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The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is likely to come up in any search for the best travel books or stories that have inspired people. It's a book that divides readers, with many people I know having strong feelings one way or another about it. Because of its briefness, The Alchemist tends to attract readers who are looking for more books like it.

To refresh your memory, the story revolves around a young shepherd named Santiago from Southern Spain who has a dream about finding great riches in Egypt's pyramids, which is what the locals interpret it to mean.

In order to find the treasure, he sets out on a journey across northern Africa. It is common for people who enjoy Coelho's writing to be drawn to the book either because of its philosophical content or because of the book's travel aspects.

As such, if you've just finished The Alchemist and are looking for a new book to read, here are a few suggestions!

6 Books Like The Alchemist

The Pilgrimage, by Paulo Coelho

If you're looking for books that are similar to The Alchemist, you can't go past The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho.

 

As part of an initiation into a Catholic sect, Coelho walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain as a pilgrim.

 

To a large extent, this is a travel memoir that also explores the mental and physical challenges of long-distance walking, as well as the process of self-discovery that can occur as a result of such an endeavor.

Additionally, the Pilgrimage has a heavy emphasis on meditation and spiritual-religious teachings, which can either entice or frighten some readers. If you liked The Alchemist and want to read more of Coelho's work, this is a good choice.

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, by Robin Sharma

There's another story that combines travel and philosophical teachings, but this time Robin Sharma's The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari is much more direct.

As a high-profile attorney who suffers a heart attack and decides to leave his job in search of greater meaning, Julian is the protagonist of this story. Julian's former colleague, John, tells the story through the eyes of Julian after he returns from living with monks in the Himalayas.

For those looking for more books like The Alchemist that combine interesting travel anecdotes with practical philosophical teachings, Sharma's The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari is a great fit for your needs.

The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini

In spite of the fact that The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini doesn't have any philosophical teachings or travel tales, the author's writing style is very similar to that of Coehlo, making it an excellent choice for those looking for more books similar to The Alchemist.

The Kite Runner begins with the story of Amir and Hassan, two Afghan boys growing up in the 1970s who are friends but belong to different ethnic tribes.

Because of a disagreement, their relationship begins to fall apart, leading Amir's family to leave the country and move to America in 1979, where Amir was born. Amir returns to Afghanistan a few decades later due to a series of events.

Author Hosseini's writing style is sure to please fans of The Alchemist, and the story is a gripping one that provides insight into the history of Afghanistan and the difficulties immigrants faced adapting to the American way of life.

Recommendations for other books by Hosseini are available if you've already read The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns.

Life of Pi, by Yann Martel

Yann Martel's Life of Pi, which was awarded the Man Booker Prize for Fiction shortly after its publication, is an excellent choice for readers looking for books like The Alchemist by Yann Martel.

 

A young Indian boy, Pi, whose father owns an animal sanctuary, is the protagonist of this novel. They board a ship with the zoo's animals, but it sinks off the coast of Canada before they even get there, so his father decides to move the family across the border himself.

The animals Pi's father was transporting share the boat with him, but Pi makes it out alive after squeezing into a small lifeboat. While on the lifeboat, the story follows Pi's efforts to stay alive.

For fans of The Alchemist, Life of Pi is an excellent choice because it explores many of the same themes and has strong philosophical elements in Martel's writing style. Ang Lee's award-winning film adaptation was released in 2012.

No, I haven't read it yet. We've compiled a list of books that are similar to Life of Pi.

Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer

Another story about a man forced to leave his old life behind and embark on an adventure is found in Jon Krakauer's Into The Wild.

 

After graduating from high school, Christopher McCandless decides to donate his life savings to charity and embark on a cross-country journey. The book follows McCandless' journeys and the people he meets along the way to Alaska, where he intends to live off the land.

Aside from the protagonist, Krakauer's writing takes into account his travels and how they impacted his family. For those looking for more books like The Alchemist, Sean Penn's Into the Wild is a great option..

If you've already read Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, you might be interested in some of the other titles on this list.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert M. Pirsig

Books like The Alchemist by Robert M. Pirsig combines a travelogue with lengthy philosophical digressions, making it an excellent choice when looking for books like The Alchemist to read.

A fictional autobiography, it tells the story of Pirsig and his son taking a motorcycle trip during a hot summer. On their journey, Pirsig interjects with details about how they fixed their motorcycle, which leads to lengthy philosophical discussions about a variety of life's big issues.

If the philosophical aspects of The Alchemist were your favorite part, then you'll love Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance even more than the other books on this list.

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