“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist is one of the twentieth century’s most profound and inspirational books. A global bestseller and leading work on spirituality, it follows a young Andalusian shepherd named Santiago and his dreams of unearthing treasure near the Egyptian pyramids. Along his journey, he encounters various individuals who offer him wisdom and guidance, with Santiago having to overcome various challenges, obstacles and points of self-discovery.
Coelho leans on various spiritual and philosophical concepts, and the book’s themes of the pursuit of one’s dreams and the interconnectivity of the universe have made his book a motivational classic. Join us at What We Reading for the best books like The Alchemist!
Who Wrote The Alchemist?
Paulo Coelho is the author, lyricist, theatre director, actor and journalist behind The Alchemist. One of the best-selling Brazilian books of all time, the inspiration for The Alchemist and The Pilgrimage came in 1986 following his pilgrimage to Saint James of Compostella. To date, Coelho has published 30 books, selling 320 million copies across 170 countries.
The Pilgrimage – Paulo Coelho
Paving the way for The Alchemist and kicking off our list of the best books similar to it, The Pilgrimage is a 1987 release by Paulo Coelho. These two books are so similar, that many readers consider them companions to one another, rather than independent releases.
In The Pilgrimage, readers follow Coelho on his trek to Santiago de Compostela. This parable features his trademark insights and lessons on the need to find one’s path in life. The result is a hugely moving read that demonstrates how the extraordinary is so often found in the ordinary and simple ways of everyday people. Providing enchantment and striking insight, The Pilgrimage is part spiritual guidebook, part fictional adventure, and an absolute must-read for anyone who loved The Alchemist.
The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Another philosophical classic similar to The Alchemist comes from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry in The Little Prince. Cherished by kids and adult readers alike, it is a fable that begins when a pilot, stranded in the desert, wakes up one morning to see a little prince standing over him. The little prince asks him to draw a sheep, kicking off a stunning lesson in understanding, when life’s events become too complex to understand, there is no choice but to give in to their mysteries. The pilot gradually begins to realise there is more to this visitor – and life itself – than he first imagined.
One of the best books like The Alchemist for matching its sense of magical possibility and comforting marriage of fantasy, wonder and mystery, The Little Prince continues to capture the hearts of readers looking to learn more about what is important in life.
If Cats Disappeared From The World – Genki Kawamura
Another book like The Alchemist that evokes a bittersweet feeling on the back of its beautifully-written narrative is Genki Kawamura’s If Cats Disappeared from the World. The book’s narrator only has a few months to live, and resides alone with just his cat, Cabbage, for company. That is when the Devil appears, offering the narrator a strange bargain. If he makes one thing disappear from the world, he is granted an extra day to live.
Thus begins not only an incredibly bizarre week for the narrator but also one of the most profound examinations of what makes life worth living. A story of loss and reconciliation and of what we hold most dear against what we can do without, If Cats Disappeared from the World is a moving dive into what matters in the modern world.
Klara And The Sun – Kazuo Ishiguro
Nominated for the Best Science Fiction book in the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards, Klara and the Sun mirrors The Alchemist in its attempt to answer questions about the meaning of life, what we leave behind when we die and what it means to be human.
The book is told from the perspective of Klara, an artificial friend with acute observational skills. Every day, she watches the people outside the shop and the behaviours of those who come in browse, hoping that one day one of them will pick her up. As she becomes more aware of herself, humans and the world around her, Klara begins to realise life is not as simple as her makers first led her to believe. Ishiguro comments on the rapidly evolving nature of the modern world in Klara and the Sun, asking what it means to love and to live.
The Little Paris Bookshop (Jean Perdu #1) – Nina George
Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. From his floating bookstore on the River Seine, he prescribes books to readers based on life’s hardships, mending broken hearts and lost spirits. However, the one person he has yet to cure with his collection is himself, still reeling from the heartbreak since his true love disappeared. She left him with a single letter. A letter that he has yet to open.
Nina George’s The Little Paris Bookshop follows Monsieur Perdu as he is finally tempted to open the letter, embarking on an adventure to the south of France on a mission to make peace with the past and bring the story to a close. Joined by a spurned Italian chef and an enigmatic author, Perdu imparts all of the wisdom his years of reading have granted him as the group journeys through the country’s picturesque surroundings – a wholesome and warm love letter to the transformative power of literature for healing and self-discovery.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Little Paris Bookshop
The Power Of One (The Power of One #1) – Bryce Courtenay
Set in 1939, Bryce Courtenay’s The Power of One is a historical fiction coming-of-age book like The Alchemist that mirrors its exploration of growth, learning and re-learning. Whisking readers to South Africa as apartheid sets in across the country, the narrative introduces a young boy named Peekay. Abandonment and humiliation mar his upbringing, yet his spirit remains undented by the challenges, as his resilience and dreams persist. And yet, even his wildest dreams can’t compare to what his life has in store for him.
This classic piece of literature sees Peekay embark on an epic adventure across this rugged land filled with tribal superstitions and contemporary prejudices. Courtenay’s dazzlingly-told tale sees Peekay and readers gain insight into the potential of words, and the power of identity and belonging.
Illusions: The Adventures Of A Reluctant Messiah – Richard Bach
Another book similar to The Alchemist in its approach to reality, belief, and the pursuit of one’s destiny comes from Richard Bach in Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah. Uniquely told with Bach serving as the book’s narrator, a brainstorming pilot, Illusions details his encounter with Donald Shimoda, a former mechanic turned messiah with the power to perform incredible miracles.
Shimoda reluctantly accepts his messianic position and imparts wisdom to Bach on the nature of belief, the truth of reality and the illusions humans create. Challenging conventional thinking, Bach’s book has become one of the most renowned spiritual self-help books for breaking free of self-imposed limitations, living a more authentic and liberated life and exploring the possibilities of their perceptions.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
