Cover of The Alchemist

Book · 2002 · Fiction

The Alchemist

by Paulo Coelho · Recommended by 21 people on 13 podcasts

#79 of 15,593 books, ranked by how many different people bring it up on podcasts

mentions
42
people
21
podcasts
13
episodes
35
critical mentions
0

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And you know, if if you've read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, you know, when you when you know your life's purpose the universe conspires to make it happen.
Mo Gawdat · The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett · Oct 2021 Listen at 16:52

What they say about it

Grouped from 42 mentions
  • Discusses the journey home“come back to the place where you started”
    3
  • Calls it a favorite“one of my favorite books”
    2
  • Gives it as a gift“given this book as a gift”
    2

The best things said about it

6 of 42 · every mention
Recommended
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This is a must-read in my opinion. I love this book.
Mel Robbins The Mel Robbins Podcast · Mar 2025
Discussed
There are parallels within The Alchemist and my actual story, but it's not a complete side-by-side thing. It's just, it was a lighthouse for me, you know?
On the show On Purpose with Jay Shetty · Aug 2023
Discussed
The Alchemist. I loved the short fable of the Alchemist because that really you know helped me remember to focus on following my dreams.
On the show ChooseFI · Oct 2022
Recommended
It's like the book I always say The Alchemist you know you if you set your goal you say that's where I want to go.
Bas Rutten The Joe Rogan Experience · Jan 2013
Discussed
I just got done reading The Alchemist and that book it talks about opportunities and omens and stuff like that a lot.
On the show This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von · Mar 2023
Discussed
Remember the allegory from The Alchemist that you're being tested by all the lessons you have to go through before finally achieving the ultimate success.
On the show The Rich Roll Podcast · Dec 2019

Where and when it comes up

Mentions per year

Counted mentions by episode date. Our archive is deeper for recent years; 2026 so far.

How it comes up

Recommended means the speaker tells listeners to read it.

Most mentions, by podcast

Top 9 of 13 shows

21 people who brought it up

Most recommendations first

Also: Dr. Luana Marques · Jay Shetty · Joe Folley · Lex Fridman · Mike Cernovich · Mo Gawdat · Nick Bilton · Shaan Puri · Will Smith

Why people recommend it

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a celebrated philosophical novel about a young Andalusian shepherd named Santiago who travels across the desert in search of a hidden Egyptian treasure, ultimately discovering his true personal legend. On On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Big Sean named it as one of his favorite books while discussing the idea that true answers come from within. On The Mel Robbins Podcast, Mel Robbins recommended the book as a must-read, noting that she loves it and frequently gives it as a gift. Aaron Rodgers mentioned on The Tucker Carlson Show that he uses the book as a starting point when advising teammates on reading materials, steering them toward foundational self-help and spiritual growth. Lewis Howes told Jay Shetty on On Purpose that the book had been deeply impactful to his life. Similarly, Mikal Vega recommended the work on The Shawn Ryan Show as a guide for anyone beginning a spiritual journey. Chris Williamson briefly referenced it on Modern Wisdom while discussing his reading habits before participating in a reality television program. Across these diverse conversations, podcasters and their guests consistently praised the novel for its accessibility and its profound message about self-discovery, spiritual awakening, and following one's personal calling in life.

