Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I did enjoy many elements of this book, although the fact that I have not read The Alchemist was possibly an issue. Still, the wisdom and ideas in here are transferrable to many different scenarios. We all need to learn more about love and healing, right? ~ Eva Leppard (Educator), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. This is a brilliant read. Wonderful well written had me engaged from the start. Love the insights to the background provided. Excellent companion read. Recommend reading. ~ BILLIE WICHKAN (Reviewer) , NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. This is an enlightening companion to read with and after The Alchemist by Paul Coelho. While health and self-help books aren't my usual forte, this one was truly enjoyable from start to finish. ~ Kensley Lewis (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. The author was part of the editorial team that worked on the creation of the original book Paul Coelho’s The Alchemist. In his book he discusses how he met Paul Coelho and the research that went into that project. A particularly interesting part of this book is the author's experiences in his own life and the changes that experience brought forth for him. His own process of transformation makes for fascinating reading and will help the reader connect with themselves through his experiences. His goal is inward empowerment through alchemy and he shares this journey vividly with his readers. I highly recommend this outstanding body of work for all who read and were touched by The Alchemist. This author continues the alchemical transformation in every area of his life . This is one of my top three favorite books I have read this year. The writing is so intriguing to the subject that the author speaks to the reader and brings us along on his personal journey. You have a real sense of his knowledge and gratitude for this journey. Very well done to the author. ~ Cozy Book Reviews (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. This is a priceless book. Well-written and highly applicable. Highly recommended for those who have read (and absorbed) The Alchemist and wish to go deeper. ~ Erica Watkins (Reviewer) , NetGalley

A lot of people will be familiar with Paulo Coelho's classic 'The Alchemist' - a widely read and profoundly influential book. I would consider Colm Holland's The Secret of the Alchemist to be the perfect companion volume, and really it's essential to read Paulo's book first. It's not a big read - took me two days. Colm's book was released last week and is only slightly thicker than Paulo's, so it's a speedy read, albeit a very deep one, though it doesn't come across as quite the adventure of Paulo's book. It's at a more temporal level, because it's an autobiography as well as an objective critique of a book that's supposed to be fiction, though it feels very real and almost Biblical. Looking back over the years, I'm starting to see how the cogs and wheels of alchemy connect with the cogs and wheels of our lives, and as for omens, well, that's a whole new (to some of us anyway) resource waiting to unfold. I can also see the synchronicity involved in The Alchemist and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone sharing the echelons of the world's most widely translated and most-read books, while both having the philosopher's stone at their heart. They ooze triumph over adversity, which is what happens when we let ourselves be loved by the Soul of the world and trust in our destiny. I would thoroughly recommend all of these books and am so glad their authors have laid all this magic before us. www.badwitch.co.uk ~ www.badwitch.co.uk

