Reviews (1)

Iran
This is a well researched book, the reserach is focused on archaeology, which is used on academic field. The main intention of this book is bring to light Achaemenid, "Hakha maneshe an" dynasty. Saddly, this dynasty is ended by Alexandar. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Iran    6. Middle East - General    7. To 640    8. History / Middle East   

Reviews (28)

So Slanted, I Couldn't Believe It
Essentially, this book is in the same league as Michael D. Evans' "Showdown with Nuclear Iran": biased, bigoted and on many accounts, baseless. First they sold us Iraq with the claims that the then leader was a kakistocrat. Now, the same people are pushing for a war with Iran, claiming yet again that that country's present leader is worse than Lucifer. Timmerman is so hypocritical in trying to be 'fair' to his subject, it's laughable. There are better books on this subject and you can safely skip this slanted creed.

The Coming Nclear Showdown
Kenneth Timmerman's book reveals all of what the media failed to do over the past 15 plus years. Now we have a serious international problem involving several countries including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Syria and North Korea. I have published internationally on the history of weapons of mass destruction during the mid 90's. Not only has our Government allowed the previously mentioned countries to take the crucial steps for atomic and other WMD development, but the IAEA was a partner in these efforts. Western Europe and the EU profited greatly from the very questionable atomic related sales.
Solid Account
Patrick Clawson said well, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency have uncovered one hidden Iranian nuclear program after another during the last two and a half years. Tehran has now acknowledged having concealed (for eighteen years) a wide range of nuclear activities. Some of them have few peaceful applications but are directly useful for nuclear weapons. This surprising nuclear progress fits a context, for the Iranian regime has also tested long-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and its Supreme Leader has proclaimed that Israel is a cancer that should be excised by being wiped off the map. Read more

Subjects:  1. History - Military / War    2. Military - Nuclear Warfare    3. Political Science    4. Politics/International Relations    5. Reference    6. Current Events / International    7. Nuclear weapons    8. Terrorism, freedom fighters, armed struggle   

Reviews (1)

In the Name of Iran
This book was fun to read because it was focused on Safavid Kings and how the Kings utilized cosmology in order to govern Iran. Moreover, this book covered Zoroastrian faith and how Zoroastrian faith shaped Iran's Shi'ite sect and culture. This is a great book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Iran    5. Islam - General    6. Middle East - General    7. Modern - 17th Century    8. Safavid dynasty, 1501-1736    9. Sufism    10. òSafavid dynasty, 1501-1736    11. Asian / Middle Eastern history    12. Cultural studies    13. Europe    14. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    15. History / Middle East   

Reviews (6)

An important book whose time has come
It does Tom Cooper and Farhad Bishop a disservice to compare this book to any other on the aerial aspects of the Iran-Iraq War.The aircraft enthusiast community is a competitive and often bitchy environment, but an attempt to detract from this book should be treated with the contempt it deserves.
Great book
This is a very well researched book with tons of information on Iranian as well as Iraqi air units, planes etc It is very hard to get this sort of information and this book delivers. Also many wonderful and rare pictures included. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of aerial warfare or the Iran Iraq air war.

Good information, bad editing
The reviewer who claimed that this book "plagiarizes" other works is way off-base and either needs to make a specific case or withdraw his comments--which border on libel.
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Subjects:  1. Air forces & warfare    2. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    3. Iran    4. Iraq   

Reviews (2)

Amore rounded picture of Iran
The image many people have of Iran is of a nation of fanatical Islamic believers. This book comes to put Iranian society in historical perspective, and emphasize how strong the pre-Islamic Persian culture still is in Iran. As Rubin himself says in an interview in National Review, "Iran's history goes back millennia. It is important to recognize the historical patterns that shape Iranian state and society. We wanted to correct the faulty notion that the Islamic Republic is the natural state of things. Too many books written by academics in the year or two after the Islamic Revolution assumed that the Islamic Revolution represented the natural evolution of Iranian politics. It is now clear that the Revolution was an aberration. This raises the policy question: Should we do anything that helps prolong the system, or will we side with the vast majority of Iranians who hope for change? We can only win if the Iranian people win. And that means not striking any deal which will help preserve the status quo and a theocracy anathema not only to many Iranians, but also to so many religious Shiites."
An easy read on a timely subject.
This book is well documented (over thirty ages of footnotes and references) but is a quick and easy read (just 162 pages of text).Today Iran has become one of our most important foreign policy problems, and I believe that reading this book is an excellent way to get the historical background required to understand what is going on in that part of the world.Unfortunately it seems to have been proofread by a computer rather than a human being and here and there you will find a word which is obviously not the word the author intended.This is a minor flaw in an otherwise outstanding book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Government - International    3. History    4. History & Theory - General    5. History - General History    6. Iran    7. Middle East - Iran    8. Political Science    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Asian / Middle Eastern history    11. Middle East    12. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Baghdad    3. Baghdad (Iraq)    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Historical - General    9. History Of Jews    10. Iraq    11. Iraq - History    12. Jews    13. Middle East - General    14. Social conditions    15. Women    16. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Middle East - General    5. Middle East - Iran    6. Asian / Middle Eastern history: c 500 to c 1500    7. History / Middle East    8. Iran    9. Persian Empire   

