Like an expertly cut gemstone that catches the light, Daydreams of an Octopus & Other Stories is a dazzling homage to the teaching tales contained in the great treasury of A Thousand and One Nights. Written to be appreciated in innumerable ways and on many levels, this elegant collection is designed to be read and reread - for only then will the volume's magic come alive. Regarded as one of the foremost storytellers of the age, Tahir Shah believes that tales - whether ancient or contemporary - have the ability to help us perceive the world around us with new clarity and with fresh eyes. The author of more than fifty books embracing fiction, fantasy, travel, and academic research, Shah is descended from a long line of storytellers. His father - the Sufi thinker Idries Shah - revealed life lessons to him through stories, explaining that folktales are a repository of ancient knowledge that forms an instruction manual to the world.