)
$10.17
Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(109)
(99)
(79)
(68)
(57)
(53)
(42)
(42)
(32)
(12)
Agree with these tags?
See all 106 tags...

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

1,461 Reviews
5 star:
 (832)
4 star:
 (243)
3 star:
 (115)
2 star:
 (113)
1 star:
 (158)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (1,461 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
132 of 151 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful Parable, June 21, 2006
By Kevin Joseph (McLean, VA United States) - See all my reviews
  
More parable than novel, "The Alchemist" uses the story of young shepherd Santiago's search for his Personal Legend as an allegory for everyman's struggle to break from the comfortable confines of conformity and pursue his life dreams. Along the way, of course, our young everyman is beset by all manner of setbacks, testing his resolve and forcing him to become attuned to the Soul of the World in order to survive. By paying attention to the details in the world around him, which serve as omens guiding him towards his goal, young Santiago becomes an alchemist in his own right, spinning unfavorable circumstances into riches.

Aside from the ubiquitous theme about the power of perseverance, my favorite part of the book was its glorification of simplicity. Like the pared-down manner in which the story is presented, Santiago's rare ability to get in touch with the Soul of the World comes not from the procedures described in arcane tomes pursued by traditional alchemists, but rather from a simple honesty and observance of the workings of the world. While the lack of character or plot complexity precludes this minimalist work from being considered a great novel, it will be a satisfying read for those seeking inspiration of the purest sort.

-Kevin Joseph, author of "The Champion Maker"
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Flawed But Ultimately Thought-Provoking and Worthwhile, March 1, 2003
By Kenny O. (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream (Paperback)
Yes, much of what negative reviewers of this book have to say is true: the writing is blunt and simple, the characters lack depth and complexity, it is quite male-focused in its subject matter and language, it has a bunch of quasi-religious mumbo-jumbo, and so on. This book should not be put on the list of great literature for the ages. There are doubtless many novels that cover subject matter from this book far more artfully. As I read the book, I was aware of its hokeyness and lack of redeeming literary qualities. I am, in fact, usually the first person to criticize books that read like this.

And yet, I have to say - and I feel a bit sheepish about this - that I found it meaningful, even profound at times. How can I say this, given my criticisms? First of all, unlike many reviewers, I did not approach this book with great expectations. No one told me that this was Shakespeare or Tolstoy; I had never even heard of it until it was recommended to me recently. And by the end of page 2, I had adjusted my expectations further. This clearly was not going to be winning the Booker prize.

But I found the book moving in its simple way. The characters deliver their statements without subtlety, but subtlety is more a literary virtue than a philosophical one. In fact, I essentially came to view this work as a life philosophy expressed as a fable, so I didn't particularly mind that its messages were not buried far beneath the surface.

Are those messages novel? No, but what of it? Novelists have been recycling themes for centuries, becuase many themes are of enduring interest and relevance. The point is, the messages are worthwhile and deserving of consideration. They are simple, but I think that simplicity is itself one of the central themes of the book: that life is not that complicated when one follows one's dreams honestly and passionately, or as the book says, "with love and purpose." And yet the book reminds us that it is very easy to give up dreams and abandon one's passion.

I have to disagree with one often-mentioned criticism of the book, namely, that it advocates pure materialism. That is, in my opinion, a serious misinterpretation. The book is written in the style of a fable, and therefore the goals people strive for are the typical gold-and-buried-treasure stuff. But I think one would have to misread the book quite severely to think that it is advocating material gain. The book is not at all about the specific goals that the protagonist pursues. It is about the importance of wanting something urgently and how the wanting seems to reorient the universe in harmony with that goal (just as a magnetic field can reorder the particles around it), how genuine passion and enthusiasm are rewarded with success, how those who love us encourage us to pursue our goals, and how the act of reaching for goals - whatever they are, and whether or not ultimately reached - plunges us into a strong current that carries us to places that we can never expect or know when we embark. There is something here in common with the beliefs of the Romantics, in that much of the value of the goal is in the journey that it leads us on -- the experiences gained and the lessons learned.

