From the Bookshelf of Read by Theme…

The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho

Why we're reading this: Santiago is 17 or 18 years old at the start of the book so it fits in with teenage protagonist theme
[close] Santiago is 17 or 18 years old at the start of the book so it fits in with teenage protagonist theme

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Jul 26, 2012 Chris rated it it was ok

Okay now many people loved this book. I for one didn’t. I don’t hate it, but to me this fits in with the self-help books which tout that if you want something to happen you need to want it with everything you are, no matter what, and not allowing yourself any doubt about it and you will make it happen. I totally disagree with this idea, not only because this is such a load of lies but it’s also a very bad way to live your life. Just because you want something doesn’t make it good for you. Sure t Okay now many people loved this book. I for one didn’t. I don’t hate it, but to me this fits in with the self-help books which tout that if you want something to happen you need to want it with everything you are, no matter what, and not allowing yourself any doubt about it and you will make it happen. I totally disagree with this idea, not only because this is such a load of lies but it’s also a very bad way to live your life. Just because you want something doesn’t make it good for you. Sure the idea of following your heart is an old one but it is often wrong. Why should your heart lead to where your mind knows you shouldn’t go? Many people are “true to themselves” but harm other’s in the process.

Also we have a complete lack of considering the doubts our intuition raises. The reason we DOUBT something is because something inside us tells us that something is wrong about our choice or our path. I mean really if you can’t allow your doubts to influence you then you would deliberately be blinding yourself to some basic truths.

Then we take the fact that in the book they are saying we can ignore the concerns and doubts and criticisms of others and that is just insane. People may criticize you for a reason, because what you’re doing is wrong or dangerous or just plain harmful to others.

In today’s society we are placing far too much on the needs and the rights of the individual. The ME, ME, ME attitude of society today is actually destroying it. So this book teaching that me me me lesson is a horrible lesson. People focus too much on themselves at the very real detriment to the other people around them. Sure it can be a good idea to go against the group at times but you also live in a society with socially acceptable normal.

This book was badly written, condescending, and morally questionable. All the fables and stories are taken from other religious ideas and are so badly mixed its almost laughable. The absolute drivel in this book made me want to scream at times.

It reads like a really badly written self-help book for a ten year old. I read a lot of books and I can assure you that this book would be one of the most self-propagating load of horse manure I have ever come across.
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