The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

From the very start of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, I knew I was listening to one of the most meaningful, influential books I’ve experienced in my lifetime. I listened to it over the holidays while I was driving my daughter and her dog back to New Jersey and ever since then, I can’t stop thinking about it. I ask everyone I talk to, “Have you read The Alchemist?” If not, I tell them “You have to read it – it has the potential to be life changing”.

I don’t want to give too much away as I want you to experience The Alchemist with the same sense of newness and discovery I did. I will say it’s the story of a shepherd boy in the Andalusia region of Spain who has a recurring dream. He visits a Gypsy woman to help him interpret the dream and she is the first of several interesting people he meets who help him in his pursuit of his “personal legend”.

The book is simply written – it reminds me of Aesop’s Fables. It is this simplicity, together with its compelling story and life lesson, that make The Alchemist a literary treasure. I have committed to reading it annually and to giving it as a graduation present to family and friends getting ready to pursue their own personal legends. 

This is one book I recommend you listen to as the quality of the narration really brings the story to life. At only four hours long, The Alchemist is great for short trips in the car or on a plane and it will really make the time fly by. You can purchase The Alchemist on Amazon by clicking here. Once you are finished, I’d love to hear your thoughts. I hope you are as enthralled by it as I am.