Customer Reviews

The Life and Times of the Shah

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

For anyone interested in understanding Iran, one of the most important and complicated countries of the Middle East, this book is must reading. It is arguably the best researched historical narrative of Iranian political history in the 20th century and critical to the understanding of Iran and its role in the Middle East today. Regardless of one's view on the Shah and his relationship with his people or foreign powers, particularly the United States and England, the reader can't help but be impressed by the depth of scholarship and the wealth of new information contained in this book.

The history of Mohammad Reza Shah's rule and his close alliance with the United States after the 1953 coup d'etat that deposed the democratically elected Prime Minister Mossadegh continues to be a heated point of debate among Iranian scholars and students of history. I myself was part of the opposition to the Shah's regime and celebrated when the revolution took place (though I stopped celebrating after week one of the Revolution and began crying). In picking up this book, I thought of just perusing it, but after the first chapter I was hooked. It is long, but very interesting reading and written in an enjoyable and readable prose.

The Iranian revolution, arguably one of the most cataclysmic events of the twentieth century, has created divisions and conflicts within and outside Iran among Iranians and others interested in that country's history. It has been almost impossible to arrive at a balanced picture of the events of the second half of the twentieth century in Iran through reading the literature of post revolutionary period. Gholam Reza Afkhami's book is the first of its kind that has made extensive use of the Persian sources including oral histories of Iranian statesmen, policy makers, and leaders of the opposition, as well as documents, books, and newspapers. The author has also meticulously combed through the US National Archives, those of the British and Soviet governments, as well as interviews with foreign statesmen who dealt with Iran during their careers. Afkhami has the keen eye and the patience of a scholar as well as access to sources in the court, the Pahlavi family, and government officials, available to him through his own position in the previous regime. The book provides a new perspective on this period of Iran 's history and sheds new light on such important events as the 1953 coup, the Khomeini uprising of 1963, and the Soviet intervention in Azerbaijan . More importantly it describes in detail the formation of the modern state in Iran under the Pahlavi monarchs and the development of the infrastructure that has kept the country going throughout thirty years of religious rhetoric and revolutionary ideology that has caused the biggest brain drain in world history. There will be many who have a vested interest in versions of history or appraisals of the Shah's life and work. But this monumental study will no doubt herald a beginning of a new look at Iran in the second half of the 20th century. I give this book five stars and recommend it to all those who are interested in Middle East history and especially in Iran past, present, and future.

First of all, I should say to those who have given this book negative reviews out of their blind hatred for a historical figure without reading this book, that this book is not a biography of the late Shah of Iran. It's not an attempt to romanticize the times of the Shah. It is not even trying to paint a rosy picture of the Shah's era. None of it. This book is an excellent work on how the Shah's government functioned and what achievements were made during the period His Majesty was in charge (1941-1979). This masterly work of research and history has immense amount of information about the Shah's era. One wonders how could a government achieves so much in so little time given that the Iranian income out of oil was not as high as it is today. Oil prices only jumped in early 1970s and the speed with which His Majesty's government worked on projects and tried to modernize the country is truly amazing for a country as backward as Iran in 1960s and 70s. The late Shah of Iran was no dictator. If he took charge of things it was simply out of his own frustration with the slow speed of modernization and wasteful spending of his own government in 50s and 60s. And what his system did is truly awesome. Modernization of urban areas, upgrading armed forces, social welfare programs, sending students abroad to study (who later betrayed him) and giving women more prominent roles in the Iranian society... all these were no small feats. You could say his only mistake was to rush these stuff too quick in a short span of time. Again, this book tries to explain these in simple terms by unlocking some of the details the average reader might not know about. This book will serve as a great reference for true students of history. I liked it and recommend it. 5/5

The Life and Times of the ShahThis book is the most comprehensive scholarly product written about the Shah of Iran, his reign and political history of his era. It is a valuable resource for both the historian and the curious student of the period.

First of all, I should say to those who have given this book negative reviews out of their blind hatred for a historical figure without reading this book, that this book is not a biography of the late Shah of Iran. It's not an attempt to romanticize the times of the Shah. It is not even trying to paint a rosy picture of the Shah's era. Far from it. This book is a work on how the Shah's government functioned and what achievements were made during the period (1941-1979). It is more of a policy oriented book. This masterly work of research and history has immense amount of information about the Shah's era. One wonders how could a government achieves so much in so little time given that the Iranian income out of oil was not as high as it is today. Oil prices only jumped in early 1970s and the speed with which His Majesty's government worked on projects and tried to modernize the country is truly amazing for a country as backward as Iran in 1960s and 70s. The late Shah of Iran was no dictator. If he took charge of things it was simply out of his own frustration with the slow speed of modernization and wasteful spending of his own government in 50s and 60s. And what his system did is truly awesome. Modernization of urban areas, upgrading armed forces, social welfare programs, sending students abroad to study (who later betrayed him) and giving women more prominent roles in the Iranian society... all these were no small feats. You could say his only mistake was to rush these stuff too quick in a short span of time. Again, this book tries to explain these in simple terms by unlocking some of the details the average reader might not know about. This book will serve as a great reference for true students of history.

