The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - A Short Summary & Review

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - A Short Summary & Review

By:  a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures

A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review

A shepherd travels to Egypt to discover a treasure.

A short summary:

The Alchemist follows Santiago, a young Andalusian shepherd who leaves his familiar pastures after recurring dreams urge him to travel to Egypt in search of a hidden treasure. His journey carries him across deserts, through loss and love, and into encounters with mentors who teach him to listen; to omens, to the world, and ultimately to his own heart. Though framed as a simple fable, the story explores themes of purpose, surrender, fear, and transformation, suggesting that the pursuit of a “personal legend” is as much about becoming as it is about arriving.

My favorite quote from the book:

"Don't give in to your fears. If you do, you won't be able to talk to your heart."

- Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Questions to ponder while reading:

What is my personal legend?

Why can't love be part of a person's destiny?

My review:

Reading The Alchemist feels less like following a plot and more like sitting with a parable that meets you where you are. Each time I return to it, I find myself quietly measuring my own courage; how willing I am to trust the call of a life that feels truer but less certain. Coelho’s language is spare and reflective, leaving room for the reader’s own longings to surface. I am still searching for my destiny. I hope I can fulfill it. And while I suspect it isn’t waiting in Egypt, this book reminds me that the journey itself may already be doing its work.

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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life

She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.

You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.

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