Iran: Everything You Need to Know (All Access) (Paperback)

by John Farndon (Author) "When Iran's newly-elected President Ahmadinejad made this disturbing outburst about the destruction of Israel, it came as no surprise, of course, to Iran's critics..." (more)
Key Phrases: Reza Shah, Ayatollah Khomeini, Muhammad Reza (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Iran's President Ahmadinejad shocked the world when he described the Holocaust as a myth and called for Israel to be "wiped off the map." Could Iran build and use nuclear weapons? How would we be affected if Iran cut off oil supplies? Many see Iran as part of the "axis of evil," and America is not alone in arguing that it presents a huge danger. But is Iran really the rabid Islamic dog that some paint it? Or is it in fact the most prosperous, sophisticated, cultured nation in the Middle East, despite its president's belligerence? This book gives you the facts and lets you form your own opinion.

About the Author
Farndon is the author or many popular reference books on a wide range of topics. He has written for publishers including Penguin, Dorling Kindersley, Heinemann, Hodder, and Thames & Hudson.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: The Disinformation Company (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932857567
• ISBN-13: 978-1932857566
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,518,733 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A quick, factual read, August 10, 2008

By	Paul Lappen (Manchester, CT USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Iran, so much in the news these days, is a country of contradictions. On one hand, it is a very puritanical country controlled by Islamic clerics, where dissent is severely restricted. On the other hand, Iran is one of the oldest countries in the world, tracing its history back over 2,500 years. The name Persia (what Iran was called until the 1920s) conjures images of harems and Persian carpets, not chadors and religious police.

Throughout its history, Iran has had leaders who honestly cared about the people, as well as leaders who only cared about lining their own pockets. Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, when the last Shah was overthrown (another leader who cared more about the size of his bank accounts than about the people), and despite the existence of an elected Parliament, Iran has been run by hardliners.

Iran's official reason for moving toward nuclear power is that, one day, its huge oil and gas reserves will run out, so they should start looking at other forms of energy, sooner rather than later. They also don't have much in the way of refining capacity, so imports are needed. Iran accuses the West of nuclear hypocrisy. Iran has signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and they can't have nuclear power, but Israel and India, which have not signed the NPT, gets lots of nuclear help from America. Why? Granted, some actions and statements from the Iranian government have not helped the situation. Both America and Iran have plenty of reason to be very suspicious of the other's words and actions. Time will tell.

This is not meant to be a scholarly, comprehensive look at Iran, but a quick, factual read full of information that won't be found in the American news media. It works very well, and is very much recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging book on Iran, September 30, 2007

By	Z. Freeman "Zach" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

With the uproar over Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech at Columbia University last week, views and opinions were aired on both sides of the free speech fence. But amidst those expressing support or dissent of Ahmadinejad's right to speak and his backwards views on the Holocaust (obviously few expressed support of that statement), how many have a grasp on more than a passing pop-history of his country and, consequently, his rise to the presidency? In John Farndon's new book, Iran: Everything You Need to Know, a basis for the present situation in Iran is presented through a brief look at the country's history.

Because of the ability of [All Access] to get their books on the shelves quickly, Iran: Everything You Need to Know, published in April of this year, contains detailed events involving Iran that run all the way up to late February. The book also includes extensive historical information dating back 5000-6000 years ago exploring the Elamites, the Achaemenid Persian Empire, and the Sassanians, among othes. Surprisingly, Farndon's effortless writing style manages to make an elaborately expansive history lesson fly by like an adventure novel.

Offering in-depth examinations of important political and religious figures in Iran's history (from Mohammad to Ayatollah Khomeini), as well as world affairs and historical events (the Iran-Iraq war and the 1953 coup, for example), Farndon's book is a brief historical map of Iranian history that offers readers something of a behind-the-scenes look at a country that is becoming increasingly more noticeable in the modern world. Any Western reader wishing to develop a better understanding of this important Middle Eastern country should take it upon themselves to read this book. Many books may offer information on Iran, but few will offer it in such an engaging, non-biased, easy-to-digest format.