The illustration is by John Doyle at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In addition to his Nasruddin books — The World of Nasrudin, The Subtleties of the Inimitable Mulla Nasrudin, The Pleasantries of the Incredible Mulla Nasrudin, and The Exploits of the Incomparable Mulla Nasrudin — you can find many other collections of Sufi stories there, and there is also a chapter about Nasruddin stories in his book The Sufis.

You can find out more about Idries Shah at Wikipedia.

I've created some lists of Internet Archive books that are related to "wise fool" traditions around the world; it defaults to the Nasruddin list, and you can see the other lists down the left-hand column. If you'd like to make your own lists at the Internet Archive, keeping track of books that are of interest to you, here's how: Basic Guide to Lists.

The image above is a print from the British Museum.

This Wikipedia article surveys the history of clowns and clowning going all the way back to ancient Egypt: Wikipedia: Clown.

You can also read about this novel at Wikipedia: Wonderful Fool.

You can read about this novel at Wikipedia: The Good Soldier Švejk.

Here is a list of Eulenspiegel books in English at the Internet Archive, and there is also a play: Merry Tyll, and this book chapter: Ulenspiegel's Tricky Power.

Below is a list of Till Eulenspiegel stories in anthologies:

• Till Eulenspiegel and the Men of Schilda

• Till Eulenspiegel and His Practical Jokes

• Music Box: Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks

• Till Eulenspiegel and His Practical Jokes

• Till Eulenspiegel

• Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks

• Till Eulenspiegel the Prankster

• Eulenspiegel at Castle Dasburg

• Tyl Eulenspiegel and the Marvelous Painting

• A Prankster Fools One and All

You can find Hershele stories in these anthologies:

• Joshua Salisbury Family Book: The Quips and Pranks of Hershele Ostropolyer

• While Standing on One Foot: Hershel and the Nobleman

• A Sampler of Jewish-American Folklore: Some Hershele Tales

• Best-Loved Folktales of the World: When Hershel Eats

• A Treasury of Jewish Folklore: A Quick Prayer / Tales of Hershel Ostropolier

• One-Hundred-and-One Jewish Read-Aloud Stories: Hershel from Ostropol

• Eight Tales for Eight Nights: How to Sell a Menorah

• The Spotted Pony: When Hershel Eats

• The Hungry Clothes: A Trickster Teaches a Lesson

• The Big Book of Jewish Humor: Hershele Ostropoler

• Trickster Tales: Hershele's Feast

• Ten Traditional Jewish Children's Stories: What My Father Did / Half Price to Leitshev

• What Is a Jewish Joke? Two Hershele Stories / Hershele's New Clothes

• Folktales: The Mysterious Painting

• Four Hasidic Masters: Hershele Ostropoler

• The Schlemiel Comes to America: Hershel's New Coat

You can read about this Jewish folk hero at Wikipedia: Hershel of Ostropol.

More about this folk hero at Wikipedia: Pedro Urdemales.

If you can read Spanish, here are 20 Pedro de Urdemalas stories published in the American Journal of Folklore.

There are several Gopal books at the Archive:

• Gopal the Jester (Wilco)

• Gopal the Jester (Amar Chitra Katha)

• Fat Gopal

• Matchless Wits: Tenali Rama and Gopal

Some stories:

• Folktales from India: Gopal Bhar the Star-Counter / Gopal Bhar Cures a Dreamer

• The Thief of Love: Gopal the Straw-counter / Gopal and the Bull

• The Mythology of Sleep: Gopal Bhar Cures a Dreamer

I've made a list of Birbal books at the Archive, including comic books (17 at last count).

A. K. Ramanujan's Folktales from India book has Akbar and Birbal stories,.

There is also an article on fools who are wise: Wikipedia: Wise Fool.

Shakespeare included some famous fools in his plays; find out more at Wikipedia: Shakespearean Fool.

The image is Denslow's illustration of a nursery rhymes about the so-called "Wise Men of Gotham" who are famous fools in the English tradition.

Here is another translation: The Jests of Hierocles and Philagrius

You can find out more at Wikipedia: Philogelos. There is also a Wikipedia with some jokes from ancient Rome: Wikipedia: Roman Jokes.

45 Jokes from The Laughter Lover

(The Diotima site is no longer online, but a copy of the webpage exists at the Wayback Machine.)

You can read more here: Philogelos The Laugh Addict.

• Noodlehead Stories from Around the World by by M.A. Jagendorf.

• The Book of Noodles. by W. A. Clouston

There's also an article at Wikipedia: Epaminondas (children's story).

