The Book of the Book

there are no words to describe this book. I have to admit that at first I was upset, but then I found myself laughing at the entire thing because it made me realize just how greedy I was for the knowedge I am seeking as a student of the way. This is by no means your typical book. It took me a day to read it and after reading it about two or three times now, I am still perplexed by it.

As the old cowbow song says, if you're really thirsty you want cool, clear water. THE BOOK OF THE BOOK is cool. It's clear. And it quenches my thirst for the real antidote for thirst--water. And I re-read it often. I still crave soda pop, beer, wine, whisky, lemon-aid, juice and all kinds of literature. I still read all kinds of books. But this one stands out by its bulls-eye shot straight to the essence of my humanity. It's also as disappointing as regular water can be. Most of the time I want Diet-Pepsi. Then THE BOOK OF THE BOOK seems bland and irritating. ButI keep returning to THE BOOK OF THE BOOK again and again. It's funny, too. And the joke was on me.

The value of this book cannot be overstated. It shocks and invigorates the reader, drawing out his or her psychological 'hot points'-the blocks that prevent understanding. But the value goes beyond this: it gets to the heart of the matter, emphasizing what it is that is really important in reading, studying, learning, and understanding. The words in the text may be few, but they pack quite a punch. This book is one that teaches not only by what is written in it but by what it does to the reader. Or, to put it differently, the blank spaces in the book are as useful as those darkened by the print in it. Those who wonder how this may be possible are encouraged and invited to explore this truly wonderful work by Idries Shah.

This astonishing, thought-provoking book is at the same time a delight to read and a challenge to one's every preconception about the role and potential of literature. I'll bet that, like me, you won't be able to put it down until you've finished every word, and that you'll find yourself reading it again and again.

Have you ever read a poem or listened to a piece of music that just kept opening up? And the more you listened, paid attention, the more you learned? Like an intricate Persian carpet with endlessly recurring themes and patterns, The Book of the Book will open a door in your life and consciousness. Repeated readings do not diminish the power of this multidimensional Sufi Teaching Story.