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Tahir Shah
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Sorcerer's Apprentice Paperback – May 8, 2002

by Tahir Shah (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 253 ratings
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Follows the author's apprenticeship to one of India's master conjurers and his initiation into the brotherhood of godmen, during which he journeys the subcontinent, meeting a plethora of adhus, sages, sorcerers, hypnotists, and humbugs. Reprint.
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  1. Print length
    323 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Arcade Publishing
  4. Publication date
    May 8, 2002
  5. Dimensions
    5.75 x 1 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1559706260
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1559706261
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tahir Shah was born into Afghan nobility in 1966 and grew up in England. He has written widely on the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, and South America. When not traveling, he lives in London with his wife and daughter.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Arcade Publishing (May 8, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 323 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1559706260
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1559706261
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 253 ratings

About the author

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Tahir Shah

Tahir Shah

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Tahir Shah was born in London, and raised primarily at the family’s home, Langton House, in the English countryside – where founder of the Boy Scouts, Lord Baden Powell, was also brought up.

Along with his twin and elder sisters, Tahir was continually coaxed to regard the world around him through Oriental eyes. This included being exposed from early childhood to Eastern stories, and to the back-to-front humour of the wise fool, Nasrudin.

Having studied at a leading public school, Bryanston, Tahir took a degree in International Relations, his particular interest being in African dictatorships of the mid-1980s. His research in this area led him to travel alone through a wide number of failing African states, including Uganda, Sierra Leone, and Zaire.

After university, Tahir embarked on a plethora of widespread travels through the Indian subcontinent, Latin America, and Africa, drawing them together in his first travelogue, BEYOND THE DEVIL'S TEETH. In the years that followed, he published more than a dozen works of travel. These quests – for lost cities, treasure, Indian magic, and for the secrets of the so-called Birdmen of Peru – led to what is surely one of the most extraordinary bodies of travel work ever published.

In the early 2000s, with two small children, Tahir moved his young family from an apartment in London’s East End to a supposedly haunted mansion in the middle of a Casablanca shantytown. The tale of the adventure was published in his bestselling book, THE CALIPH'S HOUSE.

In recent years, Tahir Shah has released a cornucopia of work, embracing travel, fiction, and literary criticism. He has also made documentaries for National Geographic TV and the History Channel, and published hundreds of articles in leading magazines, newspapers, and journals. His oeuvre is regarded as exceptionally original and, as an author, he is considered as a champion of the new face of publishing.

www.tahirshah.com

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
253 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining. They praise the writing style as humorous, articulate, and eloquent. The book provides insightful information about magic and India. Readers describe the story as suspenseful and exciting, with a mystery that keeps them hooked.

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ReadabilityWriting styleInsightSuspenseful storyAmbiance
25 customers mention "Readability"25 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and enjoyable. They appreciate the author's storytelling ability and narrative style. The book starts well and strings together cohesively.

"...What fun!" Read more

"...Otherwise an entertaining and informative read during which I laughed often...." Read more

"...His travels take him to places off the beaten track, and it’s fun to read about where he went...." Read more

"...In fact, I pretty much blew over the pages. It started out fairly good and some of the author's parts of life in India were very interesting...." Read more

14 customers mention "Writing style"11 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style. They find it well-written, articulate, and engaging. The descriptions of places and events make readers laugh and sometimes hold their noses. Readers appreciate the author's vocabulary and how he weaves the tale together cohesively.

"...The book presents the culture of "capitalistic superstition" with humor and warmth...." Read more

"...His journey is told with humorous sarcasm and always in an honest and engaging way...." Read more

"...of the places and culture were really great, well-written, articulate and often even eloquent but when it came to the author's dialog and actions it..." Read more

"...Supremely original, exciting, fun, fascinating and beautifully told. Read it and give copies to your friends as I have done." Read more

12 customers mention "Insight"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and informative. They describe it as a wonderful journey of self-discovery and adventure. The book keeps readers interested from beginning to end with its honest and entertaining storytelling.

"...Otherwise an entertaining and informative read during which I laughed often...." Read more

"...His journey is told with humorous sarcasm and always in an honest and engaging way...." Read more

"...fairly good and some of the author's parts of life in India were very interesting...." Read more

"...Supremely original, exciting, fun, fascinating and beautifully told. Read it and give copies to your friends as I have done." Read more

9 customers mention "Suspenseful story"7 positive2 negative

Customers find the story engaging and interesting. They describe it as a brilliant travel tale with suspense and mystery. The book is described as exciting, fun, and beautifully told.

"A brilliant traveler's tale!..." Read more

"One of the very greatest travel books of all time. Supremely original, exciting, fun, fascinating and beautifully told...." Read more

"...Fascinating story, appeals to the cynic in me who believes that most "spirituality" is smoke and mirrors...." Read more

"...read, couldn't put it down although his adventures became slightly repetitive in the last quarter...." Read more

5 customers mention "Ambiance"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's ambiance. They find it entertaining, with colorful details and cultural insights that bring the story to life. The author's descriptions of places and cultures are well-written and magically evoke the spirit of India.

