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Michael Axworthy
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A History of Iran: Empire of the Mind Hardcover – May 6, 2008

by Michael Axworthy (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 283 ratings
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Iran is a land of contradictions. It is an Islamic republic, but one in which only 1.4 percent of the population attend Friday prayers. Iran's religious culture encompasses the most censorious and dogmatic Shi'a Muslim clerics in the world, and yet its poetry insistently dwells on the joys of life-wine, beauty, sex. Iranian women are subject to one of the most restrictive dress codes in the Islamic world, but make up nearly 60 percent of the university student population. In A History of Iran, a leading expert on Iran chronicles the rich history of this complex nation from the Achaemenid Empire of sixth century B.C. to the present-day Islamic Republic. In accessible prose, Michael Axworthy explains the military, political, religious, and cultural forces that have shaped one of the oldest continuing civilizations in the world. Concluding with an assessment of the immense changes the nation has undergone since the revolution in 1979, A History of Iran offers general readers an essential point of entry into a troubled region.
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  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Basic Books
  4. Publication date
    May 6, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0465008887
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0465008889
  8. See all details
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4.3 out of 5 stars
283 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides a concise and accurate history of Iran. They describe it as an enjoyable and relaxing read for beginners or anyone interested in the subject. Readers praise the author's knowledge and writing style. However, opinions differ on the information quality - some find it informative and well-researched, while others feel it goes into too much depth on certain topics.

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HistoryReadabilityReadableInformation quality
35 customers mention "History"35 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's history. They find it concise and well-written, providing a quick overview of Iran's history. The book strikes a good tone between academic and popular history, with descriptions of poetry and religious elements. Readers appreciate the impartial account and accurate information about Iranian culture. The book shows the continuity of Iranian identity through successive invasions and the importance of early empires. It is recommended as a concise introduction to the country and its idea of its place in the world.

"...So if you are someone who wants to thumb through a well composed survey of Iran's history, culture, and people this book is definitely the right one..." Read more

"...The Islamic part was good. The chapter on Persian poetry was excellent!" Read more

"...The author’s focus on Iran’s unique culture and legacy of multiculturalism is refreshing and a reminder that Iran’s current political leadership is..." Read more

"...It strikes a good tone between academic and popular history, and I loved the descriptions of poetry and religious movements...." Read more

30 customers mention "Readability"26 positive4 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They find it a good primer for those new to Iranian history, even without the poetry. The author is knowledgeable and provides a concise and interesting history. However, some readers feel the book is difficult if you lack knowledge of the Middle East.

"This is an excellent exposition of Iranian history surveying the nation's history through the age of empire from the times of Cyrus the Great to the..." Read more

"This is a enjoyable, relaxing read by a knowledgeable author on a very important subject...." Read more

"...a comprehensive book on Iranian history, and this is definitely the best one...." Read more

"...a lot of detail that i have not already been exposed to; axworthy is a good writer & very objective; if one knows little about iran & its history,..." Read more

24 customers mention "Readable"20 positive4 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They describe it as readable, concise, and informative. The author provides a clear and fair overview of the subject. Readers appreciate his detailed work on an often difficult subject in a simple yet informative way.

"This is a enjoyable, relaxing read by a knowledgeable author on a very important subject...." Read more

"...of detail that i have not already been exposed to; axworthy is a good writer & very objective; if one knows little about iran & its history, this is..." Read more

"...However, in spite of such minor omissions, the book is accurate, immensely readable and truly major contribution to Iranian history." Read more

"Covers the history of Iran in a pleasant easy to read language...." Read more

15 customers mention "Information quality"10 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's information quality. Some find it informative, well-researched, and objective, providing a solid overview of a long history. Others feel the book goes into very little depth on most topics, providing too much information over too few pages. The first half was detailed and dull, while after 1900 it became interesting.

"...is a enjoyable, relaxing read by a knowledgeable author on a very important subject...." Read more

"...i have not already been exposed to; axworthy is a good writer & very objective; if one knows little about iran & its history, this is a good start;..." Read more

"...only downside is that the history is so condensed that huge topics get very short thrift...." Read more

"...It provides a factual, but simplified, picture of a multiplicity of societies who consider themselves Iranian regardless of the proclivity of their..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Guang Hong
    5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent survey of Iranian history
    Reviewed in the United States on February 29, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This is an excellent exposition of Iranian history surveying the nation's history through the age of empire from the times of Cyrus the Great to the present government led by the Islamic Republic. One of the first things that will surprise you about this book is how extensive but yet quickly you will be able to move through the time periods of Persian history. The book starts by describing Persia from the first true Persian Dynasty, the Achaemenid dynasty, followed by the Seleucid, Parthian, Sassanid, Umayyad, Abassid, Saffavid, Qajar, and Phavali dynasties. The chapters are linked together by stories and important historical developments in each era and transistions smoothly by describing the fall and the rise of the subsequent powers.

    In addition, the author dedicated an extensive chapter to the acomplishment of Persian poets including works of Rumi, Saadi, Hafez, and Iraqi. It is most interesting to understand the role of poetry and its development in Persian history. The symbolism of the poetic works corresponds to subjects such as love, power, war, and life. However, I find the ones involving love most perxplexing and the usage of the term "wine" as the metaphor for love. The symbolic, which are mostly subliminal, of these poems are truly influential.

