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Customer Reviews (3)

Good introduction
This is a very thin book covering a long period of time. The purpose of the book is to lay out the long history of Iran and empires that preceded it in order to help understand current events in context. It is not, nor do I think it was intended to be, sufficiently detailed to give you a solid understanding of any one period of Iran's long history. But it is a great introduction to starting your research. I would not recommend this book unless you follow it up with something that goes into more detail. But I also would not recommend other books that go into greater detail unless you read this one first. This book provides a very thorough and concise context.

Amore rounded picture of Iran
The image many people have of Iran is of a nation of fanatical Islamic believers. This book comes to put Iranian society in historical perspective, and emphasize how strong the pre-Islamic Persian culture still is in Iran. As Rubin himself says in an interview in National Review, "Iran's history goes back millennia. It is important to recognize the historical patterns that shape Iranian state and society. We wanted to correct the faulty notion that the Islamic Republic is the natural state of things. Too many books written by academics in the year or two after the Islamic Revolution assumed that the Islamic Revolution represented the natural evolution of Iranian politics. It is now clear that the Revolution was an aberration. This raises the policy question: Should we do anything that helps prolong the system, or will we side with the vast majority of Iranians who hope for change? We can only win if the Iranian people win. And that means not striking any deal which will help preserve the status quo and a theocracy anathema not only to many Iranians, but also to so many religious Shiites."
In other words Rubin and Clawson here are echoing the line of Kenneth Timmerman who for some time now has been urging Administration support of dissenting forces in Iran. These by the way are not necessarily democratic forces.
As for the Iranian nuclear danger Rubin and Clawson are convinced that it is real indeed, and not necessarily because Washington is in danger of suffering nuclear attack tomorrow. The authors convincingly paint a picture of an emboldened nuclear Iran able to vastly increase its terrorist activities as it dominates the Gulf and the world oil situation.
This is an important and instructive book about a nation which under its present leadership is a real threat to Mankind.

An easy read on a timely subject.
This book is well documented (over thirty ages of footnotes and references) but is a quick and easy read (just 162 pages of text).Today Iran has become one of our most important foreign policy problems, and I believe that reading this book is an excellent way to get the historical background required to understand what is going on in that part of the world.Unfortunately it seems to have been proofread by a computer rather than a human being and here and there you will find a word which is obviously not the word the author intended.This is a minor flaw in an otherwise outstanding book. ... Read more

Product Description
On June 24, 2005, after nearly ten years of supporting liberal reform, the people of Iran surprised the world by electing the conservative mayor of Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as their new president. Soon after, the new president announced Iran would restart its uranium enrichment program, drawing international criticism and condemnation from leaders in Europe and the United States. Many observers suspect it is the desire to produce not nuclear energy but nuclear weapons that lies behind Iran's controversial decision.

Ever since President George W. Bush described Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as the "Axis of Evil," Iran has garnered increased international attention and threatens to become the new focus of European and American foreign policy. Now you can have at your fingertips up-to-date, must-know details on this complex, pivotal country-straight from one of the most trusted sources of information around the globe.

The first in a major new series from Encyclopedia Britannica, Iran presents a balanced, sophisticated examination of Iran's social, cultural, and political landscape, past and present. From the constitutional revolution to the hostage crisis to weapons of mass destruction, this thorough guide provides the necessary background to comprehend all the important, ongoing issues surrounding this enigmatic country.

Information on such leaders as Cyrus the Great and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, as well as on historical events like the Iran-Contra Affair and the Iran-Iraq War, place current developments into the broader context of world history, the Muslim world, the War on Terror, and the push for democratic reform in the Middle East. Every concise entry-from Afghanistan and Ayatollah Khomeini to Shari'ah law and the Shah-promotes the deeper understanding of issues and events that only Encyclopedia Britannica can provide.

Since 1768, Encyclopedia Britannica has been a leading provider of learning products and one of the world's most trusted sources of information.

www.britannica.com ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Iran: The Essential Guide to a Country on theBrink
I found this book up-to-date, very well written, and well arranged for easy reference.

Insightful Aid To Understanding Contemporary Iran
The Islamic Revolution in Iran happened over a quarter of a century ago and Iran has often been in the news ever since.
Unfortunately too many Americans have little knowledge of this ancient and sophisticated land or of its unique people.

For those interested in learning about a country that was the center of several world empires and is destined to again become the dominant power of that region, this book is a very good primer. Understandibly, emphasis is on contemporary times, with articles, for example, on Ahmadinejad, Iranian human rights activist and Nobel Prize winner, Shirin Ebadi, the American war on terrorism, and Bush's "Axis of Evil" comments. However, there remains many other articles devoted toPersian/Iranian history and culture, which will greatly inform readers, aiding them to place into context the major role Iran has played in world history, and its social and theological contributions to Western civilization.

In addition to this book, I recommend reading Afshin Molavi's SOUL OF IRAN (aka PERSIAN PILGRIMAGES), and Sandra Mackey's THE IRANIANS: PERSIA, ISLAM AND THE SOUL OF A NATION for a more personal and detailed exposition into this ancient and complex nation.

Depth, analysis, and perspective
This book provides an excellent overview of the history and psychology of this complex country, why it is in the difficult position it is in today, fascinating analyses, and some of the most authoritative background information available. It is highly perceptive and extremely readable. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Excellent short history of the epoch.
Qajar Iran and the Rise of Reza Khan 1796-1925 Nikkie R. Keddie Mazda Publishers, 1999ISBN:1-56859-084-9

This is a short history of the Iran prior to the advent of the Pahlavis.It is a concise historical review ofthe cultural and political environment of the Qajar period.It isprimarily about the Qajars and has very little background on Reza Khan orhis actual rise; but rather, discusses the socio-political environment thatallowed him to take over the reins of power.

