Social Change in Iran: An Eyewitness Account of Dissent, Defiance, and New Movements for Rights (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is a good source for learning about recent developments in Iran. All levels and collections. -- Choice

Yaghmaian's book is a captivating eyewitness account told by a knowledgeable insider... a book that deserves to be read widely. -- VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Non-profit Organizations --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description

A multi-level look at the changes transforming contemporary Iran. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 269 pages
• Publisher: State University of New York Press (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791452123
• ISBN-13: 978-0791452127
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,860,171 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book, March 25, 2002

By	Ali Herischi (Germantown, MD United States) - See all my reviews

I am a twenty-five year old Iranian who recently migrated to the United States. I am delighted that someone chose to tell the story of my life and those of my generation. This book describes the emergence of a peaceful movement for freedom in Iran. It is a truthful account of the sufferings and of the Iranians, their aspirations, and how they respond to the government and its dictatorship. I congratulate the author, Behzad Yaghamaian for this excellent book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing mix of personal experince and analysis, March 25, 2002

By	Chris (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Social Change in Iran: An Eyewitness Account of Dissent, Defiance, and New Movements for Rights (Hardcover)

Social Change in Iran is the rare book that combines intense personal experiences with an analytical background that enables the reader to understand those experiences in their proper context. Yaghmaian uses the stories of taxi drivers, workers and ordinary people to make the situation in Iran come alive for an American audience that may not have much of an understanding of what life is like in the Islamic Republic. The fear that ordinary Iranians feel from the threat of state violence and oppression is palpable. The passage in which Yaghmaian relates his conversations with young Iranians on an airplane - who are hoping to find freedom outside of Iran - is terrifying and unforgettable. This is a book that will draw you in and make your jaw drop when you read about the injustices suffered by the people of Iran. Given the current state of the world, this book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the complexities of life in Iran.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive look at modern Iran, February 18, 2003

By	Brandon Wilkening (Bloomington, IN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an insightful insider's look at the reform movement that has grown rapidly in Iran over the past decade. Particular emphasis is given to the student movement. The author nicely combines rigorous academic scholarship with journalistic, first-hand accounts of the Iranian political scene. While the author is apparently a professional economist, he writes with surprising fluidity on a number of subjects. Mr. Yaghmaian does not pretend to be a dispassionate observer: he clearly detests the hardliners and Islamic fundamentalists, unsurprisingly perhaps, as he relates the story of how he and his female friend were arrested for appearing together in public. He does an excellent job of conveying the sense of fear and tension in the Islamic Republic, as he repeatedly mentions the ubiquitous "bearded men in slippers" who seem to be everywhere, armed and waiting for cowed citizens to waver in their moral righteousness. His analyses of the student protests, the print media, and the deteriorating economic situation are all highly informative. One of the few criticisms that I can make of the book is that it could have been a lot shorter. The author often reiterates the exact same points over and over again in slightly different form. Also, he sometimes gets overly sentimental when he is talking about the student protests; one honestly gets the impression that he is talking about Woodstock, as the words love, joy, happiness, and peace are used endlessly to describe the students. Also, their are LOTS of exclamation points in the text, many of them in akward places. About the only criticism I can make of the subject matter is that he does not give much attention to the women's movement, although he does refer to it indirectly in several instances. Overall, however, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to better understand the changes occurring in Iran today. This book and Robin Wright's "The Last Great Revolution" are the best places to start for those wishing to learn more about politics and society in Iran.