This book has, from my perspective, all the elements needed for the spiritual contentment we wish to have in our daily lives. As Santiago, our faithful protagonist, searches for his metaphorical treasure, we too search with him. We grow as he grows, learn as he learns, and feel for his plights as he travels through the pleasures and horrors of ancient society. The book presents a path to spirituality through experience and contemplation of life. This was one of the first books I read when I began on my spiritual path. It has opened my heart to feel. Although some may call this book a load of hippie dogma and label it as just another story, I feel that the book's metaphors and philosophies, hidden and exposed, speak to the soul of the reader. Paulo Coelho has painted a beautiful picture of Oneness and peaceful existence through the story of the shepard boy Santiago, and I hope it will bring the same peace of mind to others as it has brought to me.