This book contains material which, if expanded even in the most acceptable way, could easily fill many hundreds of pages. Such expansion, however, would not necessarily be of any use. If you are influenced by some prestige-content in a fat book, this book is not for you, for you will be disappointed because it is not crammed with words. The Commanding Self is an anthology of previously unpublished work, based on tales, lectures, letters and interviews. It offers both an introduction to Sufi thought and further study for those already acquainted with Shah's work.
People generally deal with situations by means of assumptions.
This habit is useful, it can mean that you do not have to think. If you see a man in a blue uniform you can assume he is a policeman. That is why admirals are regularly mistaken for ticket-collectors on railway stations. Do not make assumptions all the time, and do not let your life be ruled by assumptions. Remember the sad case of a sign-writer who lost a commission because he made a wrong assumption.