[3] The Dermis Probe is a collection of teaching stories and proverbs drawn from Sufi tradition.

"[4] The title piece is a modern retelling of the "Blind men and an elephant", from the Tittha Sutta, a scripture included in one of the oldest texts in the Pali Canon of Theravāda Buddhism.

Shah's adaptation begins with a conference of scientists, from different fields of expertise, presenting their distorted conclusions on the material which the camera is focused upon.

As the camera slowly zooms out it becomes clear for the first time that the material under examination is the hide of an African elephant.

[7] The New York Times book review wrote that "...The Dermis Probe develops the theme of patterns of material – arrangements: it is necessary to remember that the position of a story and its relation to others – which may be in other volumes – can be important.