Have you read The Alchemist by the Brazilian author Paulo Coelho? It is not wholly necessary to read The Alchemist before reading The Secret of the Alchemist, but I would certainly urge you to do so. The Alchemist has sold over 85 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than seventy languages. The book is a simple story about an Andalusian shepherd boy who, believing his recurring dream was a prophecy, gave up his comfortable life and went in search of treasure at the Egyptian pyramids. The book is a fable and thus can be read, even but quite young children, as an adventure story with lots of twists and turns. But, of course, the great value of the book is the underlying meaning. The book may have remained a little known book that had only sold a few copies in Paulo’s homeland had Colm Holland, then a member of the marketing team at one of world’s leading publishers in Australia, not been convinced when he read the first translation into English that The Alchemist would become an international bestseller. Colm says the book has influenced his life, not just from the initial reading but also from the extraordinary results of his meeting with the author. And whilst just reading The Alchemist the main underlying moral of the story is clear, the depth of analysis in The Secret of The Alchemist will take your understanding to a completely different level. And there is another reason to read The Secret of The Alchemist: Colm has asked Love to give the reader everything they need to become the alchemist in their world. But, of course, read it properly from cover to cover! And, actually, it is one of those powerful books that you will probably want to read again and again. I know I shall! It is important to stress at this point that although this is a book about personal spiritual evolution that delves into the meaning of loving and being loved; that focuses on transformation and the ability to change not only our own lives but, seemingly miraculously, change the world around us for the better; it has an extraordinary depth that provides clarity and greater understanding, especially for those a little more sceptical, than most books of the same ilk. Throughout the book, as Colm dissects the story of The Alchemist and, in parallel, his own journey to transformation (which had started several years before his encounter with Paulo), he compares his analysis to views of scientists and philosophers throughout history, from the ancient alchemists to the likes of Carl Gustav Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who founded analytical psychology; Richard Feynman, an American physicist known for his work in the theory of quantum physics; Dr Paracelsus, the Swiss 16th-century pioneer of medicine, Sir Isaac Newton, an English physicist widely recognised as one of the most influential scientists of all time; and many more. Reverting to the initial story of Santiago’s search for his treasure, there is a recurring theme of personal wealth in a monetary sense. At first, I found this a little confusing and at odds with the spiritual meanings of the book, but perhaps that says more about my own relationship with money! I found much reassurance in his comments: “Money may be neutral, but it is also a form of power…because it is an enabling means of generating beneficial conditions for those within our sphere of influence. Freedom from hunger, disease, slavery, and homelessness are just some of the obvious benefits that money can bring when its power is used for good. And of course, the converse is true…. Yet because Love wants us to transform towards true empowerment, the power we need to create wealth is at our disposal.” If you are eager to find out more and start or continue your personal transformational journey, a final word of advice from Colm: “All the reading, listening to experts, speaking to other travellers, counselling sessions, self-analysis, and even following our own dreams can only be of value if we live it out in the real world of our day to day life in nature and society.” In other words, many of us absorb lots of information but fail to take the action that can move theory to reality. And thus, I would humbly suggest your first action is to purchase and read this wonderful book… https://healthylifeessex.co.uk ~ Healthy Life Essex, Review

This book was written to enable author Colm Holland to explain the deeper meaning of another book, “The Alchemist,” by Paulo Coelho. Mr. Holland has obviously spent many hours delving into “The Alchemist,” reading between the lines to find the real meaning behind the printed words. True empowerment is the goal Mr. Holland espouses, and he states “It is yours for the taking if you truly want it. It is the treasure you will find when you follow your true destiny.” The author asserts that Mr. Coelho’s book is not a fable or another Hero’s Journey. It is “…about how all of us can tap into the power of ancient alchemy to create magic and change lives.” Mr. Holland examines “The Alchemist” in sections, first giving a synopsis of the story and then sharing his interpretation of what author Coelho was trying to say. He then follows each explanation with a personal story of how he used the information to transform his own life.................. I have never read the other book but after reading this book I have it on order. Due to Mr. Holland’s excellent descriptions, one does not have to read it first before reading this book. ~ Dee Arr (Reviewer), NetGalley

The Secret of the Alchemist Colm Holland (www.colmholland.com) O Books 2020, 171 pp., £9.99, p/b. Many readers will have read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and in fact it is a gap in my own reading probably because I never reviewed it when it came out… Colm was part of the sales and marketing team for HarperCollins in Australia and one of the first to spot the book’s potential – after reading it, he rang his colleague in the US with a pre-order of 20,000 copies and a backup of a further 30,000. Thereby hangs a tale, as well as this book, which also recounts his original meeting with the author at which he promised him that Love would fulfil his dreams but he would have to decide what he wanted. This book offers the same powerfully transformative alchemical process to the reader, but how many of us actually formulate this during our lives and undertake the necessary inner journey towards true empowerment? In a sentence, the ultimate secret of the original and this book is the power of using the alchemical process: ‘listen to your dreams, follow the omens, commit to transformation, face your greatest fears, invoke the power of Love in all things and make it finally happen.’ (p. 162) The book takes the reader through the unfolding stages of the hero’s journey as depicted in the original book. This requires and develops focus, concentration, commitment, faith, perseverance, courage and integrity on the path to discovering the treasure, the centre, the gold, the philosopher’s stone. It is much easier and more comfortable to conform rather than undertake the transformational work and achieve in the process true fulfilment and empowerment in the service of the common good. However, this is the deep calling and desire of our souls, our inner core; and the path taken by, among others, Paracelsus and Jung. We are alchemists in our own world, so it is our choice to walk this path – or not. The temptation is always to move onto the next book rather than apply the key insights to our own lives. This book is different in conveying an essential practical message and for its invitation to a full engagement underpinned by Love. ~ Scientific and Medical Network (Paradigm Explorer), Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. This was a deeply emotional read. As someone who loved The Alchemist, this exploration of the deeper meaning in the fable, alongside the author’s personal journey, was insightful and thought provoking. ~ Emma Maslin (Reviewer) , NetGalley

