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The Book of Rumi: 105 Stories and Fables that Illumine, Delight, and Inform Paperback – November 1, 2018
by Rumi (Author), Maryam Mafi (Translator), Narguess Farzad (Foreword)
4.5 out of 5 stars 608 ratings
Philip Pullman, author of 'His Dark Materials' trilogy, has remarked that "after nourishment, shelter, and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world." This new collection of Rumi stories fills that need.
This fresh prose translation of 105 short teaching stories by Rumi, which form the core of the six-volume Masnavi, explores the hidden spiritual aspects of everyday experience. Rumi transforms the seemingly mundane events of daily life into profound Sufi teaching moments. These prose gems open the mystical portal to the world of the ancient mystic.
These stories include well-known and popular tales such as "Angel of Death," "The Sufi and His Cheating Wife," "Moses and the Shepherd," "Chickpeas," and "The Greek and Chinese Painters" as well as the less commonly quoted parables: "The Basket Weaver," "The Mud Eater," and "A Sackful of Pebbles."
Rumi's voice alternates between playful and authoritative, whether he is telling stories of ordinary lives or inviting the discerning reader to higher levels of introspection and attainment of transcendent values. Mafi's translations delicately reflect the nuances of Rumi's poetry while retaining the positive tone of all of Rumi's writings, as well as the sense of suspense and drama that mark the essence of the Masnavi.
Print length
208 pages
Language
English
Publisher
Hampton Roads Publishing
Publication date
November 1, 2018
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Maryam Mafi’s luminous translation brings the Persian poet Rumi’s distinctive and timeless Sufi lessons to a new audience, transforming the original verses into prose that conveys the vibrancy of the medieval setting while also sounding fresh. This beautifully produced volume is a welcome introduction to a classic poet’s work.” – Foreword Reviews ― Foreword Reviews
About the Author
Rumi was a 13th-century Persian Muslim poet, jurist, theologian, and Sufi mystic.
Maryam Mafi was born and raised in Iran. She went to Tufts University in the U.S. in 1977 where she studied Sociology and Literature. While reading for her Master's degree in International Communications at American and Georgetown Universities she began translating Persian literature and has been doing so ever since. Reading Rumi's poetry, she says, has led her to a 're-education' in her own language and a new appreciation of her spiritual heritage.
Narguess Farzad is the Senior Tutor in the Faculty of Languages and Culture at the University of London.
Customer reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
Edlira
1.0 out of 5 stars Glorifying honor killing is not wisdomReviewed in the United States on June 11, 2020
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I was looking forward to read the book, having for a long while wanted to know more about Rumi. What I read until almost mis book was not only unimpressive but downright repulsive. In the story The Man who killed his mother, the author glorifies honor killing. That is not wisdom, that is savagery, and a dangerous thing to serve as wisdom. Totally dissapointed.
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Steven Howard
5.0 out of 5 stars Rumi Translated With No Loss In MeaningReviewed in the United States on May 24, 2020
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This is a wonderful collection of stories and fables from the Persian poet and Sufi mystic Rumi.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way Maryam Mafi has taken Rumi's original words composed in verse and translated them into easy-to-read, delightful prose.
Much like Aesop's Fables, these stories ae a beautiful reminder of ethics, morals, faith, and loyalty. They were simply a pleasure to read.
4 people found this helpful
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Sasha A.
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2020
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Wonderful and insightful stories. Very good way to learn some valuable lessons of life. It surely is a book for all to read and learn how to be a better individual.
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trex
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read.Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2020
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These poems, short stories, or tales are inspirational and thought provoking. They give insight into the very soul of existence. I would recommend this reading to anyone who has been led here. Love and light. #wakeuphotep
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Ann G. Jacobs
5.0 out of 5 stars Great addition to my Rumi collectionReviewed in the United States on August 18, 2019
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The stories in this collection are some that I haven't read. Such a great addition to my Rumi collection
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Brigid
5.0 out of 5 stars Food for ThoughtReviewed in the United States on February 1, 2019
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Selections to use with discussion groups.
