Books like The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
There may not be anything exactly like Coelho’s classic, but these books are as close as you can get.
The Alchemist is one of the world’s most beloved books. It has been translated into dozens of languages and continues to entrance readers of all ages from all over the world. The Alchemist is a fable full of wisdom, adventure, and philosophy that has been resonating with readers since the book’s publication in 1988. If you’ve read and loved The Alchemist and are wondering what to read next-we’ve got you covered. These seven books are a blend of magic and philosophy, fable and adventure, and wisdom and fun.
Many readers return to The Alchemist again and again because of its gentle but enduring advice for living a good life. It’s a beautifully told story full of wisdom that makes you feel like you’re not alone. If you’re craving more nuggets of philosophy, why not turn to the words of one of history’s greatest philosophers? Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations is a bit more straightforward than The Alchemist, but it’s no less charming. His keen observations on love, work, self-reflection, wealth, relationships, spirituality, and more will have you itching to change your life for the better.
If it’s the feelings you got while reading The Alchemist that you’re after-that sense of magical possibility, that comforting blend of delight, wonder, and mystery-then you might turn to another beloved classic: The Little Prince. Like The Alchemist, The Little Prince is a fable with layers of meaning, a timeless story that has enchanted children and adults alike for decades. A lone pilot, lost in the desert, is astonished to discover a small prince, who begins talking to him and asking questions. Soon, the pilot realizes that maybe there’s more to his visitor-and to the world he lives in-than he ever imagined.
Another classic philosophical fable, Sophie’s World begins when 14-year-old Sophie receives two strange letters. One of them asks her who she is, and the other, where the world comes from. Intrigued by this unusual mail, Sophie begins pondering these questions, and soon she’s engaged in a robust correspondence with a mysterious philosopher about everything from Socrates to the small confusions of her own life. Part riddle, part coming-of-age story, and part philosophical text, this unusual young adult novel overflows with the same infectious curiosity that draws readers to The Alchemist.
If you’re looking for a book with the same emotional resonance as The Alchemist, but with a modern twist, considering picking up Matt Haig’s delightful, witty, and magical romp, The Midnight Library. Somewhere in the universe there’s a library of infinite books-one book for every life you might have lived, but didn’t. When Nora, a woman on the edge of death, encounters this library, she’s faced with the possibility of reliving a thousand different lives, each one branching off from a choice she didn’t make. It’s a whimsical and heartfelt novel about the choices we make, the choices we don’t make, and the choices that really matter.
Part of The Alchemist’s appeal is the enduring questions it tries to answer: What is the meaning of life? What’s really important? What does it mean to be human, and what do we leave behind when we die? Ishiguro explores many of these same questions in Klara and the Sun, a sci-fi novel about an AI, Klara, who longs to be chosen as an Artificial Friend by a human. As Klara becomes more aware of herself and her surroundings, she realizes that her life among humans is not as simple as her makers lead her to believe.
This bittersweet and moving story is perfect for readers looking for another book as wholesome and beautifully crafted as The Alchemist. The narrator, who lives alone with his cat, Cabbage, has only a few months to live. When the Devil arrives, offering him an unusual bargain, he’s unprepared for the chaos that ensues. The Devil offers him this deal: if he makes one thing disappear from the world, he can live for an extra day. What follows is both a real and philosophical adventure, as the narrator attempts to untangle what matters and what doesn’t.
Though it’s by far his best known work, The Alchemist isn’t the only book Paulo Coelho has written. The Witch of Portobello is similar to The Alchemist in tone and theme, as it also explores some of the most enduring problems of humanity-what it means to follow your dreams, how to stay true to yourself, the nature of courage. The story unfolds in a chorus of POVs, a kind of collective remembrance of the central character, an enigmatic woman named Athena. As those who knew her share their stories, her life and its meaning slowly become clear.
Originally published at https://www.kobo.com on April 3, 2023.
