Roots of Revolution: An Interpretive History of Modern Iran [Hardcover]

Nikki R. Keddie (Author), Yann Richard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1981

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

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 321 pages
• Publisher: Yale Univ Pr; First edition. edition (October 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300026064
• ISBN-13: 978-0300026061
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,693,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A condensed History, December 9, 1999

By 

Jane Ashley Cain (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roots of Revolution: An Interpretive History of Modern Iran (Yale Fastback Series) (Paperback)

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 of information given makes reading arduous. Since it is an interpretive history, Keddie gives no opposing viewpoints. This book seems better suited for one who already has knowledge of Iranian history rather than a beginner.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an excellent introduction to revolutionary Islam, January 9, 2004

By 

doc peterson (Portland, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Roots of Revolution: An Interpretive History of Modern Iran (Yale Fastback Series) (Paperback)

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.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An easy explanation of the revolution in Iran, August 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Roots of Revolution: An Interpretive History of Modern Iran (Yale Fastback Series) (Paperback)

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.