• The Alchemist

  • A Fable About Following Your Dream
  • By: Paulo Coelho
  • Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
  • Length: 4 hrs
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (81,089 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: The Best New Age Listens for Your Mind, Body, and Soul


The New Age movement encompasses a wide range of spiritual beliefs, practices, and traditions. And many of them, including newer philosophies, draw on ancient religions or revered teachings. Whether you're looking to expand your consciousness, deepen your spiritual practice, learn about witchcraft, explore tarot cards, or just need some inspiration to make a change in your life, you'll be sure to find something that resonates with you on this list.

What listeners say about The Alchemist

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Beautiful WORK

Highly recommended, its not a waste of money at all. The orally read version is amazing with great voice actors and narration.

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Listen then listening again

The path to self discovery is in your journey. A must read. #asf. what good is money if you're going to die it's not often that money will save your life The Alchemist

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read this…

you will learn something about yourself while reading this book. the narrator is amazing as well.

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Best Story there is

Great story and Jeremy Irons does a tremendous job telling it. The first book I read every year. G

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Timeless classic with many lessons embedded

Quick listen, exciting, riveting, slightly cryptic but understandable, leads to reflection on one's own journey. Sometimes it is hard to understand the deep slightly muffled narrator's voice.

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Amazing!

I’ve owned this physical book for almost 20 years and after listening to it in the last 3 months, wondered what took me so long. I guess it was just my right time.

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Best book about life’s triumphs and tribulations

Great story about life and soul of the world , Best book about life’s triumphs and tribulations

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A must read

Loved this book. Jeremy Irons is the perfect reader. I will read it again from my library.

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One of my favorites

I have read this book several times over the years. Each time I find a new perspective or message that applies to my life at that moment. So simple, wise and beautiful.

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Fabulous

I keep rereading this. Its great. It speakers to my heart. It challenges my belief.

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