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Deborah Purdy
3.0 out of 5 stars enjoyable Lite StoriesReviewed in the United States on March 6, 2022
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The stories while being simple and enjoyable I came away lost, loosing the true point of the moral some of the stories we’re trying to convey.
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Lamyasoliman
3.0 out of 5 stars English translation not that goodReviewed in the United States on April 7, 2021
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Its good for teenagers, the English translation was not as good as i thought it will be.
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Frism
5.0 out of 5 stars Great casual easy read.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 6, 2020
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Well written and easy to read on a lazy Sunday. I am enjoying this book. Reflecting on the stories is enlightening.
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Dianne Wilson
4.0 out of 5 stars REFLECTIONReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2020
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The stories were short and reflective, something to learn for everyone. Thought inspiring, everyday life in different scenario. Reflective read.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful introduction to Rumi!Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 5, 2020
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Absolutely fantastic short stories. A great introduction to Rumi. Also those interested in cinema will be inspired by these stories to make meaningful short films.
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bunster
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book you can buyReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 28, 2020
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I would be an ass if I reviewed this book it’s a classic
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Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Missing pagesReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 21, 2020
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The product I received had a huge chunk of missing pages. Be sure to check when you receive it
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Aug 27, 2019Jeanne rated it really liked it
Shelves: middle-east, read-around-the-world, read-2019, religion-and-mindfulness
Rumi's 105 very short parables insightfully explore human relationships and faith in God. His stories are "peopled" by fools and the wise, royalty and slaves, prophets and unbelievers, and talking fish, donkeys, birds, ants, and chickpeas.
These are simple stories, but cut to life's essence. For example, a donkey, who complained about being starved and beaten, was envious of the warhorses he was stabled with – until they returned from battle. When reunited with his old, cruel owner, he now knew that nothing truly is as it seems (p. 155).
Rumi's stories encourage us to look beyond the superficial details of business dealings, romance, and relationships to find real wisdom. A man in love with a homely woman recognizes "to only perceive what's visible to the eye is like having a beautiful jug but being oblivious to the real beauty of the wine inside, because you can only see the container” (p. 161). Mohammed chose a young soldier as general rather than one of the older soldiers, who were jealous of this choice. He reminded them that "only the shortsighted consider white hair by itself to be a sign of maturity. My dear companion, strive to detect the essence of things so you may take command of both your faith and your mind" (p. 133).
A kind and respected holy man only prayed for criminals, murderers, and other sinners, for which others reproached him. He said,
People are forever complaining to God about their pains and the unfairness they experience in their lives. Meanwhile, God invariably tells His wailing subjects that it's that very same pain that will eventually lead them to His door. Our friends are indeed our worst enemies, for they remove us from His company by distracting us with the minutia of their own personal affairs. Truly, every enemy can be our cure and balm, for in order to avoid them we must seek the help of the One who has created us all. (p. 114)
In a story parallel to his poem of the elephant and the blind men (found in The Essential Rumi , the townspeople insisted on seeing a majestic elephant as soon as possible – in the dark – but misperceived it as a pipe, fan, pillar, or bed. As more and more people walked inside the dark room, each one came out with a different understanding of the phenomenon they had encountered. None of them were able to truly find out what the elephant actually looked like, for they were in the dark and had to rely on the acute limitations of their imperfect senses. (p. 86)
In many stories, like Three Fish, the characters are shortsighted, to their detriment, and fail to learn from their wiser compatriots. They fail to see the impact of their self-centered behaviors: Even though each man was cheating the other, neither was aware that in fact they were cheating themselves, by being dishonest to a brother for the mere love of material (p. 122). In Ghost Killer Mosque, a stranger decided to test the townsfolk superstitions – everyone who enters the mosque after dark dies – but also his courage. He justified his decision, “I will not value my own body beyond its worth, for it's the spirit that's priceless beyond all... One's body will inevitably perish, but spirit is everlasting.” (p. 106).
