5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unheard Stories, June 11, 2009
This review is from: Tales from the Zirzameen (Hardcover)
A wisper. Sometimes the most interesting information is told in a wisper. To get the full story one must block out all of the outside noise.
Mr. Appleton does this very well in his latest book, "Tales from the Zirzameen". His honest and direct approach shares many personal moments in Iran - both before and after the revolution.
Not only will the reader learn and about the changes that have occurred in Iran but also the influence on the author as well. For me the biggest surprise how my perceptions of this country and its people changed after finishing Mr. Appleton's book.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ducking bullets and braving checkpoints..., May 12, 2009
This review is from: Tales from the Zirzameen (Hardcover)
The Iranian Revolution is best understood through the eyes of the men and women who experienced it. Brian Appleton's new book, "Tales from the Zirzameen" is an intriguing tale that places the reader in the middle of Iran's most tumultuous period since the Kermit Roosevelt-planned coup of 1953. An American expat working for Bell Helicopter, Appleton had a thankless, yet fascinating job: he ensured the bodies of Bell workers who died while on assignment were transferred home efficiently; he was sent to douse cold water on drunken co-workers; and he welcomed new Bell employees sent to Iran from the U.S. A fixer extraordinaire, Appleton did his job well.
Appleton's social orbit was widely confined to the upper strata of Iranian society, which provides captivating reading for the well-informed Iran observer. Vividly illustrating the famously unlimited extents of Iranian hospitality, Appleton shares interesting anecdotes of life alongside famous movie directors, actors, and politicians.
Throughout the book it is obvious Appleton and his co-workers didn't pick up on the underlying negative Iranian sentiments towards the Shah's government - and by extension, the United States. As Appleton himself laments, he and his friends lived a plush, comfortable Western existence in the midst of a nation besieged by pent-up resentment.
The most appealing chapters of the book deal with the revolution itself. Taken hostage by revolutionaries, Appleton reveals the extraordinary courage of those who saved him. His sequential exposition and analysis of the days before, during, and after the coup are very informative and illuminating. Ducking bullets and braving checkpoints, Appleton exposes a world few have ever encountered.
Although "Tales of the Zirzameen" suffers through some structural and grammatical challenges, it is well worth buying. Few books do as good a job at spelling out the fear and uncertainty of those average individuals who suffered through Khomeini's coup. Those interested in the current political relationship between the current Iranian regime and The West will find it to be an especially interesting historical document.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Much Needed Book, June 7, 2009
This review is from: Tales from the Zirzameen (Hardcover)
Brian Appleton's work is reflective of his open-hearted approach to the Iranian culture and people in general. The many years he lived in Iran crystalized his ability to discern social issues and appreciate the essential beauty and talent of Persian art and artists."
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