I have heard this book described as self help, it is not. 
 Yes, you might read the word God quite many times but you don't need to be religious to understand the book (and I am not). In fact either your learn something from this book or you don't and that's it.. 
 for this reason alone I won't rate The Alchemist, it is unnecessary and superfluous. I will end this comment with a quote from it: "and when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it", it is true.