Rumi's stories are undoubtedly wise, but they are also charming. These are not heavy, preaching tomes, but one to two page stories that could be read first thing in the morning (or last at night) to provide guidance to the day: Remember what is important. Trust God. See broadly.
They could be read to the right child at bedtime – and treasured into adulthood. (less)
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Behrooz Parhami
Sep 24, 2019Behrooz Parhami rated it liked it · review of another edition
I listened to the unabridged audio version of this title (on 4 CDs, read by Keith Szarabajka, Blackstone Audio, 2018).
Stripped of their magnificient poetic forms, most of the translated stories in this book come across as banal and simple-minded. For someone like me, who has read Mowlavi’s telling of the stories, they are eminently recognizable, but those being introduced to Rumi’s musings for the first time (the book’s apparent target audience), the tales are less than impressive.
The 105 stories chosen for the book are some of the shorter ones in the 6-volume Masnavi, Mowlavi’s magnum opus. The classic and oft-told stories, such as “Moses and the Shepherd,” fare better in this retelling, but the vast majority, particularly those with no clear “punch line” or moral conclusion, are literally left hanging.
Much like the tales of 1001 Nights, Masnavi is essentially a retelling of stories that come from various cultures around the world. One can't help but wonder whether this book and its translated stories constitute the best way of introducing Western audiences to Mowlavi’s/Rumi’s philosophy and magical writings. (less)
Amresh Shah
Apr 20, 2020Amresh Shah rated it it was ok
The meaning and the philosophy lost in the translation. Didn't age well with time. ...more
Angel
May 22, 2019Angel rated it did not like it · review of another edition
Eh, I guess some (many) stories don't age well. I'm sorry Rumi, I can't hear your wisdom over the sound of how badly women are portrayed in your stories and how superstitious it all feels, but what do I know, I'm just a heathen. (less)
Rachel
Apr 25, 2019Rachel rated it liked it · review of another edition
Like Grimm's fairy tales, some stories translate well into the modern age, others make no sense. Overall though, I found it a fascinating insight into stories from the Middle East. (less)
Eman
Sep 06, 2021Eman rated it it was ok
Shelves: old-is-gold, fiction
The vast majority (not exaggerating!) of these selected short stories and fables were meaningless. I was not illumined, delighted, or informed. It's like the wisdom was literally lost in translation. Whenever I finished a story I was like.. what?! is this the end of it?
I liked a few (example: Merchant and Parrot) but unfortunately the rest fell short. If you want to read something by Rumi, I strongly advise you against starting with this one. (less)
Varsha
Nov 21, 2018Varsha rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: classics, anthology
Some really good short stories in this collection.
Sunita
Sep 28, 2021Sunita rated it liked it
I want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying about who hears or what they think. "
This book is a compilation of short stories. Every one of these stories takes you to the beautiful spiritual journey that is something, everybody's heart yearns for at some point in their life. Me, being a spiritually romantic person, find Rumi's poem and verses disarming in so many ways, and they definitely are beautiful and impactful that you just can't help but smile with your eyes closed, thinking of what you just experienced.