The one area that the booktreats very lightly is the economic conditions of Qajar Iran, specificallyin the second half of Nasser-din Shah's reign which is critical indetermining the ability of that government to withstand the onslaught ofEuropean politics.Also, the book fails to cover the influence of Westerneconomics on early 20th century Iran.The ability of the EnglishGovernment to buy and bribe government officials is briefly mentioned butthe reasons for the impoverishment of the Iranian government that allowedthis to happen is not as fully addressed. Furthermore, nothing is mentionedof the surrogate of the British Empire in Iran, i.e., the Anglo-Persian OilCompany which, in fact, was in a position to make major payoffs and carryout the policies of the British without directly involving the BritishGovernment.(The British government owned 51% of this company, since theAdmiralty had changed the British Navy from coal to oil burning.)A briefchapter on this matter would have enhanced the value of this book.

All inall this is a must reading for anyone who is interested in contemporaryIranian History.It is short, to the point, detailed and above allextremely well written. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

History revisited
Most contemporary historians writing on Iran seem to be unable to release themselves from the leftist paradigm that can only imagine the Shah as evil and Mossadegh as a force for good.The reality is not as black and white as some lazy/inflexible historians, suggest.

A flawed man the Shah most certainly was.However, it is undeniable that the Pahlavi dynasty, put in a historical context and compared to what came before and after, represented one of the most dynamic and productive eras in Iran's very long history.Iran would not exist as a sovereign entity today had Reza Shah not struggled so ferociously against British and Russian interest, who with the acquiescence of the corrupt and inept Qajar's ,were on the verge of splitting the country apart.Nor can his son's contributions to the creation of modern Iran be ignored or completely diminished.

Mossadegh will always remain a beacon to Iranians who dream thattheir country one day will be a stable democracy.Mossadegh and the men around him, were elite nationalists, with somewhat dubious democratic credentials, who could have brought about lasting change but were stymied by the course of history and their own miscalculations.

The losers in all of this are Iranians who as a result of the failure of both men, have ended up subjected to the brutality of a clique of third-rate degenerates who are battling each other for supremacy of a sinking ship.

Mr. Bayandor's book will hopefully shed some lights on Iran's history.

Superbly researched and well written
This book is a must for US foreign policy and Iran buffs. The author meticulously researched it for years, and it is a welcome correction to more sensationalist books written in recent years about the depth of US involvement in the 1953 downfall of Prime Minister Mossadegh. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
Mohamad Tavakoli-Targhi offers a corrective to recent works on Orientalism that focus solely on European scholarly productions without exploring the significance of native scholars and vernacular scholarship to the making of Oriental studies. He brings to light a wealth of 18th and 19th-century Indo-Persian texts, made "homeless" by subsequent nationalist histories and shows how they relate to Indo-Iranian modernity. In doing so, he argues for a radical rewriting of Iranian history with profound implications for Islamic debates on gender. ... Read more

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Describes how extremist groups and governments have resorted to hostage taking in recent years, and shows how both the Carter and Reagan administrations have dealt with such crises. ... Read more

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The Past, Present, and Future—Exposed

The events wracking the Middle East today are confusing to even the most avid news buff. Now all the answers to your questions are offered in just one resource. Divided into five main sections, Iran: The Coming Crisis contains the most up-to-date, thorough information available and is complete with maps, charts, and timelines for visual assistance. Iran’s past, present, and future are exposed—the country’s quest for nuclear weapons and support of Palestinian terror groups, its ability to “play the oil card,” and Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s apocalyptic beliefs that motivate his actions. You’ll discover the truth about today’s events, how they relate to Bible prophecy, and what the Bible clearly describes is yet to come. It’s a crisis unlike any the world has ever faced.

Are We Headed for a Nuclear Jihad?

“ Israel must be wiped off the map,” Iran president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said it himself. He has denied the Holocaust, and his actions are motivated by a dangerous apocalyptic view of Islam. Meanwhile, Islamic extremists are in hot pursuit of nuclear weapons as they stand as gatekeepers to the Persian Gulf oil flow. Closer to home, President Bush has stated that the greatest threat to America is nuclear terrorism.

In a prophecy written over 2,500 years ago, Ezekiel 38-39 foretells Iran ’s future. Iran , Russia , and other Islamic nations will invade Israel in the end times. Today, the connection between Iran and Russia only grows. How close is this invasion?

What will happen?

Will America survive?

Will the world?

Mark Hitchcock , an expert in Bible prophecy, exposes Iran ’s past, present, and future with striking clarity. Find maps, charts, and answers to your every question inside.



“I highly recommend Mark as a faithful guide to understanding current events in light of God’s wonderful plan of prophecy.”

Tim LaHaye

Pastor and bestselling author

Story Behind the Book

There seems to be no turning back from the looming crisis in the Middle East. The Islamic and political rulers of Iran are set in their ideology by principle. The West and Israel are headed for some sort of confrontation economically, socially, and likely militarily. Mark Hitchcock ’s background as a lawyer, pastor, and expert in Bible prophecy suits him perfectly as a Christian authority on the subject. Timing is critical, and his new book will release as more and more everyday people—Christians and non-Christians alike—realize the gravity of world events and question how they relate to Bible prophecy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Don't Waste Your Time
Mr Hitchcock has a fairly good grasp of Bible prophecy when it comes to the dream interpretations of Daniel, but these are readily available just about anywhere, including Daniel's own interpretation in scriptures.

