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  • The Alchemist

  • A Fable About Following Your Dream
  • By: Paulo Coelho
  • Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
  • Length: 4 hrs
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (4,157 ratings)

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The Alchemist cover art

The Alchemist

By: Paulo Coelho
Narrated by: Jeremy Irons
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Editorial reviews

With a chorus of followers worldwide singing its praises, The Alchemist delivers soul-stirring wisdom to motivate anyone whose dreams are seemingly out of reach.

Described as an inspiring fable, The Alchemist is a metaphorical tale of author Paulo Coelho’s journey of self-discovery through following his heart. The enchanting audiobook follows Santiago, a humble young shepherd who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a mysterious buried treasure. The fictional story of a shepherd boy's bold journey into the unknown to find a fortune reveals itself as a reflection of the riches found within each of us.

Narrated by esteemed actor Jeremy Irons, every spoken word in this audiobook is unforgettable and ropes you along the journey. Clear, commanding and distinct, Irons’s gifted voice has lent itself broadly from Scar in Disney’s The Lion King (1994) movie to the English-language audio guide for Westminster Abbey in London.

Whilst the tale may be fiction, the lessons are real and readily applicable. The Alchemist is compass-like, offering guidance on finding your direction and purpose in life. As Santiago’s quest reveals, obstacles and fear are overcome when you acknowledge what your heart tells you and allow yourself to be drawn towards what you truly love. Download The Alchemist and prepare to become invested in the transformative power of your dreams.

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)

What listeners say about The Alchemist

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

wouldn't recommend

i found this book to be frustrating. "personal legends" "language of the universe" "following omens" ... while the boys story might have been somewhat interesting; learning that life may not always be what you expect, and to be open to opportunities.. the idea that we all have personal legends and the means to be able to learn the language of the universe is utter rubbish to me. i found this book to be void of substance, irritating and a bit pretentious. it also sounded a like a kids book toward the end. the boy "talks to the wind" and "talks to the sun" and the wind and the sun talk back to him. when they speak back, what they say is embarrassing.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Love it

So many life lessons contains in this small book.
I would really recommend this book to whoever willing to learn about life.

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8 people found this helpful

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

Must read for those who seeks what they have not found

Great story! Every living being should read or listen to this story. Loved listening to Jeremy Irons voice, made the story so much more adventurous!

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7 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Finished rather abruptly but otherwise a nice book

Certainly worth a look.

Narrative is well done. Story is good with a nice message. My only negative is it felt like the ending was wrapping up and then it ended before conclusion.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

This audio book is just superb!

I got teary many times while listening to this. So profound and so many pearls of wisdom. Jeremy Irons’ reading is outstanding. I will be listening to this over and over.

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3 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Overrated.

Great narration.
Terrible story. Thinly veiled self help book with no substance. Leaves you feeling empty and annoyed.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Well written

This book is a great piece of work and should be read by anyone who seeks treasure and meaning in life...

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • Ash
  • 09-12-2018

Moral of the Story - Follow your Dreams...

Short, yet powerful.

On the one hand, it's a tale about a shepherd boy who goes on a journey, and on the other hand it's much, much, more. There are so many messages conveyed throughout, but I found the moral of the story to be: follow your dreams and listen to your heart.

For me, the tale also really highlighted how it is that we can become own biggest obstacles - how we shackle ourselves with one hand and hold the key in the other.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome.

Awesome! Great story. Well read. I loved it. I will listen to this many times!

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2 people found this helpful

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

An engaging and adventurous spiritual book.

I easily found time to listen to this book in one day. I tried stopping at one point but wanted to find out what was going to happen next and soon continued listening. I loved the narration, and thought the book was well thought through.

My only complaint is that the book is too short and finished kind of abruptly.

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1 person found this helpful

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