In England, a whole series of Epaminondas books was published, written in dialect and with deeply racist illustrations; you can see one of those at the Internet Archive (see the last page of the book for titles of other books in the British series): Epaminondas Helps in the House. The original editions are not dated, but some of these books were published as recently as the 1950s and 1960s in England.

There is a newer version of the book which is less overtly racist, and it features lovely illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman... but the continued use of the mocking name Epaminondas for the little boy perpetuates a naming tradition that keeps the story trapped in a racist context of enslavement, despite the best intentions of the author, Eve Merriam, and the illustrator. You can see a video of that book at the Internet Archive: Epaminondas retold by Eve Merriam.

• Jewish Humor in America: Motke and the Fire

• Jewish Wit and Wisdom: Motke the Drinker / Motke the Liar

• Laughs from Jewish Lore: Motke Chabad

• Joshua Salisbury Family Book: Motke the Schlemiel / The Miracle

• An Anthology of Jewish Humor and Maxims: When Motke Fell Down

• A Treasury of Jewish Folklore: Motke and the Noodles

• The Big Book of Jewish Humor: Motke and the Kugel

• What is a Jewish Joke? When We Die

At the Internet Archive you can read this book: Tales of Uncle Tompa: Legendary Rascal Of Tibet by Rinjing Dorje.

There are many Amelia Bedelia books at the Internet Archive.

See also Annotated Index of Appalachian Folktales: Jack Tales.

For more about this tradition, see Wikipedia: Nyönpa.

You can find Juan Bobo in these Spanish-language anthologies:

• Leyendas Latinoamericanas: Las Aventuras de Juan Bobo

• Español Práctico: Juan Bobo

• Cuéntame: Juan Bobo y el caldero

• Literatura Infantil Venezolana: La fiesta de Juan Bobo

• Cuentos Picarescos: Juan Bobo y el secreto de la Princesa

• Ven Conmigo: Juan Bobo va a oir misa

• Contemporary Latin-American Literature: Juan Bobo va a oir misa

• Cuento Folklórico en Venezuela: Cuento de Juan Bobo

• Literatura Infantil Iberoamericana: Juan Bobo

• Cuentos Populares Hispánicos: Juan Bobo

• Voces de Latino America: Juan Bobo y Pedro Artimana / Juan Bobo y la Princesa Adivinadora / Juan Bobo y el miedo

• Spanish for Mastery: Las aventuras de Juan Bobo

• Cuentos Folkloricos Latinoamericanos: El Lento Mato a Cuatro / Juan Bobo y la puerca

• Las Criptas de Kaua: La Princesa Advinadora

Plus, you can find bilingual Juan Bobo stories in these anthologies:

• Stories from Puerto Rico = Historias de Puerto Rico: Juan Bobo

• Stories from Latin America = Historias de Latinoamérica: The Adventures of Juan Bobo

• The Emerald Lizard = La Lagartíja Esmeralda: Juan Bobo

• Latino Read-aloud Stories: Juan Bobo, El Rico

• Cuentos Para Todos / Tales for Everybody: La Apuesta / The Bet

• El Romance de Don Gato: Juan Bobo y la Olla de tres patas / Señor Cat's Romance: Juan Bobo and the Three-Legged Pot

• Cuentos que Contaban Nuestras Abuelas: Juan Bobo / Tales Our Abuelitas Told: Juan Bobo

Here is a list of Juan Bobo books at the Archive. There are 13 books there, plus a list of stories below. I've also collected some bilingual Juan Bobo stories and some Juan Bobo stories in Spanish only. I also made a Juan Bobo YouTube playlist.

Here are the Juan Bobo in English-language anthologies:

• Folktales of the Antilles: Juan Bobo

• Folklore from Puerto Rico: Juan Bobo

• Joining In: Juan Bobo and Sisi

• Stories We Brought with Us: Juan Bobo and the Pot

• The King of the Mountains: Juan Bobo and Old Tiger

• Noodlehead Stories: Juan Bobo

• Tales of the Western World: Juan Bobo

• The Tiger and the Rabbit: Juan Bobo

• Classic Caribbean Stories: Juan Bobo Goes to Market

• Reading, An American Tradition: Juan Bobo and the Queen's Necklace

• Cinderella in America: Juan Bobo and the Riddling Princess

• Puerto Rican Folktales: Juan Bobo, the Sow, and the Chicks / The Cauldron / The Princess Who Answered Riddles

• More Ready-to-tell Tales: Juan Bobo's Pig

• Allyn & Bacon Anthology: Juan Bobo

• Multicultural Plays: Juan Bobo and the Sunday Pig

• Folk Tales for Beginning Readers: Plays: Juan Bobo Comes Home

• Tales from Hispanic Lands: Juan Bobo

Here is a list of Nasruddin books at the Internet Archive: there are 29 books, full of Nasruddin stories!

