One of the best selling books in history. It set the Guinness World Record for most translated book by a living author. It’s the story of a poor shepherd boy who travels the world in search of riches. But his journey leads him to discover that true riches are found when you follow your dreams.

The book is an international bestseller. According to AFP, it has sold more than 65 million copies in 56 different languages, becoming one of the best-selling books in history and setting the Guinness World Record for most translated book by a living author.

The book's main theme is about finding one's destiny. According to The New York Times, The Alchemist is "more self-help than literature". An old king tells Santiago, "when you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true". This is the core of the novel's philosophy and a motif that plays all throughout Coelho's writing in The Alchemist.