This line is something I would like to present to you guys from one of the stories:
" What may seem like poison to you could be Honey to someone else..." (less)
Keith Beasley-Topliffe
Jul 08, 2020Keith Beasley-Topliffe rated it it was amazing
Shelves: church-related, ebook
Sufi wisdom in story form
I had met Rumi (13th century Sufi mystic and poet) through a few scattered stories in a collection of wisdom stories from around the world. Unlike that collection, this one is clearly translated and well edited and proofread. It is a translation from Persian poetry into Engiish prose. The stories are allowed to stand on their own without commentary from the translator and with footnotes that are few and informative. The stories, fables, parables are generally fascinating, offering a glimpse of another world and another world view in an accessible way. I frequently found myself interrupting my wife to share what I'd just read. (less)
Audra
Jul 19, 2019Audra rated it it was ok · review of another edition
Shelves: library-books, borrowed, book-on-cd
The truth is I don't know how to rate this book. It was okay. I wouldn't say I liked it per say but I didn't not like it. Some of the stories and fables were good and taught a valuable lesson. Some of the stories, I didn't quite understand what they were supposed to teach. A lot of these lessons I have heard somewhere before. I don't know if it were in other books or stories that were read to me as a kid or even in Bible/Sunday School. (less)
Debbie Boucher
May 22, 2020Debbie Boucher rated it liked it
I try to read spiritual books every now and then. This was my attempt to expose myself to Rumi, a Sufi poet who is much revered. I looked forward to the exploration of a tradition I know little about. The problem is I just didn't connect with most of the stories. There were a few I recognized that are familiar to those of us in the West. Most were not, and I found myself stumped as to what the lesson or insight was. Perhaps the translation threw me. Maryam Mafi seemed more intent on accuracy than flow. I can't recommend this edition when there are so many others out there that might make Rumi's poetry and fables more relatable to the reader. (less)
Croweykid
Jun 21, 2021Croweykid rated it it was ok
How tiresome and didactic! The quintessence of #OKBoomer - which is not a phrase I like, due to its agist and disrespectful connotations....but jesu christo! It never applied more! This thing aged like Janice Dickinson.
I mean that in the sense that these backward archaic ideas of supplication to authority just aren't going to go down without a fight, no matter how tedious. This embodies the most pernicious, destructive aspects of religion, in my opinion. It's Harrison Bergeron as a prescriptive tale. It demands shame. I sometimes shudder at how shameless, on some fundamental levels (cancel culture aside), so much of the younger generation and media culture has become, but then I read Rumi and see why this overcorrection was so in order.
That or cancel culture is just Rumi 2.0: Aesopian Vengeance for the 21st Century. Ron White standup for the Orient. How dull and demoralizing!
As an aside, an additional problem - besides thematic content - is the matter of translation. I had to go to the internet for translations of the translations because some of the stories just didn't make a bit of sense. For the parrot and the grocer, one of the first stories, one must know that the darvish is a monk, that darvish monks are bald. By understand this, you may then suss out that the parrot is referencing the baldness of the monk in a "kids say the darnedest things" America's Funniest Home videos kind of way. But despite this book's penchant for "saying the quiet parts out loud" and transgressing against the rule of show-don't-tell by providing cloyingly smug summaries of every theme at the end of a story, the translation still overlooked very salient details like the parrot calling the man "baldy!" or "slaphead!" at the end to provide necessary details for the visual comedy of the scene. (less)
Ade
Jun 26, 2020Ade rated it liked it · review of another edition
God is one and without a rival, but he gives forth infinite signs. Think about it : a man may be your father, but he is also someone's son; what may seem like an anger in the eyes of an enemy is kindness to a friend
Usama Qureshi
Nov 30, 2019Usama Qureshi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
A beautiful eloquence.
Stephanie G. Lewis
Dec 28, 2019Stephanie G. Lewis rated it it was ok
I found the translations lacked the spark of Coleman Barks.
I am also hyper-aware of patriarchy and find it hard to see the beauty of females punished or degraded for wanting to be free.
The Master is the master because of nothing more than possessing a penis.
Sumit Dhamija
Sep 12, 2020Sumit Dhamija rated it really liked it
Finished reading “The Book of Rumi - 105 Stories and Fables” by Maryam Mafi.
Our essential need to gather together, paired with our compelling desire to share our experiences, thoughts, dreams, and entertainment, ultimately culminates in the act of storytelling. Stories are an ingrained part of lives everywhere. The universality of a good story serves to demonstrate that we’re not so different from our counterparts across the globe, which in turn prompts us to empathize with the other.
The stories that Rumi invents or reuses to aid in understanding the principles of Sufism are intricately woven into the warp and weft of the fabric of his teachings. To understand the depth of Rumi’s parables, we need to painstakingly work our way through twenty-six thousand couplets, compiled in the six books of the Masnavi-ye Manavi (Spiritual Couplets). It is relief and a delight to have the task completed for us by Maryam Mafi, one of the most respected, faithful, and eloquent translators of Rumi’s poetry.
