• The Alchemist

  • A Fable About Following Your Dream
  • By: Paulo Coelho
  • Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
  • Length: 4 hrs
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (81,068 ratings)

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The Alchemist  By  cover art

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: 35+ Inspirational Quotes About Hope


Hope is one of life’s greatest miracles. The human ability to hold onto belief in the possibility of a better scenario, even when presented with overwhelming evidence to the contrary, is truly phenomenal. It’s easy to understand why so many writers have featured hope in their works, and why hope continues to inspire us. Whether you’re up against a challenge or just looking for inspiration, these quotes about hope can help you find your faith. Here we’ve gathered the most inspirational quotes from some of our favorite audiobooks.

What listeners say about The Alchemist

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    65,229
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Story
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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Great Book!

I Love the whole concept of this book and my mind it's all about perspective

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Wtffff

This is waaayyy too relatable right now. It’s crazy that a lot of these kinds of books have been hitting hard lately. It lets me know I’m not the only one and I’m on the right path.

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Tradition

I have been reading this book since high school and it became a tradition to read it every year. Its a good reminder that when things aren’t as bad as we thing when they dont go as planned;-)

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follow your dreams

It's quite something, to hear time and again follow your dreams, as they are why you were sent here.

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Wonderful Read!

If you want personal growth. This is a beautiful fiction tale to encourage your progression. I can’t believe I had gone so long not knowing this book. It is easily in my top 5 books now. Performance is perfect as well!

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Brilliant

I have nothing but love for this book. I love everything about it. Thank you for this masterpiece. 💙

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Super immersive, well read and a wonderful story!!

I found this a fast listen with an entertaining story masking some insightful reflections on life and attaining what one desires. It has a cathartic twist and a wonderful resolution!!

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Must read

This book makes you think. Not only does the story keep you engaged, it changes your entire way of thinking. One of my friends recommended it to me & I’m SO glad I finally read it.

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So good

This story was amazing. Full of hope and wonder.. I couldn't stop listening. I finished it in a day.

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magnificent

I really liked it it was a very inspirational and sustainable way of making a point of life

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