My first thought: How is this an international best seller that's been translated into 80,000 languages? (Slight exaggeration there.) 
 All right, before I knock it down--our premise is the boy, Santiago, searching for his Personal Legend (author's term, including capitalization). Searching for the meaning of life? I can deal with that. 
 But the means of doing so? It's all wrong. I honestly hope there aren't people that followed the ideas of this book to heart, that aren't traveling the sands of Egypt for their own treasure (speaking metaphorically, of course... I hope). "Follow your heart" is, quite possibly, the worst advice ever given. Hearts are often wrong. They get us into trouble. And going on a grand adventure because of something you saw in your dreams is also not the brightest idea. If I did that, I'd be dead at the bottom of a cliff because I'd think I can fly (what? That's not my Personal Legend?). 
 I can't understand how this has so many rave reviews, because the means of achieving your "treasure" is so blatantly wrong.