I have been an ardent admirer of Rumi’s teachings all along, yet my inability to fathom the depth of his teachings left me searching for scholars who have translated Rumi’s poetry & couplets into plain English, allowing naive people like me to taste the sweet nectar. I felt lucky to have spotted this book whilst browsing through books at one of my favourite book stores (The English Book Shop, Chandigarh).
Most of the stories in the book are easy to follow and instantly resonate the underlying hidden moral. Nevertheless, there are stories that teased the neurons in my brain and left them firing in search of meaning. Needless mention, this book deserves a reading more than once. I’m confident that every reader will succeed in finding not one but many stories by Rumi to satisfy their curiosity for meaningful spiritual lessons. (less)
Anusha
Feb 21, 2021Anusha rated it it was ok · review of another edition
Several quotes by Rumi inspired me to read more of his work. I have to say, I am disappointed.
Some of the stories were nostalgic as they reminded me of the fables I had read as a child. As mentioned in several other reviews, I am also of the opinion that most of the stories did not age well with time.
I had a few issues with the stories in general:
- The portrayal of the women. In its defense, maybe that was how the view was in the 1200s.
- The promotion for an unconditional belief in God without putting in the due effort.
For example, in The Shaykh and the Tray of Sweets, the Shaykh is a great believer and helps the poor with all that he has and more. But as the Shaykh had no qualms about repaying his debt and expected God to sort it out without his due contribution, it soured the story for me. Promoting belief in God is relevant but felt it lacked imparting some morals.
The book contained several good ones as well. To name a few: The Angel of Death, Zolnoun in the Hospital, Students and Teacher, The Bird's Advice, and of course the story that was on the cover, The Zoroastrian and the Moslem. It also had some witty ones like The Sailor and the Professor, The Deaf Man and His Sick Neighbor. There was a certain amount of sage advice and quick wit in these stories that I loved to read.
Furthermore, I was excited to find the basic premise of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho in Treasure in Egypt. That was a nice wrap! (less)
Rupsa Pal Kundu
Mar 04, 2020Rupsa Pal Kundu rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Do we ever grow up not to read fables! I think not. Recently I am really struggling to read something with my whole heart. I don't know why but whenever I try to connect I find myself to be more alienated. So, I chose this book of short stories by Rumi. And, oh my god! I was almost cursing me for not reading this before.
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The translation of 105 short teaching stories which form the core of the six-volume Masnavi, explores the hidden spiritual aspects of everyday experience. Rumi transforms the seemingly mundane events of daily life and simplicity into profound Sufi teaching moments. At times the tales are as mystic as the storyteller himself. Such timeless tales of eloquence and positivity is all we need today to look forward to wipe out the grimes from our life.
. The stories are as simple as a child's mind. In fact, I have told a few to my three year old son, and he instantly liked them. I told him about Rumi and now he knows Rumi as an awesome storyteller (not as sufi poet!). And, I am happy to create another fan of Jalaluddin Rumi. (less)
Utpal Pathak
Jun 09, 2020Utpal Pathak rated it really liked it · review of another edition
The most important thing first, this book is full of lessons on life, love, and all things in between, things which one needs to carry on living a good, beautiful life!
But, being a true atheist, I was unable to get myself to connect with the contents, many a times getting annoyed at the portrayal of GOD or whatnots, until I figured it'd be better to not think of the person in the stories, instead focus entirely on the content!
All in all, this was a good, a different kind of experience for me, and after finishing it, I am not less wiser than I was when I picked it up, if anything I've took a few essential bits and pieces from it! (less)
Laura Bowman
Feb 13, 2022Laura Bowman rated it it was amazing
This was my introduction to Rumi. The stories never quite ended like I thought they would and left me pondering their meaning. I looked forward to reading a few of the stories daily. Being older, they had me questioning how I looked at life, made me remember that their are many different ways to look at things. The stories have had to travel from one language to another, one time to another, one culture to another, and still remain profound and thought provoking. I look forward to reading this again and learning more from Rumi. (less)
Steven Howard
May 24, 2020Steven Howard rated it it was amazing
Rumi Translated With No Loss In Meaning
This is a wonderful collection of stories and fables from the Persian poet and Sufi mystic Rumi.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way Maryam Mafi has taken Rumi's original words composed in verse and translated them into easy-to-read, delightful prose.
