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Khomeini: Life of the Ayatollah Paperback – July 7, 2009

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Baqer Moin (Author)
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3.1 out of 5 stars 21 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: I.B.Tauris; Reprint edition (July 15, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1845117905
  • ISBN-13: 978-1845117900
  • Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 1 x 8.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,416,567 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsA history of 20th century Iran!
By Thomas J. Brucia on October 12, 2000
Format: Hardcover
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.Read more ›
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3.0 out of 5 starsInformative in some areas, dissapointing in others
By S. Bowman on January 9, 2001
Format: Hardcover
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.
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5.0 out of 5 starsTo Replace the Rule of Man with the Rule of God
By M. E. Motto on August 17, 2007
Format: Hardcover
A very well-written biography on a rather unknown man in the West (which is odd, considering the effect he has had on the latter part of the 20th Century).

As other reviewers have noted, this book is more than just a biography of Khomeini. It is also the story of an evolving Iran in the 20th Century, and can be read for that reason alone. But, from the humble roots of Khomeini's ancestors, to the man who became known as the "Imam," the book tells the often fantastic tale of Khomeini's remarkable, yet ultimately destructive, life.

Now, I must say first that I despise the man Khomeini for the things he has done to this once rich and beautiful country, full of intelligent people and beautiful history. But, after reading this objectively written book, I have grown to respect the man - not for his horrible ideas, and not for his brutal nature, but because of the things he was able to accomplish, however horrible and misguided they were.

As the jacket notes, Khomeini helped overthrow the rule of man and replace it with the rule of God (according to him, of course). This seems backwards when considering the modern revolutions, where dynastic kings and divine monarchs were tossed out (with their arbitrary rule) in favor of the rule of man, law and justice. What's remarkable is that Khomeini was able to do this while wearing the robe of a cleric. Unlike other dictators like Saddam, Mao, Stalin, or even Castro, Khomeini did not strut around as a tough-guy in military fatigues. he did not openly carry a weapon nor did he openly rule as a "thug." Rather, he appeared holy and worked hard at keeping that image. In fact, there is no doubt that Khomeini was probably a very deeply religious person who truly believed he was instituting the rule of Allah on Earth.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsInformative and insightful biography of Komeiny
By A Customer on June 1, 2000
Format: Hardcover
Baquer Moin, an Iranian Cleric himself, traces an extremely interesting portrait of Khomeini personality and career as a political and religious leader.
The model used by Baquer Moin to analyse Khomeini's life and achievements is based on the division of the Iranian leader's experience in there main parts: mystic, jurisprudence (that is Islamic law) and the politics: three cornerstones, of Khomeini career. Mysticism as the one fundamental drive in the formation of a religious leader who becomes one with God, jurisprudence or knowledge of the Islamic law and its application to modern world and politics as the art of transforming the role of the Iranian clergy.
This book explain how the Iranian clergy, after five century of collaboration with the conservative Iranian monarchy and 50 years of opposition to the modernising monarchy of the Palavi, has turned itself in the ruling power in control of Iranian State and society.
Furthermore, the book analyses and explains an otherwise difficult figure for most westerns, and contribute to the understanding of Khomeini popularity in Iran and abroad, despite the many shortcomings of the Islamic regime he inspired and built.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsThis is an excellent read for anyone that is interested in Current...

If you want to know why we have problems in the Middle East today then read this book. The Ayatollah Khomeini is a lunatic cleric that led a revolution in Iran in 1979 that stirred... Read more

Published 23 months ago by Mr. Bubles
5.0 out of 5 starsLoved this Objective book!

This is one of the only, and one of the best biographies about Khomeini written in the English language. Read more

Published on November 28, 2007 by trustTreview
3.0 out of 5 starsNot bad, but not great

There are two main problems in this book. First, this is one of those books where a single sentance really damages the credibility of the writer. Read more

Published on September 7, 2007 by N. Mozahem
4.0 out of 5 starsGood History of Khomeini's Public Life

The Ayatollah Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini was the central actor of the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, and one of the truly transformational men of history. Read more

Published on July 24, 2007 by Kirk H Sowell
5.0 out of 5 starsFactual account of Khomeini's political/ religious career

Baqer Moin has the information to take you through all the twists and turns the Ayatolla took on the way to establishing his vision of an Islamic State in Iran. Read more

Published on August 22, 2006 by andris virsnieks
3.0 out of 5 starsInformative reading but somewhat boring

This biography of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini describes the public and private life of this man from his birth to his death. Read more

Published on September 5, 2005 by Newton Ooi
1.0 out of 5 starsENDLESS CONTROVERSY

The late Ayatollah Khomeini, the man who founded the Islamic Republic in Iran, has been the subject of bitter debate for over a quarter of a century. Read more

Published on December 5, 2003 by Jamila Sherian
1.0 out of 5 starsFAILS TO SELL KHOMEINI

Khomeini, the mullah who seized power in Iran and unleashed a reign of terror, has been the subject of many critical articles and at least one biography. Read more

Published on October 7, 2003 by rivniz bibarg
5.0 out of 5 starsvery good book

what i truly enjoyed about this biography of khoemeini was that is was pretty much non biased,not like the western world's view of the man who portrayed the ayatollah as a fanatic... Read more

Published on August 24, 2003 by gordon
5.0 out of 5 starsA Great Biography

This is a great biography of a man who could be considered the most influential Islamic figure of the twentieth century. Read more

Published on August 6, 2003

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