It's not a fair criticism of the book, I think, to say that it doesn't tell us what happens when people's goals conflict with one another, or disclose that circumstances outside of our control often render us unable to reach our goals however sincerely we may pursue them. We don't need a book to tell us that. Anyone who has made it out of childhood knows that, and I have to believe that the author is well aware of this as well. I suspect that through his simple tale, he is trying to provide some kind of argument against the kind of cynicism or fear that the world can sometimes instill in us, and encourage us to keep diving into that "strong current" to see where it takes us.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
497 of 608 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Beauty is in the Simplicity, January 22, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream (Paperback)
When I thought about reviewing this book, I had many things to say...but after reading some of the other reviews which pick apart and criticize it, I can see the meaning of the book even more clearly.
The writing is simple and clear- not juvenile. It's entertaining and brings a message which does not need to be complicated, except for those who are not ready to see the truth. They are the ones who like their truth heavily veiled and masked, as their self-gratification is in the pursuit. The reality is, the only place you need to look for the truth is in yourself. There is no search required- just your own personal journey.
Life does not need to be complicated, and the folks who have made negative comments about those who enjoy this book have obviously missed the point of it entirely- and they bring to mind the phrase "Casting Pearls before Swine."
You are not going to get anything valuable from this book unless you are READY for the spiritual knowledge which it contains. And that is one of the main points of the book anyway.
Personally, I received deep spiritual messages and peace from reading The Alchemist- and I have been on my own spiritual path for over two decades. This book presents information that only those who have actually paid attention to their journey would understand and appreciate.
If you read it and don't like it, I suggest you forget about it for at least 5 years and pick it up again. You might be surprised.
Update, 10/2003:Oh. My. Gosh. I can't believe how many people just "don't get" this book!!! Look: the point is not about anyone's "Personal Legend"!!!
THE POINT, is that what you search for is usually RIGHT THERE all along, and that the journey you take to find it is about learning lessons and growing as a person. Get it yet? LIFE IS IN THE JOURNEY, NOT THE DESTINATION!!
Santiago set off to find his "pot of gold," and after a long journey during which he grew mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, he finally discovers the location of the treasure. He follows the directions and find it RIGHT WHERE HE STARTED!
GET IT?!!!
You have what you need inside of you all of the time. You don't need to search outside yourself- you need to look within. THAT is the point.
Sheesh.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Extended Fairy Tale
This isn't really a novel so much as a novella or extended fairy tale.

Imagine a very much thinned-out Siddhartha. Read more
Published 3 hours ago by P. Schumacher

5.0 out of 5 stars Rich & Colorful, Cheered me up
I read this book about a week and a half before starting chemo therapy and it really put a smile on my face. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Mike

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Soulful
I have to admit to reading this book at least 5 times over the last 3 or 4 years. I buy this book for everyone! EVERYONE! Read more
Published 2 days ago by VIRGINIAMOM

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book
Very interesting read, I ended up finishing the book on the same day ups delivered it. Oh that's one thing that could have been better, the adventure could have been longer.
Published 5 days ago by B. Valdez

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
This is a great book. I highly recommend this to readers of all ages. The book was in great condition. I love hand me down books because it's easier to turn the pages!
Published 6 days ago by Tamara Stephenson

2.0 out of 5 stars Cheap, sentimental nonsense
This is a book that seems to be everywhere--and it's not necessarily all that new. Yet, any airport bookstore usually has this read included in its select cache. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Great Plains Reader

1.0 out of 5 stars Everything that happens is for the best (LOL)
It should be illegal to sell this book without including a copy of Voltaire's Candide.
Candide: Or Optimism (Penguin Classics)
Published 9 days ago by M. Ebben

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read - thought provoking!
This book was recommended to me by a business colleague and I bought it to be able to tell him that I'd read it. Boy, was he right on! Read more
Published 10 days ago by Kristine J. Tank

1.0 out of 5 stars Worst book I've ever read.
I can't say it any better than the other one-star reviews, but still have to put in my two cents: this book is crapola. Read more
Published 15 days ago by Nom de Plume

3.0 out of 5 stars A Story To Treasure
This parable centers on a young man named Santiago. Though his family wishes him to become a priest, he dreams of traveling and so with his father's reluctant blessings he becomes... Read more
Published 15 days ago by P. D. Harris Jr.

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
Welcome to the The Alchemist forum 6 13 days ago
the alchemist in arabic 1 March 2009
What else is there? 0 March 2009
› See all 3 discussions...  
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
   

So You'd Like to...


Create a guide

Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)

Look for Similar Items by Category

Look for Similar Items by Subject

Search Books by subject:








i.e., each book must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...
 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.