The Alchemist Audiobook By Paulo Coelho cover art

The Alchemist

A Fable About Following Your Dream

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The Alchemist

By: Paulo Coelho
Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
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About this listen

Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its simplicity and wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an Alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a meditation on the treasures found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is art eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.©1988 Paulo Coelho (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers Fiction Literary Fiction Metaphysical & Visionary Well-being Essentials Inspiring Heartfelt Dream Feel-Good Treasure Thought-Provoking Funny Scary Career Change New Age Spirituality

Editorial review


By Madeline Anthony, Audible Editor

THE STRANGE ALCHEMY OF THE ALCHEMIST, THE NOVEL TURNED SELF-DEV PHENOMENON

At its core, The Alchemist is a spiritual guide. Packed into the form of a short fable, it follows young Santiago, a shepherd boy who travels far and wide in hopes of finding his life’s treasures. Within the simplicity of the story, universal messages are able to unfold in profound ways, ringing true with a newfound sense of urgency—listen to your heart, follow your intuition, and have the courage to walk towards your dreams even when you are afraid of what might happen next.

Far from an expansive, ancient desert, I listened to this story for the first time on the beach. After hearing rave reviews of The Alchemist for several years from friends and acquaintances, I had decided to listen to the audiobook on a rare week off. It was Christmas, and for the first time in a long time, I was not with my family for the holidays. I was spending that lost week between Christmas and New Year's on a bed of white sand in the Hawaiian Islands, on something of an engagement-moon with my fiancé. It was all gorgeous—the sun, the purplish mountains in the distance, the giant sea turtles that gently floated in the water like kids on a perpetual vacation. Taken at face value, there should have been no worries in sight. But secretly, I was worried. In fact, I was extremely worried. I was living with a nagging feeling that I kept trying to push down, and that each time I did, would inevitably rise again. In the end, listening to a story about a young boy in Egypt helped me to tap into my own heart of hearts, inevitably realizing the truth—I did not want to marry this man, and in fact, I wouldn’t.

Continue reading Madeline's review >

Critic reviews

"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." (Publishers Weekly)

"It is short, but certainly packs a wallop. What makes the story even better is Jeremy Irons's unforgettable narration.... Irons's voice is crystal clear, and every word is given its own starring role in the text. He creates wondrous characters, male and female, that stay with us." (AudioFile)

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What listeners say about The Alchemist

Highly rated for:

Inspirational Story Profound Life Lessons Expressive Narration Transformative Journey Engaging Adventure Tale
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

very inspirational

i loved this book, it reads like a childrens book but the message in this book is books are deeply profound. some of my fave quoates:
- When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person realize his dream
- God only rarely reveals the future. When he does so, it is for one reason: it's a future that was written so as to be altered.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

9

I loved this book sometimes its hard to get out of our comfort zone so we don't try new things
great listen my husband even enjoyed it and he doesnt listen or read anything that doesnt have to do with history it helps you think and come a live

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Relaxing

This book a sit back and enjoy . I will note that young adults might gain some life insights.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wow!

wow! I just had one word to describe the experience... This was my first book, and I'm so glad I decided to download this application

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

loved it!

It's a magical story. The narrator was perfect. I almost feel differently about life. almost.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A must listen

This book captivates you. If you ever doubted your personal strength and how you can Lee moving forward despite obstacles put in your way then, THIS IS THE BOOK for you. Thank you Paulo Coelho for this amazing gift and reminder we were all created by God.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One of my favorite books!!!

I will listen to this book over and over again. It is very insightful and extremely timely. This book is very inspirational and has lit a fire under my feet with encouragement to go for my dreams.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Repeat performance!

I loved this so much I listened to it again a month later, and then again the week after.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

A must read, the audio reader isn’t the best so listen to the story and not his voice

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

wow!

Not much to say. only that with an open mind and heart this book too can change your perception of perception.

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