Il Libro di Mirdad

First published in Lebanon in 1948—first in English and then translated into Arabic—by Mikhail Naimy, a friend and acolyte of Kahlil Gibran, "The Book of Mirdad" is written largely in dialogue form. It tells the story of a mysterious stranger, Mirdad, who visits the remote monastery on Ark Mountain and takes on the role of teacher and spiritual guide to his nine chosen students.

Author: Mikhail Naimy

He was a legendary Lebanese poet, philosopher, and novelist, recognized as one of the most vital figures in the 20th-century Arab literary Renaissance. Alongside Gibran Khalil Gibran and Ameen Rihany, he formed the "Three Pillars" of modern Arabic literature and co-founded the prestigious Pen League in New York in 1920. Naimy’s profound philosophical perspective was shaped by a life of global study and travel. Leaving his home in the Lebanese mountains at thirteen, he pursued his education across Palestine, Russia, and the United States, before eventually returning to Lebanon to live a life of meditation and writing. This cross-cultural journey allowed him to blend Eastern mysticism with Western literary traditions.

While Naimy authored over forty books, The Book of Mirdad (1948) remained his personal favorite and his most significant contribution to world philosophy. Naimy famously stated: "If all my other books were accidentally burnt, the one book I would want to save is The Book of Mirdad, since it enfolds the epitome of my philosophy."