this is a book review of the famous book alchemist by author paulo coelho.

1. The AlchemistThe Alchemist
IntroductionIntroduction

2. Consider the Following…Consider the Following…
 Fully describe a goal or dream that you areFully describe a goal or dream that you are
working toward.working toward.
 What is the purpose of this goal?What is the purpose of this goal?
 What will it help you achieve after attaining it?What will it help you achieve after attaining it?
 What strengths do you possess that will help youWhat strengths do you possess that will help you
along the way?along the way?

3. ““A Dream Deferred”A Dream Deferred”
by Langston Hughesby Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry upDoes it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—Or fester like a sore—
And then run?And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over –Or crust and sugar over –
like a syrupy sweet?like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sagsMaybe it just sags
like a heavy load.like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?Or does it explode?

4. Paulo CoelhoPaulo Coelho
 Born in Rio deBorn in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil inJaneiro, Brazil in
19471947
 Always wanted toAlways wanted to
be a writerbe a writer
 Worked at variousWorked at various
professionsprofessions

5. Paulo CoelhoPaulo Coelho
 "I always knew,” he"I always knew,” he
says, "that mysays, "that my
Personal LegendPersonal Legend, to, to
use a term fromuse a term from
alchemy, was toalchemy, was to
write.“write.“
 He was 38 when heHe was 38 when he
published his firstpublished his first
book.book.

6. Paulo CoelhoPaulo Coelho
 Dropped out of lawDropped out of law
school in 1970school in 1970
 Traveled through muchTraveled through much
of South America, Northof South America, North
Africa, Mexico, andAfrica, Mexico, and
Europe.Europe.
 Successful career asSuccessful career as
popular songwriter.popular songwriter.

7. Paulo CoelhoPaulo Coelho
 1974 imprisoned short1974 imprisoned short
time by the militarytime by the military
dictatorship then rulingdictatorship then ruling
in Brazil.in Brazil.
 1980 walked the 500-1980 walked the 500-
plus mile Road ofplus mile Road of
Santiago deSantiago de
Compostela inCompostela in
northwestern Spain.northwestern Spain.

8. Paulo CoelhoPaulo Coelho
 Coehlo achieved aCoehlo achieved a
self-awarenessself-awareness
and spiritualand spiritual
awakening that heawakening that he
later described inlater described in
The PilgrimageThe Pilgrimage..

9. FableFable
 Short narrative makes aShort narrative makes a
moral pointmoral point
 Traditionally by means ofTraditionally by means of
animal characters who actanimal characters who act
like human beingslike human beings
 Legend about supernatural orLegend about supernatural or
mythical characters or eventsmythical characters or events

10. AllegoryAllegory
 A representation of an abstract or spiritualA representation of an abstract or spiritual
meaning through concrete or material formsmeaning through concrete or material forms

11. What isWhat is
ALCHEMY?ALCHEMY?

12. Alchemists have 2 main goalsAlchemists have 2 main goals
 Medieval scientists practicedMedieval scientists practiced
alchemy, hoping toalchemy, hoping to produce goldproduce gold
fromfrom less valuable metalsless valuable metals. (Turn. (Turn
metal into gold)metal into gold)
 Alchemists also desired toAlchemists also desired to
develop potions, known as elixirs,develop potions, known as elixirs,
to ensure good health and extendto ensure good health and extend
life spans. (The Philosopherslife spans. (The Philosophers
Stone and/or The Elixir of Life)Stone and/or The Elixir of Life)

13. Where did alchemy come from?Where did alchemy come from?
 Founded in Egypt, alchemy wasFounded in Egypt, alchemy was
practiced throughout thepracticed throughout the
Mediterranean regions and as farMediterranean regions and as far
away as Chinaaway as China
 They believed that all objectsThey believed that all objects
consist of water, air, fire and earthconsist of water, air, fire and earth
 Early alchemy was controversialEarly alchemy was controversial
and was opposed by many rulersand was opposed by many rulers
and religionsand religions

14. The AlchemistThe Alchemist by Paulo Coelhoby Paulo Coelho
 Personal Legend =Personal Legend = Your DestinyYour Destiny
 There are 4 obstacles toThere are 4 obstacles to
overcome before you canovercome before you can
achieve your Personal Legendachieve your Personal Legend
 People tell you that your dream isPeople tell you that your dream is
IMPOSSIBLE to achieveIMPOSSIBLE to achieve
 LOVELOVE
 FEAR OF DEFEATFEAR OF DEFEAT
 FEAR OF REALIZING THE DREAMFEAR OF REALIZING THE DREAM

15. The AlchemistThe Alchemist
 Personal Legend =Personal Legend =
DestinyDestiny
 Our job is to pursueOur job is to pursue
our personal legendour personal legend
despite the manydespite the many
distractions placed indistractions placed in
our pathour path

16. Lessons ofLessons of The AlchemistThe Alchemist
 Trust your heartTrust your heart
 Read the seeminglyRead the seemingly
inconspicuous signsinconspicuous signs
 Understand that as youUnderstand that as you
look to fulfill a dream,look to fulfill a dream,
it looks to find you, ifit looks to find you, if
you let ityou let it
 Sometimes you canSometimes you can
find extraordinary infind extraordinary in
the ordinary.the ordinary.

17. Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau
 ““What a man thinks of himself, that is whichWhat a man thinks of himself, that is which
determines, or rather indicates, his fate.”determines, or rather indicates, his fate.”
 ““Go confidently in the direction of yourGo confidently in the direction of your
dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.”dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.”

18. The Story of NarcissusThe Story of Narcissus
 Once upon a time, there was a boy called Narcissus. He wasOnce upon a time, there was a boy called Narcissus. He was
the son of a god and he was very, very handsome. Manythe son of a god and he was very, very handsome. Many
women fell in love with him, but he turned them away. Onewomen fell in love with him, but he turned them away. One
of the women who loved Narcissus was a nymph calledof the women who loved Narcissus was a nymph called
Echo. Echo could not speak properly - she could only repeatEcho. Echo could not speak properly - she could only repeat
what was said to her, so she couldn't tell Narcissus that shewhat was said to her, so she couldn't tell Narcissus that she
loved him. One day, when Narcissus was walking in theloved him. One day, when Narcissus was walking in the
woods with some friends, he became separated fromwoods with some friends, he became separated from
them. He called out "Is anyone here?" Echo replied "Here,them. He called out "Is anyone here?" Echo replied "Here,
Here". Echo stepped forward with open arms, wanting toHere". Echo stepped forward with open arms, wanting to
cuddle him. But Narcissus refused to accept Echo's love.cuddle him. But Narcissus refused to accept Echo's love.
Echo was so upset that she left and hid in a cave, untilEcho was so upset that she left and hid in a cave, until
nothing was left of her, except her voice.nothing was left of her, except her voice.

19. Story continued…Story continued…
 The Maiden, a goddess, found out about this,The Maiden, a goddess, found out about this,
and she was very angry. She made Narcissusand she was very angry. She made Narcissus
fall in love with himself. When Narcissusfall in love with himself. When Narcissus
looked at his reflection in a pond one day, helooked at his reflection in a pond one day, he
fell in love. He stayed on that spot forever,fell in love. He stayed on that spot forever,
until he died one day. Where he died a floweruntil he died one day. Where he died a flower
grew, and that flower is called a Narcissus.grew, and that flower is called a Narcissus.