• The Alchemist

  • A Fable About Following Your Dream
  • By: Paulo Coelho
  • Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
  • Length: 4 hrs
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (80,967 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: 55+ Quotes About Fear—of the Unknown, Change, Love, and More


Looking for a little confidence boost? These quotes about fear from some of literature’s greatest writers can help bolster your bravado. In moments of fear, it’s natural to turn to others—from loved ones to professional counsel—for comfort, encouragement, and advice. But sometimes, it’s most helpful to hear what people you’ve never met have written on the topic. These quotes offer a comprehensive, reassuring portrait of fear and ways to conquer it.

What listeners say about The Alchemist

Average customer ratings
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Quick and easy listen

If you could sum up The Alchemist in three words, what would they be?

Your Personal Legend

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Alchemist?

Hard to say. The "personal legend" theme is hard to avoid. It's the driving force in the book which makes it very memorable.

What about Jeremy Irons’s performance did you like?

The readers voice seemed to fit the overall reading and storyline. It actually really added to the overall listening experience.

If you could take any character from The Alchemist out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Fatima - she seems interesting, patient and wise. Would like to pick her brain on how you let your environment shape your expectations in life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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a secret not so secret.

Awesome story, close to what the book "the secret" talks about, really liked the beginners luck part and final trials.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Book

What did you love best about The Alchemist?

I love the story and how it was read.

What other book might you compare The Alchemist to and why?

I dont think i can compare any book i have read so far to The Alchemist because this a story with everything from love to passion to your personal legend. Just a great book

What about Jeremy Irons’s performance did you like?

How he read the whole book and changed his voice and made it seem like i was in the story.

If you could rename The Alchemist, what would you call it?

The Greatest Book Ever Written

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved this book!

"When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream."

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Guidestone of Life

This book was like a guidestone that pointed me in the direction i was seeking.

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An Uplifting Must Read for Anybody

If you could sum up The Alchemist in three words, what would they be?

Uplifting Must Read

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Alchemist?

The Kiss

What does Jeremy Irons bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I think this was the best voice over I have heard heard. He distinguishes each character very well, and his story telling skills keep the story easy to follow.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I think the whole story moved me. It just reminded me to dream again.

Any additional comments?

Very enjoyable. My workouts lasted 2-hours long because I could not stop listening to the story. I enjoyed it so much, I'm buying all of the author's books.

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One of the all time great books

Loved every page. Simultaneously charming and profound. it touched a chord in me so deeply that I re-read it twice.

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Best book ever.

This book is amazing for those who want to figure out the meaning of life and or the meaning of dreams. I don't means dreams as in sleeping but dreams as in aspirations, as in life journeys, as in personal legends. Wow, what a great book. Listened to it every day in the morning. Best way to listen I believe.

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An outstanding read

A beautiful captivating book. I give such an important message to anyone that is searching for their dreams.

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Wonderful story of Meaning

Read at a perfect time in my life to remember why I continue my pursuit even through struggles. Extremely comforting story from my perspective.

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