PDF Summary:The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
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1-Page PDF Summary of The Alchemist
The Alchemist is a story of transformation. But rather than transforming lead into gold, Paulo Coelho teaches us, through the story of a shepherd boy who has the courage to follow his dreams, the power of transformation for our lives.
Coelho is a Brazilian novelist who has published over 30 literary works, from the 1980s to the present. In 1986 he walked the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage road and had a spiritual awakening that inspired the direction of his work going forward. To date, The Alchemist, published in 1988, is Coelho’s best-known work, and it was an international bestseller.
In this guide, we’ll summarize the story of the shepherd boy and the alchemical lessons he learns, and we’ll compare some of the ideas to other philosophical and spiritual traditions and beliefs, such as Vedantic philosophy, Sufism, and the law of attraction.
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(Shortform note: In The 10X Rule, Grant Cardone advises that you use your fear of taking risks to your advantage. He says that if you’re afraid, think of it as a positive thing because that means you’re nearing the edge of your comfort zone. In order to experience growth, we need to move beyond that edge. He says when you fear taking a risk, you should act on it as quickly as possible, because fear will increase over time. Hesitating too long will usually result in your backing out. He says the only thing that conquers fear is taking action.)
After a full year, Santiago saves enough money to either return to Andalusia and buy a new herd of sheep, or to continue to Egypt. He initially decides to go home. He longs for the comfort of what he knows and the simplicity of the shepherd’s life, and he’s become resigned like the merchant. But just as he’s on his way to make travel plans for home, he remembers the words of the king, telling him that when you pursue your calling the universe will work with you to make it happen. He realizes he’s making his decisions based on fear and seeking comfort over taking risks, and he decides to book passage on a caravan across the desert to Egypt.
With this decision, Coelho shows us that when we face obstacles and find ourselves at a crossroads, we need to remember that the universe will help us if we choose to take risks. But, we also see that it often takes hard work and dedication. Coelho makes it clear that Santiago had to put substantial effort into overcoming those obstacles—it wasn’t all magically handed to him.
(Shortform note: The 10X Rule also emphasizes the importance of hard work and dedication for overcoming obstacles toward a goal. On this topic, Cardone advises that when we’re having difficulty reaching a goal, instead of lowering the bar for the goal to be more “realistic” we should ramp up our effort. Do 10 times more than you were doing. He says the problem is never that you set your goals too high. Most people have the opposite problem—they don’t set their goals high enough.)
The Englishman
Through the next character we encounter, Coelho teaches us about tapping into our collective spiritual power.
Traveling on the desert caravan along with the boy is an Englishman, who’s seeking to learn alchemy, the magical art of turning lead into gold. While the Englishman is explaining alchemy to the boy, he tells him about the Soul of the World and its universal language.
The Divine Spirit
The Englishman discusses alchemy as the magical art of transformation, rooted in what he calls the Soul of the World—the divine spirit of the universe. He explains that in order to enact magical transformation, you need to be connected to the power in this divine spirit. He says that everything living is always changing and being transformed, but the more connected you are to the divine spirit, the more you have the power to transform things to your will. And the more the universe works in your favor.
Connecting to the divine spirit involves learning to communicate with it, the Englishman explains. He says that on the spiritual level of life, everything speaks the same language, and the signs the universe gives you are expressions of that language. So, learning that “language” requires developing your intuition, and recognizing the divine in everything, so that you can understand the universe’s communication with you. In this way, the universe gives you the power to transform yourself and your life.
The Collective Consciousness
In The Seat of the Soul, Gary Zukav explores the idea that we are all interconnected in a web of collective consciousness. He says that all human souls are a part of the one divine consciousness and that by tapping into that, we can harness the spiritual power of the divine.
In addition to prayer and faith, Zukav offers a few action items for tapping into that spiritual power:
Act from your heart, not your mind. To do this, become more conscious of your feelings, and see them as signs and messages meant to guide you.
Open yourself to connection with other spiritual humans.
Live mindfully, in the present. Let go of fears and anxieties about the past or future. Just be here now.
Think of yourself as a spiritual being in a material body, rather than a material being with a spirit.
Through this encounter, Coelho shows us that the concept of alchemy is not just about transforming metals. He shows us that learning to communicate with the divine spirit of the universe, and letting it guide you, is a kind of life-transforming alchemy.
(Shortform note: Elizabeth Gilbert, in Big Magic, discusses the process of creativity as a transformative force, a kind of magic or sorcery. In her view, enhancing your creativity isn’t just about making art; it’s a spiritual tool for life transformation, in the same way that Coelho imagines alchemy. Gilbert says that coming into contact with the creative force is like a mystical experience that allows you to tap into joy and to something beyond yourself.)
The Desert and the Oasis
A major theme of the story is overcoming obstacles, and Coelho shows us through the metaphor of traversing the hostile desert that perseverance in the face of obstacles is crucial in following one’s calling.