Beyond that, this book unfortunately falls victim to excessive hyperbole, neocon propaganda, and one-sided portrayals. The book also contains a couple common fallacies about history that are shamelessly used to promote the hysteria. The book is literally schizophrenic when it comes to Iran and God. On the one hand, we are breathlessly warned that Iran is about to nuke the entire world within a matter of months (as of 2006), but on the other we are treated with some cheerleading about the fulfillment of God's prophecy. The book is replete with "strawman" constructions and the repetition of mistruths.

Worst of all, the book spends inordinate time informing us of things we already know; namely that Iran and Persia are the same. But then the book neatly avoids spending any time identifying the anti-christ's kingdom and instead inserts the typical cliches that have absolutely no scriptural basis. While being thorough over Daniel's dream, the book then avoids the passages where God draws a literal bullseye to where AC's kingdom will arise. The author carefully avoids those "tricky" passages and just tells us that Europe will be AC's kingdom even though this contradicts several areas of scripture dealing with AC's kingdom.

The book also neatly avoids the aspects of anti-christ himself that further paint bullseyes to his country of origin. Again, we are presented with cliches that have no foundation in prophetic scripture and told that some European statesman fits the bill.

Then the book astoundingly avoids the primary factor of the peace that anti-christ will make: the rebuilding of the temple on the Temple Mount. Apparently, the book wants us to believe some Frenchman will be able to convince the Muslims to allow the Jews to rebuild their temple. The book even claims that the 7-year pact is merely to bring peace. The disconnect with scripture at this point is obvious and you can tell the author simply is ignorant of this key area.

Lastly and least, the book claims America has no mention in prophecy. While the word "America" certainly does not occur, the presence in prophecy is denied only by those who haven't taken the time to read passages normally skipped over by typical preachers. The author even mentions the direct chapter dealing with America but dismisses it without reference and likely due to the mistranslation common in nearly all Bibles at the opening of that chapter.

This disappointing book is merely agitation for an American war with Iran.

INFORMATIVE, INTERESTING:GREAT READING
EASY TO READ, INFORMATIVE.I GOT A LOT OUT OF THE BOOK.IT DISCUSSES THE MANY POSSIBLITIES THAT CAN PLAY OUT FOR THE END OF TIMES PROPHESY.EASY TO READ AND INTERESTING.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

An Eye-opener!
Fast reading and an eye-opener connecting the events that have already happened in the world with old testement prophecy and Revelations.It is well written and I found myself looking up the quoted scriptures in my bible.I plan to read more writings by this author.

Betting on Destruction
So a pastor from Oklahoma is going to tell us the future of the Middle East. And, not surprisingly, it's all war and flames. Odd, how these people love to dream of fire and destruction. But what's really odd is that they've been peddling the same story of the coming end of the world for two thousand years. And they've been wrong consistently for two thousand years. What sort of madness can keep people like Mark Hitchcock betting on the end of the world when their predecessors have lost that bet ninety generations in a row?
Perhaps it's the fact that ninety generations of preachers have grown rich on that losing bet.

Off base and lacking.
It is obvious that North Korea, Iran, and Pakistan having the bomb is dangerous.I believe all strategists know that these unstable regimes might be tempted to blow the planet up if they are going down the drain.Hitchcock tries to bring Bible readings as a justification for showing the end of the world.I believe any philosophy colored by religious fundamentalism causes problems in the world.Hitchcock might have a PhD in religion, but I feel he does not understand the Mideast enough to write a valid, scholarly work that would make strategists understand the problem of nuclear weapons better.This is a book written stating the undesireability of Iran getting nuclear weapons with some scripture thrown in.

This is not a well thought out book.There are better books out there to understand the crisis. ... Read more

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Constitution Of The Islamic Republic of Iran ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good Historical Document
This is a nice, compact edition of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran as laid out immediately after the revolution. The translation is very readable, and is a fine piece of scholarship.

There is, though, a very laughable introduction to the constitution written by the translator at the beginning of the text. That introduction should only be considered valuable if one wants to study the "spin" of the revolutionaries.

Nice, simple, exact work. Perfect as a textbook or sourcebook for reference. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (19)

This is the de facto standard for books on Iran
This is one of the most fantastic and well written books on Iran I have ever read. Taheri gives a full outline of the history of Iran for the last one hundred years, and makes it very easy to understand not only the current regime, but also the Pahlavi Dynasty. Taheri is a master at Iranian History and anyone who wants to know the truth about this part of the world should consider Taheri the modern day Xenophon of Iran.

A Fantastic, Informative Read
This book is a fantastic read. Make no mistake about it - Mr. Taheri's utter loathing for the current regime is reflected in his prose. Stuffed full of anecdotes from the country's rich history, he documents not just how the regime came to power, but also how Islam came to Iran, how Iran has historically interacted with its neighbors, and how both the Iranian people and the government see and approach the rest of the world. He explains the structural basis of the Khomeinist establishment thinking, and accurately connects the dots concerning comparison to other political movements (most similar, he argues, is fascism.) While there is little talk of what exactly the Shah did wrong to encourage people to think revolution was a good idea (other than vaguely allowing women unspecified freedoms), the numbers Mr. Taheri provides simply don't lie - when any regime has had to jail over 5 million of its own people in a country of only 70 or so million, or has had to murder tens of thousands of its own people, (with the number of political prisoners now over 150,000 from a peak of 3,000 under the Shah) it is clear that something is very wrong. "The Persian Night" is an informative read that gives the reader all they need to know about the current state of Iranian affairs.

