The Alchemist

Following Zero to One, I took another one of my coworker’s books, The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho. A short, popular read, it emphasizes again and again pursuing one’s dreams.

The tale is written simply, in the style of a fable. The prose is uninspiriring. Coelho repeatedly stresses the importance of fulfulling one’s “Personal Legend”, asserting that “the universe will conspire” in helping one attain it.

Some valuable lessons the main character, Santiago, learns include:

• The value of exploration and seeing the world
• You can learn something from anywhere
• The Language of the Soul

Overall, The Alchemist did feel a bit more self-help than literature.