Khomeini: Life of the Ayatollah (Hardcover)

by Baqer Moin (Author) "Khomein lies deep in the vast semi-arid areas of central Iran some 200 kilometres to the north-west of Isfahan, the magnificent capital of the Safavid..." (more)
Key Phrases: Bani Sadr, Reza Shah, National Front (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Moin has produced the first serious and accessible examination of the ayatollah's life. -- The New York Times Book Review, Elaine Sciolino

Review

"This is an important account of how Khomeini the man and the seminal, historical phenomenon may well linger on as a notional inspiration for modern Iran." (37,1,2000) --Thomas Hylland Eriksen, Journal of Peace Research

"In spite of the modesty of its author, the book is highly detailed and full of the insights only a well-informed author can bring." --John King, BBC Arabic Service

"Khomeini is an important book, not only as a biography of Ayatollah Khomeini, but as an honest analysis of the intellectual and political forces that were responsible for the 1979 revolution…” --Mehrdad Kia, 4/00

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (June 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312264909
• ISBN-13: 978-0312264901
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #509,449 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A history of 20th century Iran!, October 12, 2000

By	Thomas J. Brucia "Tom B" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This biography of Ruhollah Khomeini (1902 - 1989) is not just a biography. It also is an excellent introduction to the theological and intellectual, as well as political, currents of 20th century Iran. I was struck by how different Baqer Moin's `view from inside Islam' is from others' `view from outside Islam.' One can glimpse the feelings, frustrations, and motivations of a people caught in a world where they were losing control over their own fates. The first chapters of this book are mind-bogglingly informative, telling the story of how a Western-influenced elite futilely tried to create a secular state atop a deeply traditional Shiite society. Ultimately the elites were so out of touch that they lost control; Iranian Shiism and its religious leaders channeled popular discontent and were able to control the directions in which Iran would evolve. Baqer Moin brilliantly documents Ruhollah Khomeini's development over a lifetime, explaining him in terms of Shiite theology, mysticism, and law - not to mention as power politician and demagogue. He states: "Khomeini established his credentials as a prominent religious leader before moving on to the political arena in order to both strengthen his standing within the religious establishment and widen his power base in general." As Moin also points out: "Khomeini was, in a sense, one of the few to have reached the stature of a leading jurisprudent, the highest level of theoretical mysticism and also to have become a highly-regarded teacher of Islamic philosophy. He was unique in being at the same time a leading practitioner of militant Islam." Ultimately the author documents a fanatic firmly convinced that he is the representative of God on earth, using his religious position to command absolute authority. Khomeini's deep debt (usually unrecognized) to Islamic mysticism is fully explored. Were his ideas mysticism run amok? Did his mystic dreams merge into megalomania? Was Khomeini a `heretic?' Baqer Moin (a former Islamic seminarian from Iran) makes a strong case that, in his last years, Khomeini's brand of fundamentalism was diametrically contrary to classical Shiism -- and in many ways un-Islamic. Moin definitely paints a somewhat darker picture of everyday Iranian Islamic life than does, for example, Ann Armstrong, in her more sympathetic portraits. (This book, incidentally, is cited in Karen Armstrong's "The Battle for God", her recent work about international fundamentalism). Though the author carefully examines the Grand Ayatollah's motivations, one is left with an understanding that never seems to go deeper than the intellectual. I suspect that this is not Moin's fault, but a reflection of Khomeini's cerebral inhumanity. By the time the cleric first got into serious trouble with the Shah's regime (initially imprisoned -- then exiled first to Turkey, next to Iraq, and finally to France) he was already in his 60's. (Khomeini `the old man' was wily, successful, and brilliant - he was certainly NOT likeable.) This book is certainly an excellent first step to understanding modern Iran and the man who changed it so much. I found this book so appealing that after I read it the first time, I went back and read it through a second time! I thoroughly recommend it...

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Informative in some areas, dissapointing in others, January 9, 2001

By	S. Bowman (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The strength of the book is describing Khomeini's views towards Islam. It is very informative about mysticism and Khomeini's attachment to it. On the other hand, the book is not very detailed and I was yearning for more insight and information. There is little detail on the personality and personal life of Khomeini. Instead, the author focuses on the events that take place during Khomeini's lifetime more than Khomeini's life. In other words, I would recommend it for those who do not know much about history of 20th Century Iran. For those who have even a basic understanding of that period of Iranian history, I would not recommend it.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Usual Stuff, December 18, 2001

By	"keshvardoost" (UK) - See all my reviews

Sadly, there are very few books in English which discuss the Islamic Revolution in Iran from the Iranian point of view. The truth is that the late Ayatollah Khomeini was and still is very popular among Iranians living inside Iran. This book, while trying to portray itself as being objective, follows the same agenda as other books written previously.