Outstanding insight, teaches a great deal
Anyone looking to better understand the internal workings of Iran needs this book.The book begins with an explanation of Iran's situation around the beginning of the 20th century and includes information about the constitution of 1906.From here, the book progresses to the political scene during the Shah, the CIA's involvement or non-involvement with his overthrow, and the disastrous rise of khomeini.The author does a very good job of explaining the dualistic structure of Iranian society between the khomeinist revolutionaries and the secularist forces.Clearly Taheri knows what he's writing about and has a passion for Iran and its people.The human tragedy of the revolution is documented in good detail.Taheri describes the vibrant nature of Iran's Persian heritage in sharp contrast to the dark, death-loving, staleness of khomeini and his thugs.The revolution's support of dozens of terrorist groups and the push for nuclear weapons make clear that the Islamist revolutionaries in Iran must and can be stopped.The author is careful to delineate that most people in Iran do not desire to "wipe Israel off the map", support terrorists, or hate the United States.In reality, the common citizen in Iran just wants their nation back from the evil mullahs who continually try to stamp out all thoughts of national identity, traditions, and ethnic heritage.A strong case is made that the Islamist revolution's thinking is in the author's term "genetically" incapable of reforming itself as any ideological changes would signal an end to their absolutist philosophy.With the possibility of reform extinguished, regime change is the only alternative.Iran is ready for regime change and this topic is covered in some detail.What are the prerequisites for regime change?Are these present in Iran?How can the United States make this a reality?The book makes clear through many solid examples that Iranians want to be free of the revolution and that this dream is within their reach.It is emphasized that the West and the United States in particular have no fight with the Iranian people, but with the oppressive khomeinists who bring nothing but sorrow and death to their own people.The United States is called upon to make a stand against the mullahs and their delusions.Taheri removes any doubt that the mullahs andahmadinejad desire and are actively seeking the defeat of the United States and the West worldwide.This threat should not be ignored, cannot be pacified, and will not be successful.The Persian Night points out numerous ways in which the Untied States, its leaders, and people can free the citizens of Iran and people around the world being killed and enslaved by the terrorist groups operating with the revolution's patronage.With the year winding down, this book remains a strong contender for my personal nonfiction of the year.My highest recommendation!

A TOUR OF THE IRANIAN SOUL
There are many books about Iran and its modern politcs. But few manage to enter the very soul of that complex nation. This book is one of those few. Its analysis of Iran's tangled relationship with Islam is truly breath-taking in its depth and compassion. As someone born in Iran, I feel that , before reading this book, I was not fully aware of who I am and how my nation has arrievd at this point in its long history.
Reading this book provides one with a series of leads into Persian history, literature and culture that could take the reader into the very heart of the Iranian "mystery".
Those interessted in mundane politics would also find this book of great interest. It provides ample information about the nature of the present regime, its dramatis personae, and its ultimate trajectory. Even more important is the book's message of hope for fredom in Iran, a message now amplified by the democracy movement which, strangely enough, is predeicted and depicted in the book long before the recent popular uprising.

A TRIBUTE TO IRAN'S NATIONAL IDENTITY



Why does Iran behave the way it does? Why are its leaders so determined to be provocative on issues, like the Holocaust, that have nothing to do with Iran? What interest does Iran have in stirring turmoil in Lebanon, arming the Hizbollah and Hamas against Israel, inciting Moslems against America, and supplying explosives that kill NATO soldiers in Afghanistan?
These are some of the perplexing questions that analysts and policymakers interested in the behavior of the Islamist regime in Tehran have been posing for years. And these are some of the questions that Amir Taheri tackles in his new book " The Persian Night: Iran Under the Khomeinist Revolution" which covers the past 30 years of Iranian history.
The crux of Taheri's answer is that: today there are two Irans- two realities that, although overlapping and complementing one another on many points, are in direct contradiction in a number of crucial areas.
Taheri's analysis may sound too sophisticated to some readers. However, once we have cliqued into the book we are hooked until the last page. A journalist and former editor of Iran's main newspaper, Taheri, who now lives in exile in the United States, is not only a master of the English prose and a powerful writer but a magician with verbal images and structures that help explain complex socio-political concepts.
The parts of the book I enjoyed most deal with an introduction of Iranian culture and its tragic encounter with Islam as a result of the Arab invasion almost 1400 years ago. In that sense, " The Persian Night" is a major tribute to Iran'sdistinct national identity.
This book portrays the main leaders of the Islamic Revolution and the so-called "republic" they have put in place. It also surveys the principal ideological themes of the Khomeinist movement, tracing its links with fascism and terrorism. Policymakers would be especially interested in Taheri's depiction of the path that could lead to regime change in Iran. The book is truly amazing on tat account of only because it was written before the current national uprising in Iran started last June. The events of the past three months follow the pattern set by Taheri so closely as to give the impression that he may have had a hand in writing the script!
... Read more

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Politics of Culture in Iran is the first comprehensive study of modern anthropology within the context of Iranian studies and politics in the twentieth century.

This book analyzes the ways in which anthropology and culture in Iran has interacted with Iranian politics and society. In particular it highlights how and why anthropology and culture became part of wider socio-political discourses and how they were appropriated and rejected by the pre- and post- revolutionary regimes. The author shows that there have been three main phases of Iranian anthropology, corresponding broadly to three periods in the social and political development of Iran and include:

DT The Period of Nationalism: lasting approximately from the Constitutional Revolution (1906-11) and the end of the Qajar dynasty until the end of Reza Shah's reign (1941).
DT The Period of Nativism: from the 1950s until the Islamic Revolution (1979)
DT The Post-Revolutionary Period

This book also places Iran within an international context by demonstrating how western anthropological concepts, theories and methodologies affected epistemological and political discourses in Iranian anthropology. Politics of Culture in Iran is essential reading for those with interests in Iranian society and politics and anthropology. ... Read more

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A deeply informed political and cultural narrative of a country thrust into the international spotlight.

