So many have heard of it, so many are even mentioning it, but really: How many have read it (I mean for real)? I chose the French version (original title "O Alquimista" in Portuguese, "The Alchemist") for the ease of reading. Indeed this philosophical novel is really smooth and easy to read. Making it available to any level of reader.
It is no science fiction, no fantasy, no detective, nor thriller. It is a simple novel about life and its path. That any one can follow its dream and get on a spiritual quest, in order to find its own Truth.
The story is the one of Santiago, a Spanish sheperd, who starts a search for a treasure buried near the Egyptian Pyramids. His quest brings him to meet an/The Alchimist in the desert of sand who will teach him how to listen to his heart, to find the Soul of the World, how to read the signs that Destiny put on one's path and -most important above all and being part of all that- to be determined to follow through on one's dreams.
The greatest part (among others) in this book is that it is so easy to read. It makes one's reflect on one's own situation, experience, life and thoughts. It can be read to children as well as to teenagers or adults (when does the difference even arise here?). Feelings are in the air and this book bring them out from the deepest unconscious mind to let us think through where we are, how we reach this place and what's gonna happened next. In brief: it brings forward a total revaluation of one's thoughts and ideas about what is important in life.
The journey is indeed as important as the destination. The hero here (not unlike every one on this Earth, I may suggest) does have a goal: to reach this treasure he has dreamt of. But the real treasure he finds it throughout his journey, experiencing lost, happiness, entertainment, training, new companies, love, learning... Well a whole path for this quest for a treasure which happens to be... Well you'll have to read the book for discovering it!!!
I enjoyed the sentence: "When you want something, all the world conspires in helping you to achieve it".
I highly recommend this book. Not at all in the same domain as the previous reviews here. To anyone who wants to enjoy life and find answers. To anyone believing in beauty in life. To anyone wishing to make their dreams come true... And to anyone not following the former descriptions... All minds can change, all attitude can be learnt... I therefore give here a strong 8.5/10. Free your mind!
Fire and Ice
1 month ago
2 comments:
the book sux. it's so superficial, has no real debate, no "layers"....there's nothing more to say about it besides what's already written there. i don't find it spiritual or revelating at all. doesn't teach you anything.
lord of the flies-that's one profound book which can be read by ppl of any age.
Well, I would compare this book to "Candide" from Voltaire. Have read it when I was 15 and seriously the story kind of sucks. However when you shell the "layers" of the stories, there is much more that the story itself. So either you choose to read it at the first level or you can see in it another layer of "cultivating our own garden".
Saying that, you like it or not. I'll read again the Lord of the flies (read a loooooong time ago!)
Thanks for the tips
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