Pablo Coelho
A book that will stay with me forever
I just finished reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and wow, this book REALLY resonated with me.
I just finished reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and wow, this book hit me right in the feels. It’s one of those stories that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. This book is quite short and every single sentence is important, so it is hard for me to give a detailed summary without spoiling the plot of the book. All I can tell you is that the story follows Santiago, a shepherd boy from Spain, on his journey to find a hidden treasure. Along the way, he meets fascinating characters, including a king, a crystal merchant, a travelling Englishman, and of course, an Alchemist who guides him along his quest. Each character offers insights on what it means to be a human being with fears, desires, and needs, with a lot of lessons to be learned along the way.
The most impressive part of this book is how the themes of dreams, destiny, spirituality, and the courage to follow your heart are so seamlessly woven into the plot. I am not exaggerating when I say that every single page had words of wisdom that made me stop and reflect about my own life. Without spoiling too much, my favorite concept from the book is the idea that each person has their own “Personal Legend”, which is the most important dream a person has at any given time. Whatever the dream may be, if it is something that is truly meaningful to you, the “entire universe conspires to help you”. The book talks a lot about following your own path, without letting others’ ways of doing things define how you need to do things, as well as following the signs around you that can guide you towards your goal. To give you a little sneak peak of Coelho’s style of writing, here is my favorite quote from the book: “Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself” (p. 134).
Coelho’s writing is simple yet profound, making the story accessible yet deeply meaningful. The philosophical insights about life and the poetic descriptions of Santiago’s journey through the desert made the book hard to put down.
If you’re looking for a read that inspires you to listen to your inner voice but also to trust the world around you, The Alchemist is definitely worth picking up. It’s a super quick read, but its impact is long-lasting. Trust me, this book will speak to you.
Wander & Wonder 
Leave a Reply