The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

This novel tells the story of Santiago, a young Andalusian (a region of Spain) shepherd who has a repetitive dream of a treasure in North Africa. On the advice of an old king, Melchizedek, who also gives him Urim and Thummim (the stones to decide one’s decision if one is stuck), he decides to follow his dream and walk into the unknown world of the desert. On his way, he is robbed and he is forced to work at a glass merchant’s shop to earn enough money to go back home. After earning enough money, he again decides to realize his dream and makes his way towards the desert. On his way, he makes with a friend who wants to become an Alchemist one day. He wishes to search for the Alchemist who lives in the desert. Despite tribal wars in the desert, they are able to find the alchemist, but the alchemist wishes to pass his knowledge to Santiago rather than his friend. Santiago also finds Fatima, the love of his life during his stay with the Alchemist. With the Alchemist, he learns about the Soul of the World and about how everything in the world is a part of it. He learns to change into the wind and finally finds his treasure hidden in the place where he used to sleep with his sheep everyday before he started his quest of discovery.
It is a symbolic story that urges its readers to follow their dreams. It speaks of beginner’s luck and how the fear of failure prevents us from achieving what we want most in life. This story tells how each of us have a single mission or goal in life though most of us don't realize it. But most importantly it speaks of how doing good deeds for others is eventually rewarded and though we don't know what our treasure will be, or where and how we will receive it, if we follow our heart, we will find it.