Summary and Analysis - The Alchemist

by Bibliomaniac

 
Paulo Coelho is one of the world’s most prolific authors. He has written over 26 novels to date and is one of the most translated author’s in the world. His books give inspiration to people around the world. While critique of his work is divided, some saying that he is gifted and an inspiration, while others state that he is vague in his spiritual themes and lacking in complex plot, one thing cannot be argued, he is a beloved writer amongst his fans.
 
His rise to fame began with his second book, The Alchemist, and it is this book that continues to be his most popular work. From a plot standpoint, it is a simple A young shepherd boy seeks the answers to a recurrent dream he has had about finding treasure near the pyramids of Egypt. On his journey, he learns a better understanding of the world and his place in it, but it is the thought process of this adventurer as he is on this journey that so many find compelling and inspirational and forces many to claim this book as a guide to living a better and more fulfilling life.
 
This summary is meant to help readers explore the lessons within this book more deeply, so that they can understand the story’s universal and timeless appeal and better apply its lessons to their own lives.
 

 
Background and history of The Alchemist, including its beginnings, writing style and structure, and a discussion of the setting of the tale.
 
A breakdown of the main characters in the book and their influence on the story.
 
A chronological and comprehensive break down of the important events in each part of the book.
 
A discussion about the author and how his life influenced the creation of The Alchemist.
 
A guide of the lessons that can be learned from reading The Alchemist.
 
Explanations and examples of the themes, metaphors, and symbols in the book
 
Connections to current events pertaining to The Alchemist, including movie creation potential and a list of other books by Coelho.
 
This book serves as an accompaniment to the bestseller The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It is meant to broaden the reader's understanding of the book and to offer some insights which can easily be overlooked. You should order a copy of the actual book before reading this.

27 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2016

Reviews

[robyn harvey-smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book. It's such a great story, full of many lessons. I recommend this book.