Praised by leading academics in the field as "extraordinary," "a brilliant analysis," "fresh, provocative and iconoclastic," Iran: A People Interrupted has distinguished itself as a major work that has single-handedly effected a revolution in the field of Iranian studies.

In this provocative and unprecedented book, Hamid Dabashi—the internationally renowned cultural critic and scholar of Iranian history and Islamic culture—traces the story of Iran over the past two centuries with unparalleled analysis of the key events, cultural trends, and political developments leading up to the collapse of the reform movement and the emergence of the new and combative presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Written in the author's characteristically lively and combative prose, Iran combines "delightful vignettes" (Publishers Weekly) from Dabashi's Iranian childhood and sharp, insightful readings of its contemporary history. In an era of escalating tensions in the Middle East, his defiant moral voice and eloquent account of a national struggle for freedom and democracy against the overwhelming backdrop of U.S. military hegemony fills a crucial gap in our understanding of this country. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Some history mixed with political rant
To Mr. Dabashi humanity is divided into theoretically divided colonial, anti-colonial, bourgeoisie, etc. Thus his assertions fall within confined parameters defined by his ideological underpinning.To place this in reference, simply go to page 78 where Mr. Dabashi either chooses to ignore or is ignorant of liberal traditions in history of the United States. The American Revolution/Independence took its ideals from the French enlightenment. The founding fathers of the American civilization, though landed gentry, were no capitalists in a modern sense (in Mr. Dabashi's time frame of 1900s capitalists). To Hamid democratic institutions are simply products of capitalist machinery and thus deny the rest of the world liberty. This type of oversimplification through bombastic political statements defines the central character of his writing style. Overall the book shows some knowledge of Iranian history lined with insufficient historical knowledge about others, followed by political rant. Although I must confess I am a little puzzled by this because the author does live in the United States and is no six-pack Joe. Afterall he teaches at a prominent university.Thus the book gets two stars which is the average of four on Iranian history and zero on the plain that, according to Hamid, purportedly influences it, that is Europe and the United States.

I hope I have been helpful in your decision to read this book.

Highly recommend this book.
Hamid Dabashi's book makes an important intervention in the historiography of modern Iran by disrupting the usual binaries of East/West, tradition/modernity, and through challenging the civilizational thinking that informs much of the literature on Iran and its history.Unlike some historical accounts of Iran, Dabashi's narration does not suffer from an analytical freezing in 1979.Nor does it overlook the role of colonialism in the history of Iran and in the formation of Iranian modernities. Dabashi theorizes modern Iran in liminal spaces that are often ignored in narrations that rely on binary opposites of religion/secularism, tradition/modernity, and national/anti-national. While benefiting from the social history authored by historians such as Abrahamian and Paidar, Dabashi enters this history by weaving together his personal stories in Iran and diaspora to the events in pre- and post-revolutionary Iran. Dabashi, a great story teller, incorporates film, literature, and popular culture into his analysis, thus making the book a page-turner. He takes an ambitious task of making a complex history of two centuries available for the public in a language that is theoretically informed. This experimentation with writing style, while admirable for it makes the book usable outside of academic circles, creates a tension where theoretical concepts and terms are used in a book which seems to be targeted for a readership larger than those in academia.Granted that few, if any, Iranian scholars with the theoretical knowledge and familiarity with the literature referenced in this book are willing or capable of writing books for the public, one can only admire Dabashi for taking this important step in a world where the public knowledge produced about Iran is limited to accounts produced in neoconservative and conservative think tanks, and memoirs that fit squarely in the hegemonic civilizational discourses about Iran.Without pretending to deliver a total history of Iran, Dabashi's writing style and his incorporation of memory, cultural productions, and historical texts make the reader conscious of the fact that every history is a story told from a subjective view, despite claims of objective historiography.Dabashi's narration is an interruption in truth claims about Iran and its history. I highly recommend the book.

Beautiful, first-rate!
The first thing I'd say is to ignore the hateful personal attacks on the author of this book. Hamid Dabashi is one of the most prolific Iranian intellectuals in exile. His book will shatter all your perceptions on Iran and the wider Muslim world, and even the United States (a place he calls home). It's a brave, passionately written moving account of Iran by a world-class scholar. But the difference between this book and the myriad of other books on Iran is that as a scholar Dabashi has included his own memories from his youth in the book which makes it such a pleasant read. He's poetic and exceedingly knowledgeable about the many aspects of Iranian history that he masterfully tackles. In some ways this book is also a memoir, a beautiful one.

The bad reviews stem from people who differ with Dabashi on an ideological premise but instead of criticizing specific arguments or just say that they are for instance monarchists and are offended by Dabashi's bold and unapologetic critique of the Shah, they resort to personal and vengeful attacks, and they promote authors of Iran who are hardly worth anyone's time.

I firmly recommend Dabashi's book to everyone. It's a wonderful book.

Astonishingly bad.
I don't know where to start with this book.

This book was absolutely terrible. First of all lets look at the writing style.

Mr. Dabashi's writing style consists of stringing together as many large words as he can fit into a run-on sentence. He is so busy trying to sound intelligent that he ends up saying nothing at all.

