Wisdom of the Idiots

 

In my view, Idries Shah demonstrated with Wisdom of the Idiots that he was tapped-in to Northern Indian/Afghan/Kashmiri lineages of the Khwajagan that have remained somewhat marginal in the study of tasawwuf in the West. Shah translated their teachings into an idiom that 20th century Europeans and Americans could grasp if (and this is a big if) they were receptive. The popularity of his books in the 1960s-1970s suggests that many were at least intrigued and some receptive. I am thankful that his books remain in print.