Idries Shah books in order
Afghan Sufi teacher
- Lived
- 1924–1996
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 28
- Also writes as
- Arkon Daraul
Idries Shah published 11 novels, 5 non-fiction books, 2 children's books, 1 poetry collection and 9 other books, beginning with Oriental Magic (1956). The best-known is The Sufis (1964).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Idries Shah
Start here
The Sufis
Idries Shah's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
The Sufis (1964)
Tales of the Dervishes (1967)
Caravan of Dreams (1968)
The Pleasantries of the Incredible Mulla Nasrudin (1968)
The Way of the Sufi (1968)
The Dermis Probe (1970)
The Magic Monastery (1972)
Special Illumination: The Sufi Use of Humour (1977)
World Tales (Dec 1979)
Kara Kush (1986)
The Clever Boy and the Terrible, Dangerous Animal (2000)
Non-fiction in order
Reflections (1968)
The Exploits of the Incomparable Mulla Nasrudin (1972)
Special Illumination (1977)
Sufi Thought and Action (1990)
The Elephant in the Dark (2016)
Children's books in order
Neem the Half-boy (1998)
The Farmer's Wife (1998)
Poetry in order
A Perfumed Scorpion (1978)
Other books in order
Oriental Magic (1956)
The Secret Lore of Magic (1957)
Gerald Gardner (1960)
Wisdom of the Idiots (1969)
Thinkers of the East (1971)
Learning How to Learn (1978)
The Commanding Self (1994)
The Old Woman and the Eagle (2003)
The Boy Without a Name (2007)
About Idries Shah
Idries Shah, also known as Idris Shah, Indries Shah, né Sayed Idries el-Hashimi and by the pen name Arkon Daraul, was an Afghan author, thinker and teacher in the Sufi tradition. Shah wrote over three dozen books on topics ranging from psychology and spirituality to travelogues and culture studies.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Idries Shah FAQ
- How many books has Idries Shah written?
- Idries Shah published 11 novels, 5 non-fiction books, 2 children's books, 1 poetry collection and 9 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Idries Shah's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Sufis.
- What is Idries Shah's last book?
- Sufi Thought and Action (1990).
- What is Idries Shah's most famous book?
- The Sufis (1964) is Idries Shah's most widely read book.
- Does Idries Shah write under a pen name?
- Yes: Idries Shah has also published as Arkon Daraul.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.