Here is an example of one incredibly long and nonsensical sentence:

"Promoting a categorical conception of Iran, as it has been formed by European Orientalists and now continued by Iranian studies scholars, not only glosses over its subnationalized categories and components, but also systematically distorts the historical integration of Iran into its larger regional geopolitics-from southern Asia to North Africa, from central Asia to sub-Saharan Africa-including Indian, Arab, Turkinsh and many other cultural elements as the active ingredients of its syncretic disposition".

You get that?Didn't this book have an editor?

Also, the author repeatedly insults his fellow Iranian-American academics while lavishing praise on himself and the Mullah's in Iran.

This book is incredibly bad.If you want to read elegant and poetic writing about Iran, read any book by Abbas Milani.

This book has no message and no point.

Worth Reading and Well-Written...But too Polemic
Dabashi writes beautifully. There is no denying that. The narrative he utilizes seamlessly juxtaposes the literary, cinematic, and cultural history of contemporary Iran by contextualizing it vis-à-vis the political vicissitudes of recent Iranian history. However, Dabashi's greatest shortcoming can be traced to his training--he is not a political scientist and, as such, discredits many of his arguments by engaging in the type of polemics he so often criticizes others for. these arguments can be made without resorting to ad hominem attacks. They should stand on their merits, not by the ability to attack the character of another author.Reviews which assail Dabashi simply because he is of a different ideological persuasion should be dismissed out-of-hand. They are hack polemicists themselves without formal training in anything. Judging by some of the reviews, most of them have not even read his book. As a scholar of comparative literature, though, Dabashi is too often polemic. He is unable to separate ideology from his critical impulses. The book is more than worth reading, however. It stimulates discussion, provokes thought, is well written, and makes many valid points. Again, however, Dabashi compounds his laudable efforts by criticizing almost anything that is different from his view of the past and present. He resorts to criticizing, of all things, Wimbledon (the tennis tournament held annually in the UK). This is bordering inanity. Surprisingly, many of his political arguments are right on point. What problematizes, but not dooms, this book ultimately is his unremitting attack on superfluous and at best peripheral issues. Some of the authors he ridicules, such as Reza Aslan (for suggesting an Islamic Reformation), end up proving the points he was criticizing Aslan for in the first place. Dabashi argues that Shi'i Islam is politically bankrupt because its existence is contingent upon a revolutionary and activist political status.Once it attains power, it has subverted its core principles. Aslan ends with a similar conclusion but his narrative is different. Aslan may call it
"reformation" but semantics aside, it means the obsolescence of the religious in the political. Nevertheless, it is a very interesting read and I highly recommend it. ... Read more

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Iran's Foreign Policy in the Post-Soviet Era: Resisting the New International Order provides the first truly comprehensive, in-depth survey of Iranian foreign policy, issue by issue and country by country, since the Islamic Revolution. To help readers understand both the what and the why of Iran's role in the world and formulate useful responses to that role, the author provides a detailed analysis of Iranian foreign policy in all its dimensions.

The first part of the book places Iranian actions, particularly its relations with the United States and other key players, within the context of the emerging international system, while also showing how domestic developments impact foreign policy. The second part surveys Iranian relations with specific actors, notably the United States and Russia, and with key regions, including Europe, Central Asia, the Arab world, Latin America, and Africa. Providing an antidote to existing preconceptions, this incisive analysis lays an analytically sound basis for shaping policies toward Iran—policies with potentially high payoff in terms of regional security and stability.

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The Cambridge History of Iran is an eight-volume survey of Iranian history and culture, and its contribution to the civilisation of the world. All aspects of the religious, philosophical, political, economic, scientific and artistic elements in Iranian civilisation are studied, with some emphasis on the geographical and ecological factors which have contributed to that civilisation's special character. The aim is to provide a collection of readable essays rather than a catalogue of information. The volumes offer scope for the publication of new ideas as well as providing summaries of established facts. They should act as a stimulus to specialists, but are primarily concerned to answer the sort of questions about the past and present of Iran that are asked by the non-specialist. Volume 5 is a survey of every aspect of the civilisations which flourished in the Iranian region between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries: the rise and decline of the Saljuqs, the Mongol invasion and the establishment of a Mongol regime which dominated the Middle East for more than a century. It is the first attempt in modern times to study in detail a period of the greatest significance in Iranian history. ... Read more

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A history of Iran focuses on the Shah's rise and fall and the causes of the Iranian revolution. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

an excellent introduction to revolutionary Islam
Keddie does a marvelous job of exploring the roots, appeal and cause of the Iranian revolution of '78 - '79.Essentially the argument is made that the repressive and secular Pahlavi regieme, ignoring and even actively repressing Islam caused a backlash that led to its eventual destruction.At the same time, Keddie makes the point that the close ties the pre-revolutionary Iranian government had with the West, and its increasing reliance on it for support only served to increase the popularity of Islam as an alternative.

While radical Islam is a complex issue, and is broader than just the Iranian model, this book is a must for those who seek to understand the mass appeal of it.

Misunderstanding of Islamic Revolution in Iran
The Iranian Revolution of 1978-79 successfully identified and institutionalized itself as Islamic. This being said, I find the author's analysis in attempting to explain the meaning of this revolution within a socio-historical experience does not touch the fundamental spirit of the revolution. The author is by no means alone, considering no expert, with the possible exception of Dr. Hamid Algar has adequately conveyed the Islamic-ness of this revolution. The real roots of this revolution go all the way back to the emergence of Shia Islam. The Islamic Revolution in Iran was not the culmination ofyears and years of resistance against the Pahlavi dictatorship, but rather the culmination of 1300 years of Shia resistance. Moreover, the final revolution will culminate under the leadership of Imam Mahdi (may our souls be sacrificed for him).

