The Alchemist

Ā· HarperAudio Ā· Narrated by Jeremy Irons
4.7
641 reviews
Audiobook
4 hr
Unabridged
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About this audiobook

AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • OVER 120 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE • PUBLISHED IN 89 LANGUAGESĀ 

ā€œTeaches us about dreams, destiny, and the reason we are all here.ā€ā€”Oprah Daily, ā€œBest Self-Help Books of a Generationā€

A spellbinding audio presentation of the extraordinary bestseller, narrated by Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons–Discover the true power of trusting your intuition, honoring your instincts, and tapping into your innate inner wisdom

Combining magic, mysticism, wisdom, and wonder into an inspiring tale of self-discovery and spiritual healing, The Alchemist has become a modern classic, moving millions across the globe and transforming the lives of countless readers across generations. Helping them find inner peace, strength, gratitude, and a deeper, divine connection with themselves and the world around them.

This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and soul-stirring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried near the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself a 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 in his path. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery that the most valuable treasures are those found within.

Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts. No matter where you are in life’s journey, allow this profound fable to awaken you to the beauty of the present and the hope of the future, and what it truly means to be human and at peace.

Year after year, across generations, Paulo Coelho's profound and enduring work remains fresh and vital for readers today. These words beam with the message that if we trust in ourselves and our inner strength and wisdom, we can navigate all of life’s complexities with grace and resilience. Discover your dreams and your truth with The Alchemist.

ā€œWe are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.ā€ā€”Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

ā€œIt changed my whole life. I realized all of the people who had conspired to get me to this place.ā€ —Pharrell Williams, musician and songwriter

Ratings and reviews

4.7
641 reviews
Julie Walker
May 12, 2025
A story of following your dreams and the meaning of everything. An okay sort of a book, wouldn't really describe it as self help or 8nsightful, but an easy enough read (or listen).
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Nic Warr
August 31, 2019
The book is average, however I gave it three stars because of Jeremy Irons' reading of it which made it infinitely more interesting than it would otherwise have been.
11 people found this review helpful
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Robert Hill
October 21, 2019
Jeremy Irons could make an Excel spreadsheet sound like an epic poem. The parable is sweet, and full of hope. Really short for the amount of $, though.
5 people found this review helpful
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About the author

One of the most influential writers of our time, Paulo Coelho is the author of thirty international bestsellers, including The Alchemist, Warrior of the Light, Brida, Veronika Decides to Die, and Eleven Minutes. He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters and a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Paulo is the recipient of 115 international prizes and awards, among them, the Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la LƩgion d'Honneur (Legion of Honor). Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1947, he soon discovered his vocation for writing. He worked as a director, theater actor, songwriter, and journalist. In 1986, a special meeting led him to make the pilgrimage to Saint James Compostela (in Spain). The Road to Santiago was not only a common pilgrimage but a turning point in his existence. A year later, he wrote The Pilgrimage, an autobiographical novel that is considered the beginning of his literary career. He lives in Geneva, Switzerland.

Jeremy Irons, winner of both an OscarĀ® and a TonyĀ® has starred in such films as Dead Ringers, Reversal of Fortune, The French Lieutenant's Woman, and was the voice of Scar in The Lion King.

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