Over the last thirty years, Tahir Shah has roamed the furthest limits of the world, and produced a stupefying body of travel literature, embracing a cornucopia of quests.

He has sought out the so-called Birdmen of Peru, studied magic with the godmen of India, searched for the mysterious lost city of the Incas, and for the fabled lost treasure of Mughal India.

Shah has noted that seeking out the hidden underbelly of the lands through which he travels is centrally important to him. The themes of zigzagging adventure, spontaneity, and walking a path that's utterly original are found throughout his travelogues.

As far as Shah is concerned, 'Travel itself is not only the destination, but the greatest teacher, confidant, and friend. Forward movement enables a mysterious kind of alchemy to occur, in which the mind is freed from the restrictions and biases of daily life.'

Wide-ranging in scope, The Tahir Shah Travel Reader contains full-length chapters from many of the bestselling books that have made Shah's name. They include chapters from -

Beyond the Devil's Teeth

Cultural Research

House of the Tiger King

In Arabian Nights

In Search of King Solomon's Mines

Journey Through Namibia

Sorcerer's Apprentice

Three Essays

The Caliph's House

The Clockmaker's Box

The Reason to Write

Trail of Feathers

Travels With Myself

Travels With Nasrudin