    So if you are someone who wants to thumb through a well composed survey of Iran's history, culture, and people this book is definitely the right one for you. It is always breathtaking to see how civilizations can influence each other in the most subtle manner and thus have profound effects just as how people may influence each other.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Reader_CEM
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good survey history
    Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2024
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    The first part, pre-Islamic, was sketchy. The Islamic part was good. The chapter on Persian poetry was excellent!
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  • Adam
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is a enjoyable, relaxing read by a knowledgeable author on a very important subject. The author’s focus on Iran’s unique culture and legacy of multiculturalism is refreshing and a reminder that Iran’s current political leadership is not reflective of the country’s total history, all of its people, or deterministic about Iran’s future in the world.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenal
    Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I was looking for a comprehensive book on Iranian history, and this is definitely the best one. It strikes a good tone between academic and popular history, and I loved the descriptions of poetry and religious movements. The only downside is that the history is so condensed that huge topics get very short thrift. I will have to follow up with narrower books on specific periods or issues. This is a good entry point to do so.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Ed Deisley
    3.0 out of 5 stars a history of iran
    Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    i have done many books on iran, a teaching company course on the persian empire & have visited the country in 2011 so this book does not go into a lot of detail that i have not already been exposed to; axworthy is a good writer & very objective; if one knows little about iran & its history, this is a good start; the country is very misunderstood in the USA since the 1979 revolution & before that due to the bias of our views & the influence of the israeli lobby who was very pro iran when the shah was in power; i have little doubt the iranian people will change the theocratic dictatorship they now have, it will take time but it will be done; i do believe the worse thing we can do is attack with israel this country & unite the people behind this bad government as iraq did when they started the war in 1980; had i less info re this country i would have rated this book better; i want to read his newer book on iran from the 1979 revolution to the present
    One person found this helpful
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  • Ghahremani
    4.0 out of 5 stars Empire of the mind
    Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    This book can be considered a starting point for any newcomer to Iranian history. It is, without a doubt, a major contribution to the popular history genre. While Iran/Persia is one of the great empires, Axworthy implies that it is also an empire of the mind, a virtual empire that transcends the western concept of the geopolitical state.

    The book follows Iran's chronological history from pre-Achaemenid times to the present. It is well researched and has extensive footnotes and references allowing the reader to delve into details of any event or subject. Yet, it is eminently readable and has the tone of a lively and informative lecture rather than an erudite tome.

    The book binds all the varied elements of Iranian culture (a multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religion mélange of peoples) into a single story line. It provides a factual, but simplified, picture of a multiplicity of societies who consider themselves Iranian regardless of the proclivity of their present governments. The reader is forced to re-evaluate the common notions of Iran as a homogeneous entity and recognize it as a hodgepodge of different groups who are bound by a common belief in the uniqueness of their civilization, culture and history.

    Perhaps the greatest contribution of the book is the portrayal of Iranian minorities. It is no small feat to trace their histories in the Iranian context. Yet, as Axworthy implies, it is their historical contributions and continued existence that make Iranian culture unique. It would be a sad day if any government forced uniformity on such a great and diverse culture.

    The book does not cover everything (that would require an encyclopedia) but it misses some points. For instance, it discusses the Council of Guardians but does not cover another key element of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic - the Council of Experts. This is the Council that was responsible for appointing Ayatollah Khamenei as "supreme leader", a decision that involved considerable internal debate. Further, in theory, this Council can remove the supreme leader if it finds him unfit to rule. This is no small power considering the current turmoil Iran and is certainly worth mentioning.

    However, in spite of such minor omissions, the book is accurate, immensely readable and truly major contribution to Iranian history.
    54 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Ali Ebrahimi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Honestly accurate
    Reviewed in Canada on February 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    If you're looking to understand Iran and its history, this is by far one of the most reliable sources.
    I've read quite a few books about the history of my country, Iran (in both Persian and English) and found most of the ones written by non-Persians somehow biased or affected by inaccurate accounts of ancient historians with a bias.
    But not this one. The author has a commendable command of the Persian history and, except for very rare lapses, paints the reader a detailed and accurate picture of the Persian Empire and how it's evolved through time.
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  • Arash A.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book is an excellent introduction to the history of Iran, blending detailed historical facts with engaging storytelling. It covers key events, cultural developments, and political shifts in a way that’s easy to follow yet deeply insightful. Perfect for both casual readers and history enthusiasts looking to understand Iran’s rich and complex past. Highly recommend
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  • Joao
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente
    Reviewed in Brazil on July 29, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Gostei bastante. O autor foi muito bem sucedido em escrever um livro didático e de leitura fácil em relação a um país que tem uma história extensa, cheia de personagens e informações. Também gostei de o enfoque não ser somente em reis e batalhas, há informações sobre sociedade, as várias religiões que se formaram na Pérsia e um capítulo somente sobre poesia persa. O enfoque dado aos diversos períodos históricos é equitativa, porém é um bom livro para se entender todo o complexo contexto do Irã atual (o texto da versão que eu comprei, capa comum, termina em meados de 2015) de uma forma resumida e concisa.
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  • Gozzola Danilo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in Italy on May 10, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    A good book usefull to start knowing Iran history.
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  • Sandy
    2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read but hard to get into
    Reviewed in Australia on July 21, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The book is well written but is quite hard to get into if you're not already familiar with Iran history. Maybe not the best choice for a first introduction.
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