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  • The Alchemist

  • A Fable About Following Your Dream
  • Written by: Paulo Coelho
  • Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
  • Length: 4 hrs
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (3,186 ratings)

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The Alchemist

Written by: Paulo Coelho
Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
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Publisher's Summary

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

What the critics say

"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)

Editorial Review

The Alchemist tells the story of Santiago, a young shepherd who quests through the desert to find a treasure. He runs into many obstacles during his journey, but what if the treasure was inside him all along? Santiago learns important life lessons through his hurdles, and inspires listeners to follow their dreams and change their lives forever.

The Alchemist takes place in an indistinct period of the past, but clearly in a pre-modern era. The main plot is set in the Spanish pastures, the Spanish city of Tarifa, the city of Tangier in North Africa, and the Sahara Desert. The Alchemist has been translated into 67 languages and has won the Guinness World Record for the most translated book by a living author. Paulo Coelho has written over 25 titles in all and is one of the best-selling writers in the world. Besides The Alchemist, his other best sellers include Eleven Minutes and The Pilgrimage, which are also available for download on Audible.

Jeremy Irons narrates The Alchemist in a captivating, silky voice, with a flawless pacing that brings unexpected dimensions to Santiago’s journey. The award-winning film, television, and stage actor has narrated many other world-renowned audiobooks, such as Lolita and Brideshead Revisited.

The Alchemist was not an instantaneous international success, selling just 900 copies at first. Yet now with more than 85 million copies sold worldwide, it is one of the best-selling titles in history. The literature classic has won several international awards, including the 2004 Nielsen Gold Book Award for outstanding sales in the UK, and Germany’s 2002 Corine International Award for best fiction.

Featured Article: Inspirational Quotes About Hope

Check out Audible’s list of inspiring quotes about hope. These quotes, passages, and phrases from some of our favourite audiobooks are sure to inspire. The human capacity and need for hope is astounding. It is one of those universal truths that spans age, gender, and location. Everyone knows what it means to feel hopeless, and what it’s like to find that glimmering ray of hope when everything seems lost.

What listeners say about The Alchemist

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Enjoyable book

It was an easy listen while I commuted to and from work. The author kept my attention through out the audio book I found my mindnthinking how this relates to my life. Well worth the listen!

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9 people found this helpful

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Fantastic

It's a Great story. Full of wisdom and inspiration. Very nicely narrated. I highly recommend it.

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7 people found this helpful

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Great for self reflection in the audio version

I have enjoyed this story for 2 decades and have found the audiobook to be a refreshing re-telling of the story I'm so familiar with.
Jeremy Irons is a perfect narrator.
With the audiobook, I can stop and bookmark and reflect upon my own journey through life.
A very nice take on a yearly reading ritual for myself.

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6 people found this helpful

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unreal

Unreal, great reading, great book! I have listened to it over and over again...A great way to reset and refocus when things need to slow down and be simplified!

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hitting replay again! best for driving!

Loved it almost meditative! need to listen quite a few times to cement some ideas!

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2 people found this helpful

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The best novel ever written about adventure.

The best novel ever written about adventure and life.
great performance and voice 👍👌👏.
must read book for everyone

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Great book/Even better narrator

An amazing book to read but Jeremy Irons elevates this to an even higher level. I think I would listen to him describe paint drying. 10/10 would recommend for anyone.

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Insight read

Loved it Jeremy Irons did an amazing job! Wonderful story with the message we all need to learn .

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Cute

Were it not for the preformence I dont think id have enjoyed this book. Im glad its only 4 hours. I didnt love the book but i enjoyed it, thought it was cute.

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Source of Wisdom

This books has so much wisdom to learn from. Everyone who is in their mid-life still trying to chase or pursue their personal legends should read this book. This book is like a beacon of light that will serve as your guide.

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  • Judi
  • 2007-01-07

A Timeless Tale

I've been listening to Audible books for years, but this is the first one that, after finishing it, I immediately bought a hard copy. In fact, I bought TWO!! One for me to (re)read and mark up with highlights and notes, and one to pass around to my family and friends! This story is an amazing parable, richly layered with insights for finding and living a richer, more grounded, more meaningful life. Never "preachy", this is an allegorical story written in lyrical language that stands beautifully on its own. Add the richness that Jeremy Irons's delivery brings to this Audible edition, and it becomes a transcendent experience.

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  • Joe Kraus
  • 2020-01-18

Saccharine for the Soul

My wife beat me to the punch with the line I’d intended to start my reflections on this: The Alchemist is this generation’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

Then she took it a step further, reminding me that she enjoyed Jonathan Livingston Seagull when she was 13.

In many ways, I think that says it all. I didn’t know that much about the book except for the fact that a lot of people seem to have enjoyed it. It seemed to have acquired a reputation as contemporary ‘wisdom literature,’ something someone would encourage you to read if you were feeling down or uninspired.

If I squint, I get some of that. This is a fable, so you have to accept a certain amount of easy narrative and simplified conflict. Santiago sets off on a quest, and everything lines up to make that quest possible.

Still, there is something unquestionably adolescent about the whole business. We are told repeatedly that the universe is built to make true the dreams of those who believe most firmly. We’re assured that certain true believers – loosely defined so as to include those who fall truly in love – have a kind of secret path laid out for them; they just have to be earnest enough in its pursuit.

I can see how some people might be inspired to hear such a message at certain low points in their lives. I can’t see, though, how they can take it at all seriously. This is every bit as much a fantasy as Harry Potter, but, unlike there, we’re never invited to weight the real burdens of growing up. Instead, we are invited to stay within the confines of this comfortable, imagined strategy for confronting our individual destinies.

Perhaps worse, this sort of “prosperity gospel for the irreligious” seems to imply that failure is simply a lack of true faith in one’s destiny. It suggests that, if we aren’t fulfilled, we need to see how we passed up on the opportunities and “omens” that would have made us so.

As a result, this is pernicious in the way it gives us a fantasy for the privileged. Santiago may begin as a poor shepherd, but he’s always rich – literally so – in his capacity to choose the way in which he lives his life. This may not be about a seagull who see the world differently from his peers, but it’s the same entitled escapism. Most people fail to live their dreams because they are born into a poverty or connectedness that prevents them from self-indulgence. This book ignores that. Like the notorious Marie Antoinette, it invites everyone without sufficient bread simply to eat cake instead.
There is some fun here, and I like the way Coelho peppers the work with so many admiring references to Islam and the wisdom of other cultures. Plus, it reads easily, though I confess I grew bored with parts of it even though it’s a very short book.

Bottom line, I should have listened to my wife.

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  • Micah
  • 2012-08-08

Personally, I did not care for it

This book was very little story surrounded by lots of rather ill-conceived philosophy. The little story there was is very simple with every small conflict easily resolved within a few 'pages'.

I also did not agree with several aspects of the 'follow your dreams at all costs' theme that the writer espoused. I don't want to put in any 'spoilers' but the writer put way too much emphasis on the 'personal legend'. I was sick of that phrase by the end...

Be warned it is VERY judeo-christian based, so if that kind of thing offends you, then stay away. I am a Christian, but still found the way the author used religion to be heavy-handed.

Perhaps if you are looking for inspiration you might enjoy it, but I left it feeling uninspired and wishing I had spent my credits elsewhere.

PS: Jeremy Irons did a good job with the reading, no complaints there.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Linda
  • 2007-02-02

Marvelous Book & Expressive Reader

No better choice to read this magnificent book by Paul Coelho than Jeremy Irons. It is exceptionally well read, with great expression, and wonderful adaption of voice to characters. I have had it on audio cassette since it was first released in that format and was delighted to find it available in audio-book format at CD quality. It's truly a must have and is suitable for all ages. The book is also most profound yet told simply with grace and depth.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Kir Kanos TN
  • 2007-06-20