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. This is a book unlike anything I've seen before. It is written by someone who was in the publishing industry when The Alchemist by Paul Coelho first came out in English translation. The introduction explains how the author was in charge of determining which new releases would fill the scarce shelves of the Australian book market and after reading the manuscript of Coelho's book, saw a bestseller and ordered an unprecedented number of copies. But that isn't all. It goes on to tell how a meeting with Coelho led to a mystical experience and understanding of the book far beyond a story of a shepherd discovering his true will. That mystical revelation and subsequent changes to the author's life, from a fiction story, is what this book is all about. ............The explanation of the stages of spiritual Alchemy was worth the read alone. The "Dark night of the soul", enlightenment, then active phases might have come out of a book in the Mind, Body, Spirit section and perhaps that is where this one will be categorised. Much of it is personal to the author, yet the journey has similar stages to anyone following this spiritual path, whatever symbols they couch it in. An interesting read and well-written so that it kept interest. ~ Lora Milton (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Colm Holland talks about meeting Paul Coelho who wrote The Alchemist. This is a book about how he went thru The Alchemist with a fine tooth comb and analyzed everything. He felt that he had found the secret behind the book and decided that his life needed to be different. He set out to put what he learned into action by using alchemy. It is well researched and I found it interesting. He speaks of how his upbringing shaped his life and how this book helped him. ~ Marie Angel (Reviewer), NetGalley

If you enjoy self-help soul-searching books, this one is for you. It gives examples of soul searching and the possibilities you can give yourself if you can overcome and get past your inner restrictions. I am at a really good place in my life right now so I found some of the suggestions not relevant. But I also see how this could be life changing for some people. ~ Teresa Young (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. An interesting guide through the famous book by Paul Cohelo, The Alchemist. It has been a while since I read the book but was reminded of its content which came back easily. I found Mr Cohelo’s book very moving and to return to the power of love was energising ~ Jane Munro (Educator), NetGalley

I read this and was like "so this was the guy who helped bring Coelho's The Secret of the Alchemist to bookshelves and libraries across the world?" And herein, he shares his journey to love, healing and how he comes to learn more from the book and his interaction with Coelho- the nuggets at the end of the chapters are worth reflecting upon. ~ Dora Archie Okeyo (Reviewer) , NetGalley