Much like Aesop's Fables, these stories ae a beautiful reminder of ethics, morals, faith, and loyalty. They were simply a pleasure to read. ...more
Maggie Obermann
Jan 31, 2021Maggie Obermann rated it liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: owned, faith-spirituality
Some of these stories are clever and meaningful. However, I found many of them to not really have any clear point. I was less amused by many of them. I found the Christian and Jesus stories interested, wondering where these stories came from. The reader’s voice was a bit monotonous on this recording except for if he was using a character’s voice. Overall, I enjoyed some and was bored by some of these stories as I listened to several eat morning while eating breakfast.
T
May 02, 2021T rated it really liked it
Tales of vast influence in the Muslim world. Most are pleasant, some are horrifying. One tale, for instance, favorably presents the case of a man who murders his mother for sleeping with several men suggesting that if he had instead pursued his mother’s lovers’ lives (in order to spare her life), he would have had to murder a man on the daily. Murdering his mother instead, Rumi suggests, was the more prudent decision.
Cory
Jan 07, 2020Cory rated it it was ok · review of another edition
Shelves: development
I suspect with how popular and significant his works were/are, they've already been cemented into the structure that has elevated modern enlightened thought. That, however, means the bar has been raised beyond this (not forgetting it was because of these works that was possible, though I'm not rating the book on historical significance). ...more
Sadia Afroj
Sep 14, 2020Sadia Afroj rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
I have always been a fan of Rumi's quotes. I was so glad to find this book. It has a number of stories that are pleasant to read and at the same time teaches and reminds of some old and new morals. Some of them we learnt and forgot, while some we were unaware of. Lovely book, worth reading when you are taking a break from hassles. (less)
Aidan
Feb 25, 2021Aidan rated it liked it
An interesting collection of fables and wisdom from ancient times, but so many little stories are hard to chew through in one sitting, and many of them take moral stances that are more interesting as historical artifacts than ones I will be introducing into my own ethics. Would be best to own and make a habit of flipping to a random story to start the day or as a divinatory practice.
Ellie Midwood
Mar 23, 2021Ellie Midwood rated it really liked it
Shelves: classics
A *mostly* timeless collection of fables and pearls of wisdom that are still applicable today. Naturally, some became obsolete (these stories, after all, were written centuries ago) but some are still relevant and insightful. I listened to it as an audiobook and the narrator did a fabulous job bringing characters to life and transporting me to the old world of the Middle East.
M. M. Sana
Oct 13, 2021M. M. Sana rated it it was ok
This would get one star, but because it is Rumi, I couldn't get myself to do that.
It has two stars because this is such a terrible translation of the fables. Given that I have actually read this in Farsi, this looses SO MUCH of the philosophical meaning and back story in translation. I was disappointed with this, but I did finish it. (less)
Nikita Arora
Dec 16, 2021Nikita Arora rated it did not like it
Uhh... so bad translation. Just because of the bad translation there was no meaning at the end of the stories, no moral or anything. I never left a book in the middle always finish it however bad it is but this book unfortunately I couldn’t carry on, so left it in the middle. This is would have been amazing (because it’s RUMI) if the translation was right but....
Dawn Nelson
Apr 13, 2022Dawn Nelson rated it liked it
I enjoyed Rumi's poems they are fabulous but unfortunately, whilst there is no denying there is wisdom contained in his words, in this collection it is somewhat lost, confusing and clunky at times, perhaps something lost in translation. If you're new to Rumi I suggest starting with his poems. Something like Penguin Classics, Selected Poems. (less)
Audible.com.au reviews
Mrs. Evelyn S. Bayne
10-01-2021
Wonderfully read
All in all such a rewarding experience listening to all these short wise philosophical stories. Thanks especially to Keith, the narrator
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