In this vibrant collection of teaching-stories, Idries Shah brings together more than sixty short tales drawn from classical Eastern sources.

Using wit, irony, and subtle psychological insight, these stories serve a deeper function than mere entertainment – they offer a mirror in which the reader may glimpse themselves.

From the satirical absurdity of Melon City, where logic is carried to its illogical conclusion, to the tales of sages, fools, kings, and dervishes, Shah presents narratives that have long served in the East as instruments of transformation.

They defy easy categorisation – at once folklore, philosophy, and literature – and invite the reader to think in new and often unexpected ways.

Collected from Shah’s earlier works – including The Exploits of the Incomparable Mulla Nasrudin, The Dermis Probe, Wisdom of the Idiots, and Reflections – this volume is an accessible introduction to a body of material that has influenced generations of readers, psychologists, and spiritual seekers alike.