With Beelzebubs Tales to His Grandson, G. I. Gurdjieff intended to ``destroy, mercilessly . . . the beliefs and views about everything existing in the world.`` This novel beautifully brings to life the visions of humanity for which Gurdjieff has become esteemed. Beelzebub, a man of worldly (and other-worldly) wisdom, shares with his grandson the anecdotes, personal philosophies, and lessons learned from his own life.The reader is given a detailed discussion of all matters physical, natural, and spiritual, from the creation of the cosmos to mans teleological purpose in the universe. This edition of Beelzebubs Tales to His Grandson--the first single-volume paperback to appear in English--restores the original, authoritative translation.