The desert itself appears almost as a character in the story, as it’s the space within which transformation and connection to the divine spirit happens. It symbolizes the “tests” Santiago has to go through in order to reach his destination and fulfill his calling. The desert is harsh and unforgiving on the surface, but when the boy learns to look deeply, to commune with the nature around him, and to speak the language of the divine spirit, he becomes aware that there’s life everywhere and that that life will guide him to his treasure. With this, Coelho also shows us that we can find beauty in all of life, if we look deeply.
The Symbolism of the Desert
The desert has a symbolic association in Christianity with the trials and temptations of Christ, and we see that mirrored in Santiago’s journey in The Alchemist. It has also been associated with spiritual transformation. A group of Chrstian monks called the Desert Fathers took to the Sahara desert to establish a contemplative practice called “guarding the heart.” This was essentially an ancient mindfulness practice of controlling and purifying your thoughts to improve your spiritual well-being. The ultimate aim of this practice was to achieve a state of deep inner peace. We see in The Alchemist this same kind of contrast between hardship and beauty; when the boy learns to recognize the life that’s all around him in the desert, he’s able to tap into the power of transformation.
The caravan eventually arrives at an oasis, where the boy finds love. He meets a girl named Fatima, with whom he feels an instant soul-mate bond, and he knows she must be part of his calling. He’s tempted to give up his mission and stay in the oasis with Fatima. He fears that if he leaves he’ll never see her again, although she assures him she’ll wait for him because she too believes in the universal signs. But again, his temptation to stay is a test, as he’ll soon discover. Santiago will realize that again he almost gave up on following his calling out of fear and the lure of comfort over risk.
Through this portion of the story, Coelho creates the contrast between desert and oasis to highlight the choices we may encounter along our paths to our calling. The desert represents the trials and tribulations one must face and the endless possibilities that lie ahead, while the oasis represents the comfort that people choose over those risks inherent in journeying through the desert.
Run From What’s Comfortable
Knowing that Coelho was influenced by the Sufi tradition, and particularly by the poetry of Rumi, we can see in that poetry connections to some of the major themes in The Alchemist. For example, in “Feeling the Shoulder of the Lion,” a Coleman Barks translation of Rumi, we find this verse:
“Run from what’s comfortable. Forget safety. Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation. Be notorious. I have tried prudent planning long enough. From now on I’ll be mad.”
Throughout the book, Coelho warns us against choosing comfort over taking risks. He encourages us to live boldly and follow our calling, which may involve ruining our reputation with those who expect conformity. We may even be interpreted as “mad” by those who don’t have the courage to follow their calling.
The Alchemist
Santiago’s meeting with an alchemist at the oasis brings us to the penultimate point of the story. It’s in the boy’s interactions with the alchemist that Coelho teaches us the nature of true love, as well as what it means to learn the universal language, immerse ourselves in the divine spirit of the universe, and believe in the power of transformation.
True Love
When the boy tells the alchemist about his mission to pursue his dreams and about his reluctance to leave because he’s fallen in love, the alchemist warns him against falling into that trap. Here, Coelho teaches us, through the alchemist, that true love will never hold you back from following your dreams—this is the difference between love and possession.
The alchemist describes to the boy exactly what will happen if he decides to stay in the oasis with Fatima. He says they’ll be married, and Santiago will become successful and respected in a new career, and then over time he’ll be confronted with the nagging feeling that he still isn’t fulfilled. If he continues to ignore it, the pull toward his dream and the universe’s signs will gradually fade, until he’s resigned and lives the rest of his life knowing he failed to follow his calling. Here, Coelho shows us why many people no longer recognize their calling later in life.
The Four Aspects of True Love
Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh explains that according to the Buddhist scripture, true love has four aspects:
Loving-kindness: the desire and ability to bring joy and happiness to the person you love, which requires a deep understanding of that person
Compassion: the desire and ability to ease the person’s suffering, by connecting deeply with their heart
Joy: your own experience of joy from loving the person. If you don’t feel joy from the experience, it’s not true love.
Freedom: the desire for the one you love to be free, and the feeling of freedom yourself, in the experience of loving the other
When examining the alchemist’s notion of true love, we can see that the fourth aspect, freedom, is embodied in Fatima.
Through the boy’s conversations with the alchemist, Coelho reveals that the universal language in its essence is love, and that’s what gives you the power to find your treasure. But also, he explains, the closer you get to finding it, the harder it gets. The universe will test your commitment, and it’s at this point that most people who start out following their dreams give up.
When Santiago sees the wisdom in the alchemist's words, they agree to set out together into the desert, so the alchemist can guide the boy on the next leg of the journey.