........... It's not exactly self-help, but a set of mostly gentle suggestions at the end of each chapter along with stories, anecdotes, and maybe some bible versus or quotes from other luminaries; all centered around the famous Alchemist book. A deceptively simple book, and one obviously written with love by a compassionate author. Recommended. ~ Paul V (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. This book should be seen as a book that needs to be read at the same time as reading The Alchemist, in order to get a better understanding of The Alchemist. Having said that, I believe that The Alchemist has a different meaning for whoever the reader is. ~ Josee Blunt (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. In the Secret of The Alchemist, Colm Holland presents a finely detailed analysis of Paulo Coelho's bestselling book, The Alchemist, following its protagonist, Santiago's journey of discovery and ultimate 'treasure'. Santiago's challenges are revealed one chapter at a time alongside Holland's research and exploration into the depths and complexities of alchemy, which he derives from Egyptian Gods, the Bible, ancient myths, Carl Jung and many others. He also actively encourages the reader to read more fully on the subject. Why? Because as you will discover in the story, he transformed his own life exponentially by alchemy and believes others can do likewise. Alchemy, he discovered is about transformation and each chapter contains an account of his own difficult and testing experiences as he delves deeper and deeper into his unconscious until integrating his unconscious with consciousness. This process involved a complete breaking down of the self as he confronted the shadow within, after which followed a period of purification and ultimately empowerment through unconditional Love. Although in no way a self-help book, Holland does constantly urge the reader to find the courage do the same; to face their inner enemies, engage with the 'Dark Night of the Soul' and in so doing full-fill their dreams. Not an easy or quick undertaking by any means for anybody, but this book may well inspire others to follow Holland's path. As he says' Love is there all the time guiding us to the point of liberation, transformation and to a new state of being, whilst learning to listen with your heart to The Soul of the World. As someone who has worked for many years in the spiritual and psychological worlds, I consider this to be a big ask; however, as Holland found, a very rewarding one, for despite the whole process taking many years, he was rewarded by huge success both materially and spiritually. ~ Veryan Williams-Wynn (Reviewer), NetGalley

Whether you have read The Alchemist or not, this book can either stand-alone or act as a companion to Paul Coelho’s book. In the retelling of the original book, Colm explains the symbolism behind the text of the journey towards the alchemical transmutation process. (Of turning base metal into gold, which was always meant to be in the spiritual sense, and not in the physical of turning lead to gold.) When the book was first offered to me for a review, my spiritual antennae tingled, so I knew that it was of high spirit content. This book comes with a wealth of experiences from the author's own journey, using the principles in Coelho’s book. Written in a masterly style, and in tune with its reader. It's one of those books that you will read more than once, to receive all the knowledge that is held within. I highly enjoyed this book, and I can truly recommend to anyone who is wanting to transmute. Suzanne Thomas - Fountain International Magazine ~ Fountain International Magazine, Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. I absolutely love Paulo Coelho’s books. I was assigned The Alchemist as a book for school a total of three times and I loved it more every time I read it. It sparked a loved for Coelho’s books in me and an interest in mindfulness. The principles that Coelho writes about really speak to me and I always walk away from his novels feeling that I have grown as a person. I can really relate to Colm’s, who is also inspired by Coelho’s works. This book, ‘The Secret of the Alchemist’ was a super interesting read. I loved how he used Alchemy as a real-world analogy for change and transformation. Inspired by and echoing ‘The Alchemist’, Colms book is a perfect pairing that inspires the reader to pursue their dreams! ~ Amanda Abend (Reviewer), NetGalley

I was quite sceptical about this book with the claims Colm was making about "how you can discover the power to miraculously change the world around you beyond all recognition and for the better" and the fact he owned a publishing company but I really enjoyed it. It's quite a few years since I read the Alchemist but this wasn't a problem, Colm describes all the relevant parts of the story before explaining his interpretation of it....I will read this again after I've managed to obtain a copy of the Alchemist. ~ Yolanda Bruce (Reviewer), NetGalley

.......I like the fact that Colm has performed detailed research about all the theories and concepts mentioned in the book. He has multiple times referred to the works of Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung to make the reader understand those concepts. Overall, if you liked the book “Alchemist” by Paul Coelho, you’ll be positively surprised by the new things discovered through in-depth analysis and solid research in this book. Don’t worry if you haven’t read, “The Alchemist” by Paul Coelho, Colm has provided proper background for every reference made to that book. ~ BOOKTUBERBUDDY . (Reviewer), NetGalley

The Secret of the Alchemist is an insightful book regarding Colm Holland’s experiences with the best-selling masterpiece, The Alchemist, and how he is able to apply the principles of said masterpiece to his life. The weaving and intertwining of lessons learned, stories of the author’s life, and considerations for the reader to apply are all enlightening. This book is a wonderful adjunct to The Alchemist and for those who wish to dive deeper. ~ Kelli Pagel (Reviewer), NetGalley

