• 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: 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

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Even Better The Second Time Around

I read The Alchemist book for the first time years ago. I recently listened to the audible the second time. I’m looking forward to the third time and beyond.

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Wish there were more stories like these!

Very well written. LOVE that Jeremy Irons narrated it! Really mind opening, to those who are willing to open themselves up to the lessons it provides. If you want a book that'll tell you what to do step by step to achieve your dream, this isn't it. This shows the connection between self and the higher power that is and all that's around us. I saw how this book made me think and definitely showed me things in own life. 11/10 stars

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An All time favorite forever

If you know, you know.. thats it. This book stays on repeat. The story, the love and messages make this read top tier.

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Loved this book

This was a beautiful story and I will definitely read it again there was lots of lessons to learn from this story never give up on your dreams.

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Lovely

As amazing as I had remembered it to be. It simplifies life in a most magical way.

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MOST EYE OPENING MOMENTS

This book really brings to life the fact that you have to follow your HEART to understand your happiness/fulfillment, LOVED IT

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Good listen

Not necessarily my type of story but the narrator was amazing. If you like religion (Christian) based stories you'll like this more.

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Worth it

I love it. such a pity I didn't read it earlier. I will certainly re-listen

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A classic!

A simple story of a boy pursuing his legend. A quick read with a good lesson about persistence in chasing your dreams.

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Makes you think

While it is a fictional story it does make you think about the direction of your own life. Makes you want to hold on to your dreams and make them come true.

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