Reviews (16)

This is a must listen to!
This is probably my favorite audio book. L J Ganser does a fantastic job of narrating.This is the most fair account of what really happened. You need to listen to this.

On the Spot!
"The Guts to Try" is a first hand, first person account of the heroic raid to rescue the 50+ Americans who were held hostage after Iran seized the U.S. embassy in Teheran in November, 1979.The author was the American air Commander of the unsuccessful mission of April, 1980.The hostages were not repatriated until the winter of 1982. This reviewer remembers the seizure as the most embarrassing episode for the U.S. in his lifetime. GT is deep in detail, full of military terminology and acronyms but is written in clear and concise prose, with a helpful glossary.A military background is not essential to following the action.A key aspect of the raid was its' sheer and utter complexity.To merely write that it was intricate does not tell the story.All 4 branches of the military were involved: The mission itself was launched from bases in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman and an Aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean.Units were marshaled from worldwide commands.Intense training was also held at widely scattered locations, always in secret so as not to divulge the nature of the rescue.It was stated above that GT is clear and concise.Indeed the actual text is all of that.Yet the reader may still become confused by the sheer scope of the mission.The most challenging point, for this reader, was the communication equipment. That was technical and hard to grasp! But since the author was a pilot, the intense air operation is relatively easy to follow. This reviewer was impressed by the professionalism of the aerial refueling crews. Those guys were good! Most Americans are well aware by now that this mission was not successful, though many may not know why. Many media reports were pointedly inaccurate or incomplete.Some blamed the failure on missing sand screens for the choppers; the author never mentions this. A key element of GT is an excellent epilogue, which examines the mission component by component.The rescue was aborted inside Iranian territory but before proceeding to Teheran. Good hard reasons for failure are given, blame is laid where appropriate and no excuses are offered.Bad luck or Murphy's Law is not offered as culprits. The author plainly believes that the rescue could have proceeded and should have succeeded. This reviewer was sad to read of a powerful U.S. military with wonderful equipment, highly trained and dedicated professionals- many of them hardened combat vets, a striking worldwide capability with fixed and mobile bases everywhere all led by strong and determined commanders. Yet the mission still failed! The unsuccessful raid is no reflection on men like the author who tried to do the right thing at the right time only to be stymied by events they could not directly control.GT is highly recommended for military history devotees as well as straight history fans that desire more knowledge of a key event of the early 1980s.This reviewer's private opinion is that as well as a tremendous black eye for the U.S.; the embassy capture and failed raid finished Jimmy Cater as President and ushered in the Reagan era.Author Kyle is a man of great courage. As an author, he has performed a fine job of relating an exciting, exacting and complex military operation to his fellow Americans.

The inside story from the Air Force's perspective
Everyone is familiar with the overall story of the Iranian hostage rescue mission.However, this narrative is told from the perspective of the senior Air Force mission commander.Col Kyle was involved with the planning from just about the beginning and was able to observe, and comment on, the creation of the plan.Kyle was actually on board the rescue aircraft and was the on-scene commander when the fateful decision(s) was made to abort and the catastrophe that followed.Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Military    4. Military - Other    5. Military - United States    6. History / Military / Other   

Reviews (6)

