The Pleasantries of the Incredible Mulla Nasrudin takes us to the heart of the mysterious mentor, Mulla Nasrudin. Through skillful retellings of hundreds of stories and sayings, Idries Shah brings the timeless wit and charm of this legendary figure to life.

From high-level physics reports to psychology textbooks, Nasrudin's tales illustrate phenomena and illuminate the workings of the mind in ways no straightforward explanation can. His stories have spanned cultures, appearing in literature and oral traditions from the Middle East to Greece, Russia, France, and even China.

According to legend, Nasrudin was chosen as a schoolboy to carry the message of how to escape the crude system of thought that ensnares man. His humor slips through the cracks of rigid thinking habits, offering both laughter and psychological insight.

Acclaimed as humorous masterpieces and collections of some of the world's finest jokes, Nasrudin's antics also serve as teaching exercises, helping to recognize states of mind. For centuries, these stories have been studied in Sufi circles for their hidden wisdom.