Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist: Book Review

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This past summer, my cousin decided to buy me a copy of The Alchemist, by Pablo Coelho. She claimed it was one of the best books ever written, and after reading it, I can say that I wholeheartedly agree. I read The Alchemist towards the end of the summer, while on vacation in Lamu (off of the Kenyan coast), and I truly mean it when I say that this novel is not only the perfect beach read, but a great book for those who want to ease themselves into the world of high-quality literature.

Despite the novel’s brevity, Paulo Coelho is able to fully immerse the reader into the world of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy. The novel begins by describing Santiago’s vivid dreams, which often feature a child telling him to seek treasure at the foot of the Egyptian pyramids. After consulting countless confidants, Santiago determines that it is his ‘Personal Legend’ (or destiny), to seek out this Egyptian treasure. In the effort of not revealing too much of the book’s plot, I will simply say that the novel ends with Santiago having spent a number of years pursuing this ‘Personal Legend’ of his, without his spirit ever wavering.

Within The Alchemist, pursuing one’s ‘Personal Legend’ is the only means by which one can live a satisfying life. In fact, the universe can only achieve perfection if all things continuously undergo a cycle of achieving their ‘Personal Legend’, evolving into a higher being with a new ‘Personal Legend’, and then pursuing that new goal. This recurring theme lies at the heart of The Alchemist, and readers are shown that those who pursue their ‘Personal Legends’ (such as Santiago), will be rewarded with love, material wealth, and internal fulfillment; while those who neglect it will suffer from intense regret, and fail to experience the internal and external wealth that the universe bestows upon those who do choose to follow their ‘Personal Legends’. Needless to say, the idea that all individuals should live in the pursuit of their individual dreams and passions is a primary theme of this novel.

The Alchemist is one of the most inspiring pieces of literature I have ever read. The recurring motif of one’s ‘Personal Legend’ serves as a call to action for us all, motivating readers to reevaluate important decisions and ensure that their actions lead towards a more fulfilling purpose. Through the words of Santiago, Coelho warns us that: “Very few follow the path laid out for them — the path to their Personal Legends, and to happiness. Most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place.” (Coelho, 173). This quote highlights the extent to which this novel brings attention to the importance of pursuing one’s dreams, explicitly subverting any and all arguments against such.

All in all, despite the fear or nervousness that may come with some of life’s more difficult decisions, through his novel The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho reminds us that it is important to stay true to ourselves and our passions. The wisdom that Coelho provides throughout this novel should empower us to seek fulfillment and never stop pursuing our “Personal Legend, our true reason for being” (Coelho, 130).

Rating: 10/10