OMG I just finished chapter one and I'm crying! After having two kids I've been so confused about whether I return to the corporate world or pursue my passions. I can feel positive changes coming! I can't put this book down! ~ Cassie Guillemain, https://www.facebook.com/pg/ColmHollandPage

Wow, I was in the wilderness and now I'm not. I feel compelled to thank Mr Colm Holland, for writing The Secret of the Alchemist; a masterpiece, amongst self help books. It is, actually, one of those books that you can't put down. It helped me to understand how to be willing to find the answers within me and a belief to trust, with faith and the patience, to allow miracles to happen. To understand, that for change to happen, it requires an open mind first and being prepared to fail. The ending moved me and made me realise, that there is only reasons to be happy and we hold the keys to design the life we want. ~ Joe Segura, https://www.facebook.com/pg/ColmHollandPage

From history, to philosophy, to a deep analysis of what it means to love and be loved, The Secret of the Alchemist dives deep into what makes experiences remarkable. Colm Holland shares his own stories of how coincidences and omens start to show themselves when you know where to look for them. He masterfully outlines clues to a treasure map that will ultimately show you how to start transforming your life toward true empowerment. ~ Ryan Foland, Keynote Speaker, author of Ditch The Act

'Colm Holland has written one of the most courageous, powerful and important books of our time.' ~ The Sunday Post, Scotland, Scotland's leading weekly newspaper.

The Secret of The Alchemist is awe inspiring, it really engaged with my inner most being, my core, my heart from the very beginning, and encouraged me to want to make the same journey, to discover more of the Love, more of what makes me tick. It is a challenging read because of the depth it takes you into; but the reward is palpable and I believe possible if you are willing. ~ Viv Quick MBE, awarded by Queen Elizabeth II for services to health education

Captivating. This is no ordinary read. This may sound a little crazy, but the energy in the opening pages of this book, the intent of them, hit me straight in the chest and brought me out in a rash of glorious goose-bumps. I could feel into the words, into the Love within them, and somehow their Truth reached into my core and breathed even more life into a flame that was already kindled deep within me. There is a lineage to this book, of people who ‘get it’, who truly get it, ensuring that readers of all backgrounds and stages of experience cannot not fail to be inspired. ~ Peta Morton, Reiki & Mindfulness teacher, author of Ancient Teachings for Modern Times

'Colm's work has earned him the accolade of 'a force of goodness' as he guides people on the most transformative journey of their lives.' MailOnline.com ~ Mailonline, Daily Mail Online

Life enhancing! The Secret Of The Alchemist is magical, mystical, historical, insightful and illuminating. This book is unique in the way it is both informative and inspirational. A journey of reflection and transformation. I love how Colm has added whole new textures to The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, drawing us closer to our healing, empowering the reader to look deeper within, to recognise the choices we have; to live from love and notice where fear prevents our healing. Reading this beautiful book allowed me to dive further into my journey of surrender and trust in action. Thank you Colm, for weaving so much into such an effortless yet enriching read. ~ Emma Disney, Author of Teen-A-Pause, BA Hons, DHyp Psychotherapist and Hypnotherapist.

This heartfelt book, never left my bedside for the duration of the read. It took away and dismantled the old habits of my mind. I recognised places within myself which needed love and I focused on being more of who I am, not who I thought I should be. As my journey deepened I felt a lightness appear. It is a book that resides in every cell of the body. There is a strength to the way it is written and it encourages the reader to go that step further. It pushes you to manifest the messages that are written in the book and to be true to yourself. Colm is a force of goodness and his strength and determination has a way of helping the reader feel safe and held throughout this journey of transformation. ~ Lady Marina Cowdray , International Adviser to the Oxford Centre of Mindfulness and founder of Cowdray Hall Wellbeing, West Sussex, England.