Listening to Idries Shah: How Understanding Can Grow

This book for me was an absolute tonic. In fact it is one of the most enjoyable memoirs I have read. It was such a pleasure to read and here are some of the words I jotted down whilst in flow of the brilliant text. Comical; thought provoking; witty; hilarious; cheeky and so on. I found myself through out switching my train of thoughts from laughing, just smiling then in deep thought. I reflected, pondered and smiled again. Thank you Ivan, this book actually lifted my spirit.

This book should be in a category of its own. It is neither a teaching book as in the works of Idries Shah nor in the category of the mealy mouthed, I knew Shah but I am not qualified to talk about it that Doris Lessing occupied. I must say contrary to expectations I have found this absolutely riveting. This is partly because Tyrrell is a visual writer and paints a scene in front of you and he is naturally kind and affectionate towards people. Having said that, Tyrrell's oddball support for Brexit and climate change skepticism which come through in some places should not be confused with the views and work of Idries Shah though.

A very instructive account of the impact the work of Idries Shah has had in guiding and helping the author’s life and work.

Both Shah and Ivan Tyrell come to life in this well written, story telling book. It is both personal and yet, transcends the personal. It gives the reader a window into the lives of both of these great individuals, as well as being a good read.The level of honesty of voice, the lack of self-embellishing, the genuine love Tyrell has for Shah, shine through the masterful weaving of incidents in his life to create a portrait that is almost larger than life.For those on the Path, this book offers a rare insight into the mind of one who has a deep respect for it, for its highs and lows, and the need to find an internal balance and way of seeing life that allows for individual growth and development beyond the everyday.

Ivan Tyrrell was associated with the Sufi teacher Idries Shah for many years, working on the design of several of Shah's books, and also attended many of his regular weekend retreats, which culminated in long after-dinner discussions. (Some of the teachings given out by Shah during these sessions have been summarised by a number of participants, most recently by Alan Tunbridge in his book, A Noose of Light). This book combines autobiography and accounts of meetings with Idries Shah, and provides a superb introduction to the 30-odd Sufi books authored by him from 1964 to his death in 1996. Even if Tyrrell had left all references to Sufism out of his book it would have been clear enough from the general tone of his discussion that it had been a major influence in his life. Clearly he has taken on board the often-stated need for objectivity and self-observation demanded by the Sufi tradition, and put it into daily practice, which has both helped him in his own development and led him to a form of psycho-therapy, the Human Givens approach, which applies commonsense and perception to psychological problems that are usually viewed rather differently by the proponents of the various leading therapies. (Tyrrell reports Shah's comment, regarding Freudian theories, that they are "worth 10 minutes of anybody's time," reminding one of Arthur Machen's even less favourable summing-up, "I am told that there are intelligent people who believe in all this.") He has also co-developed a complex cosmological model, which attempts to combine both physical and spiritual elements, and this has attracted a certain amount of criticism. Tyrrell's -- and Shah's -- caustic attacks on our current culture are, as is becoming increasingly obvious, fully justified. Not only does it fail to supply people with the kind of support that facilitates inner development, but it is clearly corrupt and superficial, encouraging everything that is negative and selfish in our superficial personalities. All in all an excellent book, clearly written and entertaining throughout.