Book Review — The Alchemist by Paul Coelho (1988)
Before entering a new phase of life after graduation, I feel like I need help and guidance from the elders on how should I decide things wisely for my future or even how can I truly find my purpose in life? This book is simply helping me realize my true dream and giving me guidance on how to pursue those dreams.
As a fresh graduate, sometimes I feel lost in my thoughts and couldn’t stop worrying about my future. There is no certainty in what kind of world would I enter after graduating. Am I gonna work in an office? Am I gonna find a way to continue my study? Am I gonna do my freelance job? Am I gonna teach English to the children? or am I gonna focus to write a novel?
These worries keep spinning on my head lately and I feel overwhelmed and I’m not sure what should do I do? What path should I choose? Should I stay realistic and get a paid job? Or Should I just follow my dreams although those dreams might be impossible to be achieved?
To answer my restlessness about the future, I seek a book that can assist me and answer my worries about dreams and the future. Then I found this book recommended by many people. So, I dive into this book and finally, I got the answer and even guidance to realize the dreams step by step.
Firstly first, there are too many wise words that I find within the book. It is as if I was having a conversation with a wise, smart, old soul, and kindhearted man. Every word that comes out of his mouth is worth being heard and reflected on. There is always a lesson that can be applied in daily life during the journey in pursuing our dreams.
Some quotes within this book hit me very hard, one of them is “If a person is living out his Personal Legend, he knows everything he needs to know. There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure” (p. 92). From those words, we can say that we shouldn’t be afraid of failing in achieving our dreams, just do the best in the present and the rest will be decided by God. If you do good, good things will finally come.
Secondly, Mister Coelho is extremely genius in using the allegory to deliver the intricate message on how to pursue the dreams from the beginning, the hardships that will be faced, until the finish line. The main character, who is a shepherd from Spain, is someone who feels a constant life without purpose and after he realized his dream, his life becomes more adventurous and challenging. This man’s journey describes, how people in general, can realize their dreams. In addition, it also indirectly tells the journey and hardships of how people’s dreams are to be achieved or delayed in the middle of the journey.
Mister Coelho is using the allegory of desert, crystal, wind, eagle, treasure, stone, sheep, the king, the woman, and many more. Thus, I’m sure that it is enjoyable to be read, the allegory can make us guess what the real meaning is and it can be interpreted as anything, depending on a certain perspective. That is why, this book is widely read and the best-seller of all the time, since the meaning offered by Mister Coelho is infinite.
Thirdly, I think this book might be a little bit hard for beginners to be truly comprehended. It is because as I have mentioned in the preceding paragraph that there is too much allegory and thus, the readers must take a closer look at the words that are stated. I also suggest advanced readers be careful in reading this book, you guys have to enjoy every line and every paragraph, do not put a rush, so you won’t miss any important messages along the way.
In short, the alchemist is a brilliant book! Especially for the youngsters who still seek a way to achieve their dreams, this book will help you to stay true to your goals. As Paulo Coelho once said that following your dream is like learning a foreign language; you will make mistakes but you will get there in the end.
