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Cover of The Alchemist by Paulo CoelhoThe Alchemist
Classic · Fiction, Fantasy, Philosophy

The Alchemist

by Paulo Coelho
1988 · 181 pages · Fiction
65.6Must-Read
Score Classic
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 5 hours to read · about 10 days at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Santiago, a young Andalusian shepherd, dreams of a treasure hidden near the Egyptian pyramids. He sets out to find it, meeting a king, a crystal merchant and an alchemist, and learning to listen to his heart and follow his Personal Legend.

Why it's worth reading

It's one of the best-selling books ever, with about 150 million copies sold, and it has spent 449 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists.

You'll love it if you liked

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Good to know

It's short and written as a fable. Readers either love its simplicity or find it too simple.

By the numbers

65.6Must-Read Score
  • Readers6 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller94 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Bestseller
One of the best-selling books ever (about 150 million copies)449 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2008
On the lists
PBS Great American ReadBBC's The Big Read

Reads as

Thought-provoking, Adventurous, Moving

How we rank

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Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →
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Quick answers

Is The Alchemist worth reading?

Yes. It's one of the best-selling books ever, with about 150 million copies sold, and it has spent 449 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #1,804 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.6 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is The Alchemist about?

Santiago, a young Andalusian shepherd, dreams of a treasure hidden near the Egyptian pyramids. He sets out to find it, meeting a king, a crystal merchant and an alchemist, and learning to listen to his heart and follow his Personal Legend.

How long does it take to read The Alchemist?

About 5 hours (181 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after The Alchemist?

If you liked it, try The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse or Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach.