This was a weird mix of mysticism, Christianity, Islam, maybe a couple others, philosophy and I guess just fairy tale. While there were some good takeaways you can equate to choosing your perspective, and believing things work together and can work together for a purpose, I just didn’t care for the odd fairy tale nature of it.

Ultimately I think the thing I struggled the most the more time has passed after reading it, was that it was just so self-focused. Santiago had to complete his quest and his own "personal legend" regardless of anyone around him. The frequent statements of universe conspiring to help you achieve whatever your dreams/purpose are spoke to this all-about-me sort of mindset. It was't about helping each other, looking out for someone else or sacrificing, it was just about how to achieve what I want for myself. I don't think that's what life should be about. Yes I get that alchemy is about making something better but it was solely about making his own situation or what he himself wanted better. Not anyone else. Everyone else had to go about their business while Santiago took care of his own desires and quest.

Also if I heard “personal legend” one more time I was about ready to yell at the book. There was a lot of it that just felt so repetitive.