In addition, you can also find Nasruddin stories in these collections:

• Islamic Wisdom

• Caravan of Dreams

• The Sufis

• Plays from Folktales

• The Delights of Turkey

• Tiny Tales from the Sufis

• Stories from the Muslim world

• More One-minute Nonsense

If you are curious, here is the oldest Nasruddin book published in English; it's from 1884: The Turkish Jester (at Project Gutenberg).

• Goha, the Wise Fool

• Goha and His Donkey

• Tales of Goha

• Goha the Fool (novel)

• Juha, Last of the Errant Knights (novel)

• Part II of The Garden of Joys (pp.114-140) is devoted to Joha stories.

• Section 5 of Classical Arabic Stories (pp. 189-206) features Juha stories.

There are also lots of Goha stories in various anthologies.

• Tiny Tales of Nasruddin

• Tiny Tales from the Sufis

• Tiny Tales from India

The books are available as free epub downloads, and there is free audio too.

Another Joha book at the Archive is Joha Makes A Wish.

You can also find Joha stories in these anthologies:

• Because God Loves Stories: The Sound of Work / The Talking Mule

• Chosen Tales: Going Along with Joha

• The Cow of No Color: The Sound of Work

• World Literature: Joha and the Peasant

• Jewish Moroccan Folk Narratives: Juha Sells His House

• The Power of Song: What Joha Needed

• The Jewish Spirit: Djuha Seeks a Bride

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The Padlet is also available as a PDF file (last updated: June 1).

You will find more Padlet tips at the bottom of this column, and if you have questions or need help, you can comment on this post or on any of the other posts... or contact Laura at laurakgibbs@gmail.com.

[Purple mailbox by coolarts223 at deviantart.]

Here are some Giufà stories:

• Italian Popular Tales: Five Giufà Stories

• Italian Folktales: Six Giufà Stories

• Life and Manners: Three Giufà Stories

• Sweet Lemons: A Sicilian Giufà Story

• Noodlehead Stories: Giufà and the Judge

• The Fairy Tale Tree: How Poor Giufà Paid His Debts

• The Simpleton of Naples: Simpleton of Naples (a Giufà variation)

• The Disobedient Eels: The Case Against the Flies

• The Priceless Cats: King Clothes

• Let's Read! Eat, My Clothes!

• Reading Success: Giufà's Fancy Coat (the story shown in the post image)

• The Wine-dark Sea: Giufà

• The Keeper of Ruins: Death of Giufà (a modern story)

These anthologies contain Tenalirama stories; I've made a separate list of the comic books and magazines:

• 365 Bedtime Stories: Tenali (stories 167-194)

• Laughing Matters (many Tenali Rama stories throughout):

• Asian Laughter: Tales about Tenali Rama

• Folktales from India: How Tenali Rama Became a Jester / Tenali Rama's Ramayana / Tenali Rama's Art / Tenali Rama's Dream / Tenali Rama and the Brahmans.

• Norton Anthology of Hinduism: Two Tenali Rama Stories

• Textbook for Class 3: How Tenali Rama Became a Jester

• Ohio Learning Outcomes: Water from the Wells

• Best of Moral Stories: Tenali Raman's New Appointment

• The Book of Kali: Tenali Raman and Kali

• Terrific Trickster Tales from Asia: The Well

• r2i Dreams: Tenali Rama and the Eggplants

• Children's Stories in Play Therapy: How Tenali Rama Became a Jester

• Mind Is Your Own Business: Tenali Ramakrishna the Jester

• Business Ethics: Tenali Rama and the Banquet

• Stories from India: The Goddess with Her Hands Full

• Telling Tales from Asia: Tenali Rama the Painter

• A Poem at the Right Moment: The King with One Eye / Tenali Rama and the Scribe

• The Tenth Rasa: Goat's Tail

• Men of Wit: Tenali Rama

• The Angry King

• Made of Moonlight

• The Jester and the Bandit

• His Majesty's Horse

• The Two Turbans

• The King's Portrait

• A Strange Horse

• A Way to Die

• Tenali Rama in the Battlefield

• Tenali Rama at the Palace Gate

• The Miracle Seed

• For Sake of the Dear Departed

• The Jester and the Priest

• To Catch a Thief

• Debts Overdue

• Tenali Rama Atones

• Enlightening Diwali

• Tenali Raman Outwits the Thieves

• Tenali Rama and the Thieves

• Tenalirama and the Proud King

• The Dog's Tail

• Tenalirama Catches the Thief

• Two Foot Smoke

• Dog and Horse

• Tenalirama and the Brinjal

• Tenali Rama and the Red Peacock

• Tenali Rama Stories

English-language stories:

