Book Bearings
The Alchemist
- 197 pages · about 3 hours
- First published 1988
- 141 editions
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1 About this book
The Alchemist details the journey of a young Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago. Santiago, believing a recurring dream to be prophetic, decides to travel to the pyramids of Egypt to find treasure. On the way, he encounters love, danger, opportunity and disaster.
One of the significant characters that he meets is an old king named Melchizedek who tells him that "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." This is the core philosophy and motif of the book.
- Voyages and travels
- Personal growth
- Body, MIND & spirit
- Fantasy
- Quests (Expeditions)
- Spirituality
- Inspiration & Personal Growth
- Portuguese fiction
2 What to expect
A short, simple fable about an Andalusian shepherd who crosses the desert to Egypt in search of treasure. Told like a parable, with its lessons about following your dreams stated openly; most readers finish it in a sitting or two.
Good for readers who want: a fable, a journey, and a short read.
3 About Paulo Coelho
Bio adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
4 More by Paulo Coelho
5 Similar books
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- A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum