• The Alchemist

  • A Fable About Following Your Dream
  • By: Paulo Coelho
  • Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
  • Length: 4 hrs
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (81,064 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 Audiobooks Under 4 Hours


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What listeners say about The Alchemist

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Inspiring!!!

Where does The Alchemist rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the top.

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

I used to live in southern Spain so I was immediatly interested.

What about Jeremy Irons’s performance did you like?

Great voice!!!

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

The adventure of it all was fun!

Any additional comments?

Follow your dreams!!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A timeless classic!

The narrator brought the story to life. Great guide for all seeking something of meaning.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Story

It has a lot of meanful insights to life. It really makes you think on how you should live your life!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully narrated journey and religion of Humanity

Truly enjoyed story and amazing concept of presentation . It was so hard to pause the story.
Loved it:)

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    5 out of 5 stars
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One of the best books I’ve read

This book has so many life lessons in it, and brought a positive invigorating experience to me. Our lives are full of omens and to truly understand them, we have to be present.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

great story!

I really enjoyed the way this story unfolded. The message is one we can all learn from!!

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so enjoyed it

could not put it down! Thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend this for anyone who is spiritually inclined.

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Definitely recommend!

Inspiring story of the journeys of a young boy as they relate to true Alchemical principles 💜

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  • FG
  • 08-18-21

Amazing

One of the best books i’ve ever read!
The story is out of this world and the reader, Jeremy Irons makes it wonderful.
A real work of art!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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As perfect as any story I have listened to.

I wasn't sure what to expect going in to this but take my word let the story take you where it will.

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