药典委:The Alchemist的书评

Book Summary and Review - Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist, first published in 1988, is a modern classic that has been translated into sixty languages, read in over 150 counties and sold more than 30 million copies. Its I readership includes American presidents, Nobel Prize winners and Hollywood stars. In one spare evening, this long list can include you––it’s just 167 pages long!

The Alchemist begins at dusk. Santiago, a Shepard boy, is settling in for the night with his herd at an abandoned church with a half-destroyed roof and an enormous sycamore tree growing through it. That night, he has a dream about finding treasure near the Egyptian Pyramids.

His travels have brought him near a town where he hopes to reacquaint himself with a girl he met the previous year. He detours to Tarifa, a nearby village where he can shave, get a haircut, and meet with visit a gypsy who can interpret dreams. The gypsy and a mysterious old man claiming to be a king advise him to pursue the treasure.

To that end, Santiago sells his sheep and travels from Spain to Tangier. A thief steals his all of his money, forcing Santiago to take a job to survive. He finds works for a crystal merchant and after a year of success helping him expand his business, Santiago earns enough money to return home. On the way, he meets an Englishman on a quest to learn the secrets of alchemy and is inspired continue his search. Local wars strand Santiago and the Englishman in a desert oasis. However, thanks to this change in plans, he finds his true love, Fatima, and meets the Alchemist. Together with the Alchemist, Santiago continues his journey, facing life-threatening danger and more financial loss. He reaches the Pyramids of Egypt and ultimately finds his treasure––but not in Egypt. You’ll have the read the book (or email me) for the answer to this question.

Colorful and entertaining story as it is, The Alchemist’s plot is merely the waft through which Coelho weaves his simple but powerful allegory. Santiago’s story is more than a search for gold and physical treasure; it is one person’s journey in pursuit of his Personal Legend – the “path God choose for you here on Earth.” It’s a wake up call designed to inspire us to think about the path we’re on and question whether we are being true to our calling. Unfortunately, like Santiago, we face four major obstacles while pursuing our destinies and most of us forfeit the pursuit of our Personal Legend when faced with one of them.

We begin life as bold dreamers. Have you ever met a child who didn’t aspire to greatness – to be a doctor, astronaut or the President of the United States? However, life conspires to kill our self confidence and our creativity. From an early age , we’re told that what we want to do is impossible. The dreams get buried deeper as we’re told we’re not smart enough, there isn’t enough money or our efforts are not worth the risk.

Love is the second obstacle. If our courage has been ample and our dreams prevail, love can still stop us in our tracks. We fear abandoning or hurting our loved ones in the process of investing in our dreams. How many people do you know suffering unhappily in the workplace because they’re afraid of the financial consequences of a career change and how it will affect their families? Ironically, we fail to recognize that people worth our love, the ones that love us back unconditionally, are the first to encourage us and volunteer to participate in the journey and share the risks.

The third obstacle is fear of failure and defeat. One thing is certain: while pursuing your goals you will encounter setbacks and suffering. Battles are lost in the process of winning wars. However, when pursuing our Personal Legend, The Alchemist reminds us, the Universe is conspiring in our favor. Everything, including moments we’re down and out, are there to teach us what we need to achieve our ultimate goal. For example, funding real estate development or a new business puts us at risk and forces financial trade offs. However, this discomfort is an important part of what you reap from your investment and better prepares you for the next deal.

The forth obstacle is fear of realizing our dreams. Many people look around and see those who have failed and feel guilty at the prospect of achieving their own goals. This can lead to last minute mistakes that deprive them of their goals when they are on the threshold of achieving them.

Though I enjoyed and identified with Santiago’s journey, my one disappointment in The Alchemist’s narrative is its continued emphasis on material success and “physical treasure.” While I do not underestimate the importance to be able to support yourself and provide for your family, many modern dreams seem to die as people pursue short term financial gains. I know a number of people in jobs that are very high paying, but unfulfilling. Their salaries have qualified them for huge mortgages. They belong to fancy country clubs. Their kids have gotten used to private school, and being driven there in Mom’s Lexus SUV. Many chose their careers because they were high paying, and were exactly what they wanted to be 15 years ago. As they say, be careful what you wish for – it might actually come true. Now, many are miserable, in financial shackles and unable to take risks to change careers or start a business.

While Santiago fell in love, saw the Great Pyramids––and earned physical treasures along the way––material success wasn’t the end in itself. I would have been more satisfied with the story if his “treasure” were a life of love, adventure and ample prosperity––a life lived well rather than a life lived lavishly.