Sample
  • The Alchemist

  • A Fable About Following Your Dream
  • By: Paulo Coelho
  • Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
  • Length: 4 hrs
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (81,890 ratings)

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The Alchemist

By: Paulo Coelho
Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
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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 >

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

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)

Featured Article: 40+ Quotes from The Alchemist to Inspire Your Personal Legend


The Alchemist is author Paulo Coelho’s timeless story of adventure and bravery, following the young Santiago on his journey to find his treasure at the Egyptian pyramids. Along the way, Santiago meets an array of characters who help him understand his personal legend and achieve his destiny. First published in 1988, The Alchemist has long since inspired readers to take their future into their own hands, as Santiago did, and follow their destiny.

What listeners say about The Alchemist

Average customer ratings
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    65,907
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Life changing

This is the second time with me reading this book but it gets better as my mindset gets better. I literally feel like I’m on this journey now.

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The Alchemist

What a wonderfully written story!!! It opens very well, has good body and an effective and meaningful ending.

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Loved it!

Wishing it was longer :( Ending was a bit too rushed for my liking, but overall a beautiful, imaginary story told by a charismatic & animated story teller <3 (his voice for the sun 🥺) I shall pursue my personal legend now.

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A Perfect Book

There are only 2 books that I would call perfect for what they made me feel. The first is To Kill a Mockingbird and the second one is this one. A beautiful work of art. Believe the hype and read it, and then maybe when you’re done you will begin your quest for your own personal legend.

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A Fabulous Lesson

A cleverly crafted story that reveals an invaluable life lesson. Focus on your dream, our unique mission and purpose, and have the faith to keep going…..Always paying attention to the good omens along the way.

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Brilliant

Brilliant. I love these types of stories. Fables that are deep and too the point

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Book and Reader, perfect!

i read the book years ago. listening to jeremy irons made it much better. its like The Little Prince, for adults this time. sooo good.

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Spiritual, inspirational and timeless

The Alchemist is a certified classic. Jeremy Irons is a great narrator and the story is full of timeless wisdom that will inspire you to fully devote yourself to the pursuit of your dreams. Highly recommended to all readers of all ages.

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Great!!

Probably the best book I have ever read!! Truly my favorite book now! Will read it again and again.

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a classic

second time listening to this over the years. always inspiring. worth the time for sure.

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