• 1001 Nights: The Master of Shifts and Laughter

• Egyptian and Sudanese Folktales: Karakosh and Goha

• Canoe Errant on the Nile: Stories of Goha the Simpleton

• Egyptian Folktales: What Will People Say / Goha the Wise / There's Always a Means / To Pay through the Nose / Forty Days Hath Ramadan

• Fun and Festival from the Middle East: Goha Stories

• That'd Be Telling: Goha in the Restaurant / Goha's Guest / Goha and the Eggs

• At the Edge: Goha and His Lost Donkey / The Proverbial Nail / The Falling Gown / The Problem of Nothing / The Fat Sheep

• Finish Line Reading: Goha and the Cooking Pot

• Anthology of Traditional Literature: Goha and the King

• Read for the Fun of It: The Lost Donkey / The Money Tree

• Trickster Tales: Two Legs or One?

• Arabic Proverbs: Goha's Water Wheel / Goha's Cap / Goha's Trunk / Goha's Sheep

• Eastern Love: A Quick Child

• Laughing Together: Abu el Nawas and Goha

• The Middle East Bedside Book: Joha the Joker

• The Peasant and the Donkey: Juha and the Dispute over a Donkey / Juha at the Banquet

• 1001 Proverbs from Tunisia: Like Juha's Nail

• The Story Giant: Djuha Stories

• Arab Folktales: Stories of Djuha

• In the Tradition of Moses and Mohammed: Djuha Tales

• Young People's Stories of Respect: Djuha's Sleeve

• Uncommon Tales Around the World: Djuha's Meat Disappears / Djuha and the Donkey

Bilingual Arabic-English:

• Arabic Stories: Juha and the Police Officer / Juha and the Thief / Juha and His Donkey

• Humor And Moroccan Culture: Don't Give Me Advice / Who Are You Going to Trust?

Foolish Juan

Juan Bobo Sends the Pig to Mass

Juan Bobo Has a Sleepover

Juan Bobo and the Fortune Teller

Juan Bobo and the 3-Legged Pot

Juan Bobo and the Cooking Pot - Juan Bobo y el Caldero

Aventuras de Juan Bobo

You can find many books of Chelm stories at the Internet Archive (22 books at last count).

• The Zen Koan

• Zen Koans

• Unlocking the Zen Koan

• The Gateless Barrier

• Passing Through the Gateless Barrier

• No Barrier

• Pointing at the Moon

• The Sound of the One Hand

• Opening a Mountain

• Two Arrows Meeting in Mid-air

• Bring Me the Rhinoceros

• The Blue Cliff Record

• The Lessons of Zen

• Attaining Enlightenment

• Zen Buddhism

• Wikipedia: Riddles

• Wikipedia: Paradox

• Wikipedia: Koan

We have an Internet Archive bookshelf of riddle books, and here is more information about the Zen koan tradition, a centuries-old practice based on hundreds of riddling questions that might seem foolish... at first.

In addition, here are some traditional folktales featuring riddles and foolish wisdom:

• Cinderella in America: Juan Bobo and the Riddling Princess / Puerto Rican Folktales: The Princess Who Answered Riddles

• World of Nasrudin: A Question of Nature - Talking in Gestures - Mullah Nasruddin: Three Renowned Scholars

• Riddling Tales: Why the Fish Laughed - Tyl Eulenspiegel and the Wager - King John and the Abbot of Canterbury - A Pottle o' Brains - The Cleverest Youth in Town - Hodja

Books:

• Great Fool: Zen Master Ryōkan

• Ryōkan, Zen Monk-poet of Japan

• Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf: Zen Poems

• One Robe, One Bowl: Zen Poetry

Chapters:

• Ryōkan in The Roaring Stream

• The Great Fool of Immense Tolerance in Zen Buddhism for Everyone

• Daigu Ryokan in Zen Master Class

• Ryōkan in Shapers of Japanese Buddhism

• Ryokan Daigu in Zen Masters of Japan