This book what hard to follow for me. Perhaps Because his quest what Typically male (boyish) and as a woman I found it hard to Imagine That young men are indeed two-dimensional. To Think That fullfillment of a dream must be a journey taken alone ... Santiago makes nothing happen on his journey. In his quest, things only happen to him, not Because of him. Santiago gains insight-big deal. One reviewer from Santa Clara wrote, "I am a self professed evangelist of the book since I've read it. Absolutely love it's lessons without the" preachy "feel, and love the factthat the situations are Those Which every one of us can relate to - though all may not recognize them as They happen to us ". I read the book Because of That review ... I wish I could get together with this person and discuss that. Lessons learned in the Alchemist are learned on stand-bye, They are not learned from experience. That's no way to grow in life.