It was a pleasure to read *The Life and Times of the Shah* (Berkeley: UCP, 2009), by Dr. G.R. Afkhami, who taught me Political Science at the National University of Iran in the 1970s. To any impartial critic, this book has a monumental/encyclopedic range, whose 31 page Index and 713 page-total, testify. Narratively styled and fast paced, *The Life and Times of the Shah* inevitably leads into the fall and catastrophic collapse of the politically oppressive and socially progressive Shah's rule. Of an especial interest to both the esoteric and exoteric readers should be the sweeping account of the struggle between the mosque and the state, particularly the Shah's intricate maneuverings for a progressive social agenda, which had begun years before the Islamic Revolution.

Some reviewers have tried to question Afkhami's authority by pointing out that he is a regime insider.
What is wrong with that? Could we say that someone who observed and, in a marginal capacity, even participated in the events should not write about them?
If anything, the book is interesting precisley because Mr. Afkhami and his wife were part of the ruling elite and thus in a position to see and know things that we outsiders could not.
Many conemporary Iranians among them Fereydoun Hoveyda, Houchang Nahavandi, Amir Taheri and Ardeshir Zahedi have contributed to a better undertanding of the late Shah. Afkhami's is the latest and, letr us hope, will not be the last.

The author does a magnificent job of capturing the life and times of His Majesty Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, Shah of Iran. The book is an essential read for anyone who is interested in Iran. The author's detail account will help complete the picture for anyone who is interested in understanding Iran and the Shah. Most importantly, this book will help dispel other "pop culture" books on the subject with so called "authorities" on the Shah. An important book to read. I commend the author for the years of painstaking research and dedication to the subject matter.

The Shah's place in the history of Iran was, and will remain, controversial, enmeshed in the emotions of politico-religious ideology and myth-making. This book will greatly enhance our knowledge and allow for a more dispassionate assessment of his role in a critical phase of the nation's history.

First and foremost this is not a scholarly treatment of the Shah's brutal regime. Keep in mind that Mr. Afkhami was a minister under the Shah and direct beneficiary of his "kindness". Something most Iranian did not experience under his regime.

Second, one would wonder about the resources used in this book and the access he had to some of the sources. Many characters of the old regime, Ashraf Pahlavi, Ms. Farah Diba, or Ardeshir Zahedi, for years rebuffed scholars writing about Iran. So, one has to remain skeptical. Notwithstanding the long references in the back of the text, most of it cherry-picked by the author to present a picture of Iran under the Shah that only the privileged few enjoyed. The Iran depicted in this book is not the Iran I remember.

Here are some examples. The book is riddled with selective memory and references.

The section of Savak is laughable. The treatment is superficial, and the tone it leaves behind is a that of an Intelligence gathering agency whose job was to protect the country. Most Iranians would disagree. SAVAK was Shah's instrument to brutalize his own people. The thesis that Shah did not "know" of daily activities show's Mr. Afkhami's lack of honesty, or worse,lack of intellectual prowess. One only has to read the memoir of Shah's former ministers, or Alam's diaries, or even Ardeshir's Zahedi's comments, or the writing of Shah's former army general who are still alive to find Mr. Afkhami's treatment dishonest. To devote three pages to Robert Frost's interview in which the Shah denies knowledge made me laugh. What do you expect him to say!

His chapter on the 2500 years Celebration, contradicts even Ms. Farah Diba's recent work and comments. He ignores the drought, the terrible inflation and economic condition in that year, and lack of fuel and the basics such as bread and eggs. He comments about "how people participated" in this "celebration" while ignoring the fact that people were FORCED by the local police offices to install colorful lights in front of their houses. The ones who refused promptly received a visit from the local police officers. But how would Mr Afkhami know this? Students, (I was in the third grade then) and workers were to "celebrate" by joining rallies or risk of losing their jobs (or in case of students, their parents would get a call) (ALam's diaries") Mr. Afkhami also ignores that the whole world was invited to this "party", but the Iranians themselves. He does not mention that NO IRANIAN was allowed on the compound in Persopolis. He also fails to mention that in every town in the country, there were mass arrests of innocent people. (Ardeshir Zahedi even mentions this to the "Shan-in-Shah". )But how would one expect Mr. Afkhami to comment on this. Did he participate in that gaudy, disgusting display of self-delusion?

Finally, the Shah was an incompetent fool, a brutal man who lack the intellectual fortitude to stand up to the Mullahs. With only a high school degree he detested university educated intellectuals. (Mr. Afkhami, please read the Shah's writing) He was corrupt to the core, a misogynist who hated women (read Alam's diaries and his interviews with CBC and BBC, in one of which Ms. Diba was seen astounded. Readers of this note, you can find the interviews on Youtube) He was a drug user (Mr. Alam's notes), and protected drug traffickers who were his friends(read the Davalou affair in which the Shah himself drove the man to his plane) while ordering the execution of two low level drug users (even intervention of Alam and Hoveyda did not save them). He sent his devoted lackey and servant, Hoveyda, to the gallows, while taking his dog out of the country with him. And he SOLD his people to the foreigners.

Mr. Afkhami, let us use Shah's own words as he dedicated his last book and his last words to the American People, and not to his "beloved Iran". He was disloyalty until his dying hours.

Lastly, The SHAH is the man who brought us, as his parting gift the brutal regime of the Ayatollahs. He destroyed every institution in Iran and left Iranians with only Mosques to rely on. Both he and Khomeinie are one and the same, brutal, uneducated, self-centered, and corrupt. May they both enjoy each others' company in hell.

And Mr. Afkhami, we do not need you to apologize for the Shah.