Becoming the Wind
Along their journey into the desert, toward the Pyramids, the alchemist and the boy are kidnapped by a group of tribal warriors. This is the last trial the boy will have to face in the final leg of his journey to the treasure. Through this story, Coelho shows us the importance of taking big risks and believing in the power of transformation.
The tribesmen plan to kill the travelers until the alchemist tells them that the boy possesses magical powers and can transform himself into wind. Of course Santiago has no idea how to do this, and the tribesmen are reluctant to believe it. But they say that if the boy can do that, they’ll recognize his power and spare their lives. This leads us to the pinnacle scene where Santiago has to learn how to transform himself into wind.
He recalls all the wisdom he’s gleaned along this journey and delves into a deep communion with the wind, and then the sun, and he calls upon the powers of nature and the divine spirit of the universe for help. Because the boy has learned to speak the universal language and penetrate the spiritual realm, the universe conspires to help him. He’s able to transform himself into wind and leaves the tribesmen amazed. They hold true to their promise and allow the two to be on their way. Through this story, Coelho shows us the power that faith plays in the transformational process—the boy was able to transform because he believed it was possible, and this belief gave him all the power of the universe on his side.
(Shortform note: The self-help classic The Power of Positive Thinking also emphasizes faith as an important tool for success. In this book, Norman Vincent Peale encourages the reader to develop a belief mindset by meditating on faith affirmations drawn from the Bible. He suggests that repeating these Biblical verses about faith daily will strengthen your belief in yourself and give you the power to overcome obstacles.)
At this point, Santiago knows without doubt that he has learned the true meaning of alchemy, which is uniting the spiritual with the material to create magical transformation. And he realizes this is something that applies to all of life, not just to metals. The alchemist then leaves him alone to discover his treasure.
The Treasure
In this final portion of the story, Coelho teaches us that we must be open to finding our destiny in unexpected places, and that it must be found before we can truly live the life we were meant to live.
When the alchemist leaves him, the boy continues alone on his path toward the pyramids, with the transformative power of alchemy as his strength. He has learned that not only can he speak with the wind and the sun, but those are parts of him—he is the wind and the sun and the desert and the stars. Everything is one, united by the universal soul and language of love.
Everything Is One
The concept that everything in the universe is one inseparable whole is a core principle in the Vedantic tradition of India (among other belief systems), which says that our perception of separateness is an illusion. And the most recent science in quantum physics agrees. At the subatomic level, science has shown that particles are “entangled” in such a way that they cannot be defined as distinct entities. While science would define the basis of that to be energy, psychologists have looked at how this knowledge affects human interactions. They have found that people who hold a belief in the oneness of everything tend to be more inclusive, more compassionate, and feel a stronger connection with other humans, animals, and nature. In other words, recognition that everything is one inseparable whole can lead to a feeling of greater love.
After some more travel, as the boy reaches the top of a large dune, he sees in the distance the Egyptian pyramids. At that sight, he drops to his knees and begins to weep. Then he notices a scarab beetle next to him, which he knows is a sacred symbol to Egyptians, so he interprets this as a sign and begins to dig there for his treasure. (Shortform note: It is said that the scarab beetle represented renewal and rebirth in ancient Egyptian mythology. Whether this was intentional by Coelho or not, it seems appropriate considering the beetle appeared at the climactic moment, when the boy has faced near-death and finally arrived at the place where he’ll have the insight that will lead him to his life-changing treasure.)
But Santiago finds nothing. At that moment, some wanderers appear and attempt to rob him, but find that he has nothing. The boy then tells them about his recurrent dream that he’d find treasure near the Egyptian pyramids. One of the wanderers scoffs and tells him he also had a recurrent dream of a treasure buried in the ruins of a Spanish church, where a sycamore tree grows, but that he’s not foolish enough to go across the world looking for it. And it’s then that the boy realizes his treasure is really buried back where he began.
He sets off back through the desert, on the long trek back to Andalusia, to the same spot where he had the dream, at the church ruins, and he begins to dig. And there he finds a chest full of gold and precious gems. His treasure was there all along. But now he knows where his heart lies, and he takes the treasure and sets off again to return to Fatima, his true love who waits for him in the oasis.
In this final scene, Coelho reveals to us that in the search for our destiny, we must always remain open to finding it in the most unexpected places, even if it means crossing the world and back again.
The End Is the Beginning
The ending of The Alchemist mirrors Coelho’s own life experience, as described in a 2014 interview for the podcast “On Being” with Krista Tippett. In this conversation, Coelho describes his 1986 pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in Spain, something he had dreamed of accomplishing. When he neared the end of the road, he had an unexpected feeling of sadness that the journey was coming to an end. However, he then had a realization that the completion of this physical pilgrimage was actually the beginning of a spiritual pilgrimage, and ultimately a new life for him. And he decided then and there that he must follow his life’s calling and become a writer. So we see from Coelho’s narrative that Santiago was an expression of himself and his own life’s journey.
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