A condensed History
By condensing a religious, political, social, and economic history of Iran, Keddie attempts to explain the causes of the 1978-79 Islam Revolution.The style of writing is impersonal and the vast amount ofinformation given makes reading arduous.Since it is an interpretivehistory, Keddie gives no opposing viewpoints.This book seems bettersuited for one who already has knowledge of Iranian history rather than abeginner.

An easy explanation of the revolution in Iran
this is a very good book if you want to know more about the islamic revolution. Keddie gives us many different reasons to why the revolution could take place. ... Read more

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A history of 20th century Iran by one of the country's most prominent intellectuals. A religious scholar in his youth who achieved the rank of mullah, Kasravi came to reject religious doctrine in favor of democratic ideals -- even when his advocacy of enlightenment and social justice pitted him against the monarchy. As a great believer in intellectual freedom, Kasravi's works remain a prime example of historical analysis today. ... Read more

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Prefaces were written in Persian between 1491 and 1609 to introduce albums of calligraphy, painting, and drawing assembled for Safavid rulers and courtiers. This book studies developments in art historical writing and factors which shaped the album preface. ... Read more

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The shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, would remain on the throne for the foreseeable future: This was the firm conclusion of a top-secret CIA analysis issued in October 1978. One hundred days later the shah--despite his massive military, fearsome security police, and superpower support was overthrown by a popular and largely peaceful revolution. But the CIA was not alone in its myopia, as Charles Kurzman reveals in this penetrating work; Iranians themselves, except for a tiny minority, considered a revolution inconceivable until it actually occurred. Revisiting the circumstances surrounding the fall of the shah, Kurzman offers rare insight into the nature and evolution of the Iranian revolution and into the ultimate unpredictability of protest movements in general.

As one Iranian recalls, "The future was up in the air." Through interviews and eyewitness accounts, declassified security documents and underground pamphlets, Kurzman documents the overwhelming sense of confusion that gripped pre-revolutionary Iran, and that characterizes major protest movements.His book provides a striking picture of the chaotic conditions under which Iranians acted, participating in protest only when they expected others to do so too, the process approaching critical mass in unforeseen and unforeseeable ways. Only when large numbers of Iranians began to "think the unthinkable," in the words of the U.S. ambassador, did revolutionary expectations become a self-fulfilling prophecy. A corrective to 20-20 hindsight, this book reveals shortcomings of analyses that make the Iranian revolution or any major protest movement seem inevitable in retrospect.

Customer Reviews (4)

Good book
First class, possibly classic, study of the revolution. Incisive, thought-provoking and a host of other complementary adjectives, it's even a bit of a page turner - at least for the Iran history-buff. Academics may find themselves lonesome for jargon and convoluted prose but they can take heart in the footnotes, which are unparalleled in their thoroughness, making the book a veritable bibliography for students of the revolution. The text is only 172 pages but has another 100+ devoted to sources, bibliography and index.

One caveat: This is a book about the overthrow of the monarchy. If you want dissection of the important events in the years after the shah's ouster that transformed Iran into an Islamic Republic under the principle of clerical rule, you'll have to look elsewhere.

A dispassionate voice that Iranians will ignore at their peril
Kurzman's research is thorough, systematic and dispassionate. He demolishes the Economic arguments many of the leftists have marshalled in explaining the root causes of Revolution. He does so by recourse to Macroeconomic data and comparative analysis of similar economies.

He is equally convincing when he argues against the supposed inefficiency of State suppression under the Shah; the armed forces were not so much ineffective in the act of suppression as 'being overwhelmed' by the magnitude of the insurrection. The proponents of this discourse have according to Kurzman not seen the logic of the Shahs carrot and stick approach.

On cultural issues too he takes to task the discourse of the `Mosque network' as the activists godsend for mobilising a largely religious and devout people. He argues convincingly that even by as late as summer of 1978 many of the Mullahs were either non-committal or at least cowed by the potential wrath of the system

The conclusion that Kurzman draws and- one that I still do not share so readily- is that there is no explanation for this Revolution. At least there is no explanation that can withstand the critical scrutiny of dispassionate academic inquiry. Adequate explanations may not exist, not by virtue of their non-existence, but by the non-transparent information asymmetry that has pervaded Iranian political landscape

I would have also liked Kurzman to dedicate a chapter to the discourse that argues that the Shah had by 1953 lost all legitimacy to rule. It would have been interesting to see how a rational, academic and cerebral mind such as Kurzman's would have countered this argument.

Nevertheless I very much salute this as a sober inquiry that Iranians must take on board. Kurzman may not have convinced me of the Anti-Explanation discourse but he will most definitely have shifted the analytical paradigm. His book is extremely well written and easy to read and should appeal to Researcher and layman alike.

Sociology Gives Up explaining theIranian Revolution?
Working within a relatively small timeframe (1977-1979), Kurzman methodically examines five explanatory paradigms which have hitherto been mobilized to explain the success of the Iranian Islamic Revolution.Emplotting each paradigm on a brisk narrative of the revolution itself, he begins with the political explanations (attributing the revolution to increased liberalization), organizational explanations (focusing on mosque and university networks), cultural explanations (pointing to the utilization of 40 day martyrdom mourning cycle as a means of sustaining protest), economic explanations (citing the gridlock caused by thenation-wide strikes in key industries), and military explanations (pointing to the feeble attempts of the Shah's forcesto restore state control).Each of these he finds inadequate and only some completely false.At best, an explanation remains partial but not compelling for the whole.Moreover, they demonstrate a consistent occurrence of the `inversion of cause and effect', e.g., student mobilization created the utility of the mosque networks, mobilization led to the state's economic crisis, not vice versa.

