The Alchemist

The Alchemist is a book about Courage, Magic, Love, Philosophy, Language of the Universe, Dreams and Passion to follow them. It is a story of a boy, in pursuit of his Dreams.

The protagonist is a simple boy whose name is Santiago. He is a Shepherd. Not because he is poor or illiterate but because traveling is his passion and he wants to discover new lands and follow new routes. He like reading and he loves his Sheep. He has been away from home for a quite long He is now a well versed Shepherd and going places selling his wool. Everything seems to be perfect for Santiago until one night he has a dream that a child transports him to Egyptian Pyramids and tells him he will find a buried treasure there.

To interpret the meaning of his dream he visits a Gypsy in the next town. The lady tells him to go after the the treasure. Irritated and not so serious about his dream he spends some time in the town where he meets an old man. The old man tells Santiago that if the boy will give him 1/10 of his Sheep, he will tell him how to go after the hidden treasure. The man tells Santiago that he has succeeded in discovering his personal legend and he must decide if he is brave enough to follow it. The man tells him discovering one's true purpose is a person's only real obligation in this world.

A tough decision to make for Santiago. Will he give up his Sheep and go after a Dream that seems crazy? But Santiago's heart is telling him to go on and follow the crazy dream.

Next morning, Santiago gives 1/10 of his sheep to old man and sells rest of them. The old man who claims to be a King advises Santiago to follow Omens on his quest and gives him two rocks Urim and Thumim which will help Santiago when he is stuck in path.

Santiago lands in Africa, his first encounter with a strange land where only Arabic is spoken. He is afraid of the new place and the people. He meet a man who can speak his language. The man promises to help Santiago cross the dessert. But in no time the man disappears with all of Santiago's money. Santiago wants to cry, he is helpless on a strange land. Santiago is left with no money and now he can believe no one. The only thing left with Santiago is his old rusty Jacket and two stones Urim and Thumim.