Every mention

42 counted mentions · 5 passing or ad reads below
Chris Williamson at the Alchemist Paulo Coelho great novel 11
Discussed
“and like I read The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho so I was in a fucking like psychedelic fugue state for the entirety of the time that I was on there. It's a bad idea. It would be a piece of advice to anyone going on reality TV. Do not read The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho before you go on.”
Discussed
“The, um, The Alchemist by Paula Quello. Uh, that was like the first book I read. I went so long without reading a book.”
Discussed
“And it's the same lesson as Paulo Qua's The Alchemist, which is this young boy goes on a huge big journey and he finds out the thing that he was looking for was in the back garden all along.”
Discussed
“isn't it interesting how most people's projects have this like odd uh Paulo quo's The Alchemist like you leave the place to come back to where you started”
Discussed
“is you come back to the place where you started the entire story of The Alchemist by Paulo qua”
Discussed
“it's like The Alchemist by Paulo qu he could have just come back and dug in the the yard outside of where he first started”
Discussed
“It's like The Alchemist by Paulo quo where you end up going all the way back around to just stick to your words”
Discussed
“and I'd just read Paulo quo's The Alchemist as well it like the first book I'd read in probably a decade”
Discussed
“number five The Alchemist by Paulo coella got like one and a half right”
Recommended
“because i've just read paula coyle the alchemist [ __ ] [ __ ] oh dude anyone that needs needs an easy read um pick up anything by paulo coelho”
Recommended
“at the Alchemist Paulo Coelho great novel”
Lewis Howes I mean, I've already read about 15 books in my life probably cover to cover. So the ones that have been imp… 2
Recommended
“I mean, I've already read about 15 books in my life probably cover to cover. So the ones that have been impactful for me are The Alchemist, which I think is one of your favorites. I love it!”
Recommended
“i mean the alchemist which i think is one of your favorite i love it yeah the alchemist i think”
Mel Robbins Let's talk about book number two and that book is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelloo. This is a must-read in my… 2
Recommended
“Let's talk about book number two and that book is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelloo. This is a must-read in my opinion. I love this book.”
Recommended
“Let's talk about book number two. And that book is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelloo. There are so many reasons why I love this book. I recommend this book. I have also given this book as a gift.”
Mike Posner one was the alchemist uh-huh and the other was a book called ask and it is given 2
Recommended
“one was the alchemist uh-huh and the other was a book called ask and it is given”
Discussed
“and this book I'm asking it is given it changed my life is about sort of a wacky thing that people have a lot of opinions about by believing the law of attraction which is you sort of get what you think about”
Aaron Rodgers so I might start them with the Alchemist start with that one and maybe send them to a crack hour book or se… 1
Recommended
“so I might start them with the Alchemist start with that one and maybe send them to a crack hour book or send them to a self-help book or something or maybe a book about medicine”
Bas Rutten it's like the book I always say The Alchemist you know you if you set your goal you say that's where I want… 1
Recommended
“it's like the book I always say The Alchemist you know you if you set your goal you say that's where I want to go”
Big Sean That's what That's actually the concept of The Alchemist, one of my favorite books as well. Yeah, that's re… 1
Recommended
“That's what That's actually the concept of The Alchemist, one of my favorite books as well. Yeah, that's real. that.”
Mikal Vega the alchemist you know is a great book 1
Recommended
“the alchemist you know is a great book”
Kobe Bryant question number five the book that's had the biggest impact on you the alchemist 2
Discussed
“question number five the book that's had the biggest impact on you the alchemist”
Discussed
“question number four the book that's had the biggest impact on you the alchemist”
Arsenio Hall The Alchemist. I have been on page 12 for like a year and a half, you know. Sit down on a plane and just ju… 1
Discussed
“The Alchemist. I have been on page 12 for like a year and a half, you know. Sit down on a plane and just just read the alchemist at the top of the page and I'm out.”
Christopher Ryan he wrote The Alchemist like the bestselling book in the history of humanity 1
Discussed
“he wrote The Alchemist like the bestselling book in the history of humanity”
Danica Patrick I am in simple books like The Alchemist and stuff I just really want to read these books 1
Discussed
“I am in simple books like The Alchemist and stuff I just really want to read these books”
Dr. Luana Marques the second one was at 16 she gave me The Alchemist by Paula Queen oh yeah uh-huh I'm sure you've read The A… 1
Discussed
“the second one was at 16 she gave me The Alchemist by Paula Queen oh yeah uh-huh I'm sure you've read The Alchemist”
Jay Shetty And man, the the album Santiago is inspired by Paulo Coelho's Alchemist, which is a legendary if you haven'… 1
Discussed
“And man, the the album Santiago is inspired by Paulo Coelho's Alchemist, which is a legendary if you haven't heard of I mean, you have to have heard of this book. Everyone's listening. If you haven't, it's a legendary book by legendary author.”
Joe Folley I know that 1
Lex Fridman You know, people say that to me sometimes about certain books like Rand, but also about "The Alchemist." 1
Discussed
“You know, people say that to me sometimes about certain books like Rand, but also about "The Alchemist."”
Mike Cernovich I like Paulo aquela books a lot and he did he's famous for The Alchemist 1
Discussed
“I like Paulo aquela books a lot and he did he's famous for The Alchemist”
Mo Gawdat And you know, if if you've read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, you know, when you when you know your life's… 1
Discussed
“And you know, if if you've read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, you know, when you when you know your life's purpose the universe conspires to make it happen.”
Nick Bilton And I I went and was talking to him and I was like, "How does it feel to know that like your book The Alche… 1
Discussed
“And I I went and was talking to him and I was like, "How does it feel to know that like your book The Alchemist has been on the New York Times best seller list for like 15 years, you know?"”
Shaan Puri I'm guessing it's something like you know that book The Alchemist where it's like he goes around the world… 1
Discussed
“I'm guessing it's something like you know that book The Alchemist where it's like he goes around the world searching for something and it's in his own backyard or whatever.”
Will Smith he put me on to the alchemist um you know 1
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker7
Discussed
“There are parallels within The Alchemist and my actual story, but it's not a complete side-by-side thing. It's just, it was a lighthouse for me, you know?”
Discussed
“But you know if you read The Alchemist about the signs and all these things? I'm like, all right, clearly I'm supposed to be reading this, or unless he's got the room bugged, I don't know what's going on.”
Discussed
“I said, 'Yo, I'm actually making an album loosely inspired by The Alchemist,' and he was like, 'That's so great, keep me posted.' He would check in periodically, like, 'Yo, how's it going?'”
Discussed
“and uh I just got done reading The Alchemist and that book it talks about opportunities and Omens and stuff like that a lot”
Discussed
“The Alchemist I loved the short Fable of the Alchemists because that really you know helped me remember to focus on following my dreams”
Discussed
“he put me onto napoleon hill he put me on to the alchemist”
Discussed
“and he sent the text message and it's a passage from one of my favorite books which is the alchemist and he says he says remember the allegory from The Alchemist that you're being tested by all the lessons you have to go through before finally achieving the ultimate success”

Also mentioned in the same episodes

Other mentions (5: passing, ad reads, own books)
Passing
“This is the story of Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, right?”
Passing
“it's the same stories you get in The Alchemist by Paulo quo etc etc”
Passing
“The Alchemist by Paulo Quello”
Passing
“like that other big um translated fiction title The Alchemist”
Passing
“and who is the guy that writes uh the alchemist those things he has them also just like that”

Portraits from Wikimedia Commons: Chris Williamson, CiaPeterson / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0); Lewis Howes, Lewis Howes / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0); Mike Posner, Adam Bielawski / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0); Aaron Rodgers, All-Pro Reels / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0); Kobe Bryant, Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).