The second book in Tahir Shah’s trilogy of Nasrudin stories, The Peregrinations of the Perplexing Nasrudin follows hot on the heels of The Misadventures of the Mystifying Nasrudin, and the highly acclaimed Travels With Nasrudin.

 

Although uproariously funny, Nasrudin tales are regarded as complex psychological machineries in their own right – the kind of tales that have simultaneously provided laughter and problem-solving for centuries across Oriental lands.

 

A random selection of Nasrudin’s travels – through the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia – The Peregrinations act on many levels, providing wisdom, humour, and a full inside-out recalibration of the mind.

 

 

Wherever Nasrudin went, droves of hippies were set on making him into a guru.

     They pleaded for him to tell them to turn on, tune in, and drop out.

     In response, the wise fool begged the would-be followers not to rely on him, but instead to think for themselves.

     Why should we think for ourselves, O Master,’ one would-be devotee asked, ‘when you will think for us?!’

     Nasrudin tapped the side of his head.

     ‘I would if I could,’ he replied. 'But, believe me, there’s not enough grey matter up here for me, let alone to share among all of you.’