What are some /lit/ approved books like this? Basically comfy narrative with underlying philosophy.
i liked it but I'm sure there's better
siddhartha is better alchemist
alchemist is drivel, new age self help dsigusied as literature
This is not /lit/ approved
This is worse than YA
Only untermensxhen read this book
>>7762407
This
What the fuck?
>>7762407
i haven't been in the habit for reading 5+ years, this is the first thing I saw that was interesting
>>7762406
>he hasn't subscribed to New Age philosophies yet
This is why America is falling behind. Get with the times.
Skip the crap and read these:
The Upanishads
The Heart Sutra
Apology
The Cossacks
Corpus Hermeticum
Storm and Steel
Ecce Homo
>>7762417
For books with obvious philosophical subtext just read Camus or Dostoevsky
>>7762423
The fuck are those philosophies anyway. Isn't New âge just venerating spirits of rocks ?
>>7762438
Most New Age philosophy centers around the concept of the Law of Attraction (basically the universe acts in a self-fulfilling prophecy; whatever you sincerely believe will happen will happen; "like attracts like"), the Law of Pure Potentiality (everything, under the laws of matter, has infinite potential) and the Path of Least Resistance (everything moves in accord with the easiest route possible).
There's a lot more to it, but those are probably the three central laws.
>mfw I have to read this piece of shit for a class
We're going to have a discussion on it. I can't wait to see how "deep" people think it is.
>>7762403
Read it in a couple of hours at the airport, was a nice comfy read that reminded me a lot of the better literary children's fiction out there.
If you enjoyed this I can almost guarantee you'll like The Jungle Book and Watership Down.
For a more authentic and robust exploration of philosophical apologues with an atmosphere of magical realism I highly recommend the 1001 Nights and Borges' Ficciones
>>7762403
it made me want an arab t.b.h lads
>>7762406
>new age self help dsigusied as literature
What makes you say that, the reviews? To be honest I heard it was a "life-changer" before I read it, too, but it was just a simple little tale. Didn't feel preachy.
>>7762472
Sounds a lot like meme magic, desu senpai.
I don't share the opinion of 80% of the posters here - this book is ok-tier in my opinion, but I think Coelho has some way better works out there. For example, The Manuscript Found in Accra, or Valkyries. But eh, I'd recommend you some Eco (Foccault's Pendulum, Baudolino, Name of the Rose), it's quite similiar type of literature but slightly more flashy.
>>7762841
Felt the same way. Far overrated based on review sites.
>>7762406
I've never bothered with "modern self help", what even is it, and why is it bullshit?
I'm guessing its just made not for the purpose of getting an idea out, but to make the reader feel good about themselves/sell more.
or is it just political hurr do what i say
>>7762434
Meme spirituality starter pack.
>>7762403
Coelho's Alchemist is one of the worst books I've ever read. It doesn't have any underlying philosophy, it's utter shit.
>>7762403
started reading it and it seemed like trite revisionist nonsense
>>7763148
The literary equivalent of a hipster who considers themselves a 'buddhist'
>>7762403
this is literally the worst book I've ever completed
Jeez lads was the book really that bad? I read it when I was young and I only remember it being a bit lovey dovey but that's it
>>7762810
>implying meme magic isn't real
>>7762841
>Coelho is similar to Eco
>>7762810
accept the meme magic into your life, lad
>The alchemist
>/lit/ approved
Why hasn’t anyone recommended Gene Wolfe yet?
>>7764587
>>7764965
>implying it isn't
>implying I don't
>>7762403
The underlying philosophy is copy and pasted from Jung's work with "alchemy". The concept of turning a soul from lead into gold is nothing new, and Coelho does nothing to elaborate on it.
The concept that wanting something bad enough will result in the world "conspiring" to help you is also straight from new age law of attraction thinking. I asked someone to explain to me what "law of attraction" was, and they used that same word "conspire". They had never read The Alchemist before.
I fucking hate this book.
>>7762403
kill yourself core
>>7762406
this all the way
>>7762403
Almost everything is comfy narrative with underlying philosophy and it's usually badly regurgitated. There's a literature degree. Oh and women's rights.
