The Alchemist is a highly riveting read, a beautiful story about a quest in search of one's desires (the treasure), the counsel that one needs in order to achieve the treasure (the omens and the wisdom gained from the king, the Englishman and the alchemist) and the unrelenting persistence to reach out for dreams despite the trials & tribulations on the way (the tribal wars, the thieves). The universe indeed conspires to help us achieve our dreams.