A must for every young person

I really enjoyed this book. While it is not necessarily the enthralling Hero's journey that I thought it would be, this book should be on every high school and college student's reading list. It helps to put your "personal legend" or life's mission into perspective. While it isn't nearly a basis for theology, it touches on the many issues that people face as they embark on their life's journey. I especially liked the Alchemist's advice about not giving up on your life's mission for love. While admirable and definitely worth while, if one ends their life journey to pursue love, they will regret it and eventually resent the one they love. On the other hand if that significant other truly loves you, they will encourage you to pursue your personal legend and even wait for you if need be. To stand in the way of another person fulfilling their purpose does an injustice to that person, but is also self detrimental. Each person is on this earth for a purpose. It is up to each of us to be open enough to God's plan to find and pursue that purpose. Then we can truly live rich and fulfilling lives.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • William
  • 2011-06-08

Heavy-handed

This book was like listening to a long sermon on a hot day, sitting in an uncomfortable pew while someone hits you upside the head with a canoe paddle.

I suggest drinking a shot every time you hear the word, "omen".

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  • J
  • 2011-06-28

This book ruined my personal legend

I had so much to give this audiobook. My hopes, my dreams, my time. I ventured out in search of treasure, but, alas, my personal legend was crushed under this lightweight novel like a wicker stool under a very large circus man. Quite possibly the most overrated novel in human history. Brutally redundant. Horrible writing. If you feel the stars may have aligned so that you might listen to or, dare I say, actually read this book, get a new alchemist. I'd rather be forced to read lyrics to the Black Eyed Peas' "Ring-A-Ling" song over and over and over again.

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  • Jo
  • 2012-11-16

A quest for dreams come true

Santiago is a young man who proceeds in literally making his dreams come true. He is an ordinary man, full of doubts and fears, like you and me, but he has this drive inside of him and a courage to continue on his path. This is a fantastic fable filled with unsurmountable challenges and life changing choices. I do agree with a previous reviewer in that Paulo over uses "omen", but it's kind of funny when you expect it. Jeremy Irons does an amazing job with changing voices to match each character (his voice does get low at points though). This is, hands down, my favorite book.

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62 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Kyria
  • 2006-01-04

Wonderful!

This is everything you want in an audiobook: a gorgeous story, beautifully read. I could listen to Jeremy Irons for hours... in fact, I did!

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  • JennStokes
  • 2017-09-01

Brilliant story

I am completely in love with this story. I actually plan to listen to it again very soon because I expect it to be something that you get something different from it each time you hear it. Many important thoughts and lessons are throughout the book, and it is a great story too with wonderful characters.

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  • Melanie
  • 2019-09-04

Live your own personal legend

Recommend it. The story is nice and it reminds you what is important in life. The narrator speaks rather slow and is easy to listen to.

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  • Cris C.
  • 2023-08-09

Worthy listen

I’ve been meaning to read this for a while and it was worth it.
The story is uplifting and the message was great.
I found the voice actor to be easy to listen to.

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  • hjgbjygvkujgyyh
  • 2021-10-20

Couldn’t finish listening

Annoying voice, doesn’t even bother to articulate
Too bad the book seemed interesting but I guess I’ll never know

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  • Thomas Tupinier
  • 2020-09-15

Absolument génial

C'est comme si l'auteur avait compris le sens de la vie et vous en faisait part dans une belle histoire

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  • Wagner Jo-Anne
  • 2020-08-02

Absolument lire! (Ou écouter)

Un des meilleurs livres que j’ai jamais lus!! Absolument lire! Tellement intéressant! Amène à réfléchir !

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  • Friot Clara
  • 2019-07-08

Great Story

A great story that is worth reading twice or even three times. not too sure about the voice actors choice of voices for the different characters tho.

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  • Alice
  • 2018-12-06

I've been so moved by this Tale.

I don't think I had ever read such a beautiful and spiritual but simple story. It made me feel magic in my heart and wings on my back. AND it reminded me of what my own dream is, I had long forgotten about it...

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  • Anonymous User
  • 2018-10-23

Must read

Amazing, I wish there would be more books like that.
Story of Life. You'll learn more than in 99% other books.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 2018-08-08

Génial !

The best grownup fairytale with great life advice and lots of stuff to think about.

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