In The Palace of the Man in Blue & Other Stories, Idries Shah presents over sixty classical teaching-stories that reveal the subtlety and power of the Sufi tradition.

The title story – enigmatic, ironic, and resonant – captures the spirit of a collection in which appearances are often deceiving and wisdom is found in unexpected ways and places.

These tales, selected from Shah’s acclaimed books such as The Dermis Probe, Learning How to Learn, The Magic Monastery, and Wisdom of the Idiots, offer far more than surface narrative.

They are designed to shift the reader’s perspective, challenging received ideas and inviting reflection. In the Sufi way, their meaning is not delivered, but discovered – over time, and often with surprise.

Featuring rulers and rogues, sages and simpletons, animals and alchemists, this collection illustrates the teaching-story’s enduring role as a mirror for the mind. The Palace of the Man in Blue & Other Stories is an invitation to enter a deeper conversation – one carried through story rather than explanation.