Kurzman attempts to cut the Gordian knot by offering his own`anti-explanation'-namely, the revolution succeeded when it become viable in the minds of its core constituents.This `anti-explanation', he asserts, is non-predictive because it depends on the anomalous nature of the agency of social actors.What is left for the sociologist is to strive for an understanding of a peculiar, unique event.

This deconstructive enterprise is essentially a treatise against retroactive prediction that argues rather for sociological reconstructions of historical events rather an attempt to derive patterns for the sake of being able to predict when future, nascent revolutions are about to occur.Kurzman unconsciously it seems hasmerely constructed an argument for the values of social-history over sociology as such.Where his novel, so-called `anti-explanation' differs from what we call `history' eludes me.

Overall, the writing in the book is fluid, lucid and accompanied by a nice balance of anecdote and analysis.His usage of jargon is sparse and rare-limited mostly to a few quotes from famous sociologists such as Bourdieu and Parsons.He demonstrates a familiarity with Persian culture and language that manifests itself in many subtle ways through the work.General readers, historians and sociologists will find this book an immensely rewarding study.

Read for the story and its lessons - not what you'd expect.
The Iranian Revolution was totally unexpected before it happened. It is difficult to fathom this essential truth after the fact. The Shah had the military and secret service as well as wealth to put down any revolution it was assumed. In any case material progress and modernization were moving ahead to provide benefits and quell discontent. The Revolution didn't care! It came anyway. But it could not be predicted by any of the social sciences: economics, political science, sociology, etc. Nor by religion.

Kurzman, himself a Sociologist, uses each chapter to apply these disciplinary viewpoints and show their limitations in explaining events. Circumstances, and personal decisions, became crucial when enough people changed their own expectations to believe that revolution might really be possible - to think the unthinkable.. Khomeini was critical for this but as a catalyst for various grievances both liberal and revolutionary to seem to have a chance of success.

Close examination in each chapter show anomalies, confusion, lack of central control. Culture contributed but was remade in the process. Shi'a religious organization gave it some coordination and direction lacking for many other elements but can not be said to be solely responsible for the revolution.

Two important corollaries follow from this, although Kurzman makes little of either.

First the Fundamentalist Iranian Revolution is not the Bogeyman that many see. It inspired enthusiasm among some Muslims in various parts of the world but was not a model to be copied. It was not "typical" of Islam (among other things Iran was Shi'a with a somewhat unique religious elite unlike Ulema or Sufis elsewhere). There were many motives and supporters that were practical and not `religious'. US antipathy is more a knee jerk reaction than based on understanding of Iran or of Islam.

Also it is clear that the various social sciences and traditional approaches to explaining revolution need History - each situation is unique and "unthinkable" before it happens; there exist not sufficient "laws" to predict revolution. None of the disciplinary approaches hold together without history too.

Kurzman's book is interesting therefore in numerous ways: the description of the Revolution; the acts and thoughts of individual participants; the anomalies and limitations of causation theory of various social sciences. The policy implications are consequential and should not be ignored. ... Read more

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Examines intricate connections among visual, religious, and cultural traditions.

In this pioneering book Negar Mottahedeh explores the central issues of vision and visibility in Iranian culture. She focuses on historical and literary texts to understand the use of visual culture in the production of the contemporary nation. Tracing the historical mediation and dissemination of ideas for national reform in the modern period of Iran, the book examines the various discourses that have constituted the image of the "Babi."

As cinema began to displace other forms of Iranian entertainment, Islamic culture attempted to keep the motion picture industry free from what it perceived to be the taint of foreign values and intervention. With rich insight and compelling detail, Mottahedeh looks at the revealing ways in which Iranian cinema has dealt with representing the unpresentable. In her exploration of gender and Iranian film, the author argues powerfully against contemporary uses of veiling in the representation of Iran as a modern nation. This highly original work, signaling a paradigm shift in Iranian studies and gender studies, will be an invaluable resource for scholars. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Latest info on the Persian Empire
Anyone who want to educate themselves on some of the latest finds regarding the ancient Persian Empire would do well to pick this book up. It is packed full of great information.More importantly, biblical or secular scholar to include historians will be left scratching their head as to the utter lack of the archaeological evidence for Ptolemy 205 year timeline of this period. After Xerxes (Darius the great's son) archeology evidence supporting Ptolemy canon falls off the map. His timeline for the reign of Persian kings is nothing more then complete guesswork as all the known evidence to include this book stands against it.

Here is some food for thought, I can say Ptolemy's canon is 82 years too long from Xerxes to Alexander the Great and the Archeological evidence as it stands would agree 100% with me.Let's hope Iran will unmuzzle their archeologist so this great work can continue.

Breakout your highlighter you will need it!! ... Read more

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The Safavid dynasty represented the pinnacle of Iran’s power and influence in its early modern history. The evidence of this – the creation of a nation state, military expansion and success, economic dynamism, and the exquisite art and architecture of the period – is well-known. What is less understood is the extent to which the Safavid success depended on an elite originating from outside Iran: the slaves of Caucasian descent and the Armenian merchants of Isfahan. This book describes how these elites, following their conversion to Islam, helped to transform Isfahan’s urban, artistic and social landscape.
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Customer Reviews (1)

In the Name of Iran
This book was interesting because the book was according to indepth research. The focual point of the book was on several servents of the King of kings during time of Safavid and how the servents contributed to Iran's intellectuality.

This book mentioned that during time of Safavid, the Kings would sell silk in Europe and exchange with silver which motivate me to buy another book which was discussing silver trade during period of Safavid. You won't be disappointed. ... Read more