Customer Reviews

Iran: The Essential Guide to a Country on the Brink

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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.

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 to Persian/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.

I found this book up-to-date, very well written, and well arranged for easy reference.