Culture and Customs of Iran (Culture and Customs of the Middle East) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Ali Akbar Mahdi (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This survey of Iran (aimed at students and general readers) covers the contemporary life of the country within a historical context. Daniel and Mahdi discuss the land and people; religions; literature and language; drama and cinema; architecture; carpets and the history of weaving; food and dining; family, women, marriage, and gender relations; holidays, festivals, and events; and Persian music and dance. Only limited coverage of sports, dress, painting, ceramics, and metalwork is provided. B&w photos are included.”–Reference & Research Book News

Product Description

Iran is often a hotspot in the news, and the Muslim state is usually negatively portrayed in the West. Culture and Customs of Iran rejects facile stereotyping and presents the rich, age-old Persian culture that struggles with pressures of the modern world. This is the first volume in English to reveal the important sociocultural facets of Iran today for a general audience in an objective fashion. Authoritative, substantive narrative chapters cover the gamut of topics, from religion and religious thought to Iranian cuisine and festivals.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press (October 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313320535
• ISBN-13: 978-0313320538
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #768,939 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A most interesting introduction to Iranian culture, January 4, 2009

By	M. G. SFAELLOU "Platanos" (Greece) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The latest title in the series 'Culture and Customs' lives up to the high standard of the other works. Here we have a valuable introduction to the history and folk culture of the Iranian people, covering such topics as rites of passage, family life and festivals etc. As usual a glossary (in this case comprised mainly of Farsi terms) is provided as an aid to the reader.
Iran is often portrayed by the Western media in a very biased and negative way. However, if one reads this marvellous book one can get a true glimpse of the real Iran and experience a taste of the rich culture of the Iranian people. Sadly this rich culture and unique way of life is under threat by the West. After causing a devastating war between Iran and her neighbour Iraq, America now wants the pretext to cause more problems in Iran. Now with the dubious logic of 'preemptive war', it is not necessary for any country to have acted aggressively - they are still vulnerable to attack.
At last in Iran there is a leader who has already made major reforms and progress. The Hon. president Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has a social conscience and has done a great deal to improve life for people in his country. His wisdom and compassion was also seen by his humane act in releasing the British spies caught violating Iranian territory the year before last. He would have been acting entirely within his rights if he had detained them for longer. Possibly during that episode, certain evil forces in the west had hoped that he would have acted impuslively (as they would have done) and thus have precipitated a situation whereby they had the pretext to hurt once again the Iranian people.
Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has often been misquoted and has been wrongly accused as being an antisemitist. He is not! The Jewish population in Iran (who prefer to live there than in Israel) have enjoyed great freedom under his regime. Indeed, any hypothetical atrocities committed against Iranians or other fellow muslims would only make their existence precarious, putting their safety in jeapordy. I do not believe that hospitable Iranian people would ever harm their Jewish or Zoroastrian minorities; however, it is possible that dark forces such as a Mosad or CIA agent could inflict some casualties on the Jewish community in Iran (as has been done in Jewish synagogues in Istanbul etc. ) and then blame it on the Iranians. Zoroastrianism (Iran's oldest native religion akin to that of the Parsis in India) also flourishes undisturbed. In addition to all the interesting (Shiite)muslim holidays, the book also provides details about folk festivals such as Now Ruz (New Year) on March 21st which have their roots in Zoroastrianism.
Wehn Mr. Ahmadinejad declares that the nuclear energy in his country is intended only for peaceful purposes then I believe him. However, this very fact may well mean that Iran (and the rich culture seen in this book) is in danger. I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who once said that the only way to preserve peace was to prepare for war. Iraq was attacked for the very reason that they did NOT have any proper weapons to defend themselves. Despite lies to the contrary, the Anglo-American oppressors knew very well in advance that Iraq could not defend herself. In a cowardly way they had even demanded that Iraq reduce conventional weapons to appease her enemies. However, once it was sure that Iraq could not repel an evil occupation, war was imminent. At one time Saddam Husein was friendly with the west and imposed by them on the Iraqi people. Now, like the treacherous 'friends' they were, they have gone against the Iraqi people. The same is true of Afghanistan (incidentally the companion volume 'Culure and Customs of Afghanistan' is also highly recommended!). When Rambo was there fighting against the Soviet army, the Afghani Taliban regime was good; however, now it no longer suits Rambo's purposes, he suddenly finds the same allies evil.
Although I am against nuclear weapons, I do not like to have to admit that perhaps the only security we all have NOT to see those existing weapons (of Israel and America) ever used is if other nations can also have their own weapons of defence. Israel and America will never commit any evil crime against the peaceful Iranian people if they realise the full consequences that would invariably follow if they ever did so. Since Israel is given too many weapons of mass destruction, perhaps other states should be similarly armed as a balance. Possibly the only way to avoid seeing the utter devastation of a nuclear bomb is if modern Iran acquires their own too as a deterrent. This is why North Korea has not been victim to a cowardly attack - and this is why the genocide/holocaust is taking place now in Palestine. The poor Palestinians do not even have decent antiaircraft guns to defend their civilians against Israeli Apache helicopters bombing civilians.
Reading this book gives one a colourful insight into a fascinating living culture. It is my hope that the rich culture described in these pages will go on living for centuries to come in peace and without any evil threat.