"...He balances colorful details with cultural insights all while giving us a breathless journey through a fascinating world...." Read more

"...been interested in India and the descriptions of the places and culture were really great, well-written, articulate and often even eloquent but when..." Read more

"A good read and a lot of fun. Truly evokes the spirit of India" Read more

"...Very unusual and entertaining, full of rich ambiance and quirky characters. Also very suspenseful. I will definitely read more Tahir Shah." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Angela Benson
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Journey Into the Manifestations of Magic
    Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this book. It takes one on a journey into India and the extreme marvels and mysteries that manifest there. You won’t learn anything about actually creating miracles, but you may find out a thing or two about techniques that are employed to fool others and seemingly create magical experiences. What fun!
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  • Robin Weisel-Capsouto
    4.0 out of 5 stars A different angle on India
    Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I chose to read this book because my son has been living off and on in India for the past several years, and I am planning to visit there for the first time in the near future. The book presents the culture of "capitalistic superstition" with humor and warmth. It will make me read my guide books with a very different perspective. It presents me with a different frame of reference from which to look at this overwhelming nation.
    I gave Sorcerer's Apprentice the score I did because, while I enjoyed most of the book, I felt the part about Shah's sojourn at his Teacher's house in Calcutta became bogged down and tiring. Also, it ended so abruptly, although the ending didn't surprise me at all. Otherwise an entertaining and informative read during which I laughed often. If you are going to spend time in India, or if you already have, I recommend it.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • She Who Loves Books
    5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible
    Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2015
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    Tahir Shah’s experiences in India are incredible. He becomes an apprentice to a sadistic master in order to learn the secrets of illusion practiced by the godmen and magicians of the sub-continent. He then reveals those secrets in this book.

    Although this book is non-fiction, the narration reads like a novel. His journey is told with humorous sarcasm and always in an honest and engaging way. I especially liked the third part of the book which was his journey through different parts of India. Here is where we meet a myriad of unusual people in India. His travels take him to places off the beaten track, and it’s fun to read about where he went. This is also one of the few books I’ve read about India that includes the city Vijayawada, a place that is dear to my heart but hardly ever mentioned in travelogues.

    I highly recommend this book. It’s entertaining and informative. This is the first book I’ve read by Mr. Shah, but I will be ordering more of his books today.
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  • Joann R. Greene
    3.0 out of 5 stars I didn't like this one
    Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I have read two other books by Tahir Shah and loved them. They were "The Caliph's House" and "A Year In Casablanca - Casablance Blues". I thought I'd give this one a try but it didn't do anything for me. In fact, I pretty much blew over the pages. It started out fairly good and some of the author's parts of life in India were very interesting. If there was a plot, it rambled on and nothing in the book really grabbed me enough to stay with it. My enthusiasm waned about a quarter of the way through.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Craig Parsons
    5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful journey of self-discovery and adventure
    Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A brilliant traveler's tale! Told via a personal search motivated by a childhood encounter with a magician, Shah is masterful in pacing and narrative. He balances colorful details with cultural insights all while giving us a breathless journey through a fascinating world. Reading this makes you feel like something new, often bizarre and wonderful is just down the road.
    One person found this helpful
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  • ST
    4.0 out of 5 stars *SPOILERS*
    Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This is the only book I've read by the author and I really liked it but it's weird. I've always been interested in India and the descriptions of the places and culture were really great, well-written, articulate and often even eloquent but when it came to the author's dialog and actions it was almost like he was a simpleton. How Feroze had the patience to bother with him is a mystery. Had to be as a favor to his old pupil and the fact that he managed to survive everything he was hit with. His dimness wasn't confined to small things either, he was robbed, poisoned and duped at every turn. But, at the same time, he was able to explain all the "magic tricks" which, in my opinion, even though it's interesting, strikes me as very disloyal to the practice he was supposed to love so much. He could have left some details out. Why ruin it for everyone? Most of it was harmless. Meanwhile, a halfwit would have known half the characters were Feroze in disguise and Bhalu was leading him around by the nose. It made the denouement kind of stupid; could have been good if done better. But I still liked it, it had enough going for it to just eye-roll at the dumb parts. Would probably try one of the other books.
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  • Jonathan NYC
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest travel books of all time
    Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2021
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    One of the very greatest travel books of all time. Supremely original, exciting, fun, fascinating and beautifully told. Read it and give copies to your friends as I have done.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Suegurl
    4.0 out of 5 stars Terrific read, couldn't put it down although his adventures ...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2017
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    Terrific read, couldn't put it down although his adventures became slightly repetitive in the last quarter. Gives great information on the art of illusion.
    Would recommend.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • MRP
    5.0 out of 5 stars Magical journey
    Reviewed in Canada on April 26, 2015
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    A fascinating account of street magic and street life in India. The descriptions are vivid and remind me of my own experiences in several of the places. My only complaint is the book needed more careful editing for typos.
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  • David Turner
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting
    Reviewed in India on July 15, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Typical Tahir Shah. A great read. The dividing line between fact and fiction, is as always hard to define. It made me want to go visit this wonderful city of Kolkata again.
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  • Noura
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 26, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Tahir Shah's writing never disappoints me. I lapped this one up and hoped it would last longer than it did. His writing pace is always faultless and he knows how to construct a pageturner. His subject matter is always unusual and rare and this makes reading it more interesting and exciting. This book forcuses on magic, its origins and the explanations for it in India where it is still practised and highly believed in. Absolutely first class and a book to get rid of the rest of the winter. It transport you to a foreign land with all the smells, sensations and visual experiences as well as explains in surprising depth how much that is considered to be magic can be explained.
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  • OhhSoSaurabh
    3.0 out of 5 stars Typos
    Reviewed in India on August 18, 2016
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    While the content of this book is amazing, the ebook is riddled with typo errors.
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  • Maria Gillen
    4.0 out of 5 stars Atmospheric
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 13, 2014
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    Very good travel writer. The book brings modern day India life. Well worth reading if you enjoy a good adventure.
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