Eternity to Eternity - A Precise Summary
THE BIG BANG TO NOW: A TIME LINE
"We are made of stardust... We live in Mystery..."
This little book will delight, educate but above all amaze those readers who are fortunate enough to find it.I was attracted by its beautiful cover, its paperback format and attractive size, but even as I picked it up I felt my fear of "science..." - I was totally unprepared for the excitement, the mental and spiritual stimulation the book provides.The holistic, individual-page presentation leads past fear and soon I was completely absorbed, savoring the quality of the writing itself, and fascinated by the story of "all of time."
Big Bang Made Easy
I am familiar with almost all the events described in The Big Bang to Now, but I still found it compulsive reading. The author succeeded in weaving the major events of time into a coherent whole that the reader can comprehend. The bookis not overwhelming in detail or scientific jargon or discourse about the latest findings, which might be why I understood more about how our universe is unfolding than before I read it.
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Subjects:  1. History / Ancient / General    2. Terry Herman Sissons, algae, Iran, Iraq, life, Middle East, Persian Gulf, Syria, tectonic plates, tetrapod, trilobite, Acheulean tools, aerobe, Africa, Akkadia, Alexander the Great, amniotic egg, amphibians, anaerobic, Anatolia, ancient, history, anthropo   

Reviews (8)

A story of power politics and political hypocrisy
Now that the U. S. led coalition has invaded Iraq and removed Saddam Hussein from power, the current fashion is to demonize him as much as possible. However, there was a time when the United States was strongly allied with Iraq when it was at war with Iran. The Iraqi invasion of Iran was launched by Saddam Hussein at a time when Iran appeared weak. His goal was to achieve a quick victory and gain control over the Shatt al Arab waterway and perhaps even some of the Iranian oilfields.Therefore, there was no doubt that Iraq was the aggressor.
Good synopsis ofthe Iran-Iraq conflict
"The Longest War" by Dilip Hiro provides a thorough political history of the Iran-Iraq conflict.Those with little to moderate exposure to the war will probably find it interesting, while more knowledgeable students of the era will most likely gain little insight, as it is largely based on press clippings.
A good read
Despite its small and squeezed font, the content is attractive as the book thoroughly covers the 8-year Iraq-Iran war.
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Subjects:  1. Foreign Relations    2. History - Military / War    3. Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988    4. Middle East - Iran    5. Military - General    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    8. Central government policies    9. International relations    10. Iran    11. Iraq    12. Political Science / General    13. Warfare & Defence   

Reviews (3)

Fine info but not enough!
This is a nice attempt from the author, Mr Amini Sam, to portray the life and history of Aryans up to the Islam period 625 AD.
It taught me much about Iranian civilization
This is realy my first book I am reading on Iran and the great Persian history.It gave me a great insight of the pre-islamic Iran.I agree that the book is not well edited.However, it wraps up many thousand years old Iranian civilization development from inception to pre-islam.The first four chapters include Iranian mythology. and the last four chapters are about the begining of the Persian empire to the end around 6th century A.D.The writer is not a historian.He is trying to put together a book about the Iranian history which he felt missing in the market.The stories are short from each kingdom and pro-iranian.He put them in a chronological order.there is many editorial mistakes in this book.I recommend it to the Iranians who must be reminded of their very important history which they are very proud of.

A Poorly written book
This is a very poorly written book.There are hundreds of spelling and grammatical errors.I can't believe a publisher actually printed this book, or that nobody with some education proofread it before it was published.Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Middle East - Iran    6. Asian / Middle Eastern history    7. Iran   

Editorial Review

Dismantled in the aftermath of World War I, Kurdistan is little more than a lingering memory among millions of living Kurds, against whom are pitted the governments of Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq.Susan Meiselas gathers historical documents, maps, charts, and photographs that document the changing fortunes of the Kurdish people in the 20th century; anthropologist Martin Van Bruinessen provides ethnographic commentary on this mountain tribe's way of life. Read more

Reviews (8)

Save your pennies, it's worth it!
I don't own this book and can't afford it...but I'm saving to buy it. In the mean time I have access to one of the largest Middle Eastern libraries in the United States with unended renewal policies, so I do have a copy in my posession.
Would rather read a single personal account
Although this is a quality book, it is so overpriced that few people would ever buy it or get a chance to read it.I believe that the world is in great need of a readable volume about a Kurd who suffered through and survived the chemical attacks.I hope that an author famous for bringing to life the experiences of individuals will tackle this much needed project. Most people need to be educated on the Kurdish issue and on the Armenian issue.Such a book on either subject that targets ONE LIFE, I will buy and pass along to my Kurdish and Armenian relatives.This one is too convoluted and out of price range.

AMAZING BOOK!!
It is an absolutely well-written book, with great information about the history of the Kurds. It is definitely worth more than how much it's listed for because of the information and the pictures it has. I just can't wait to read more books of the writer! She has done a beautiful job. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Iraq - History    5. Kurdistan    6. Kurds    7. Middle East - General    8. Photojournalism    9. Pictorial works    10. Asian / Middle Eastern history    11. History / Asia    12. Middle East   

Reviews (16)

Factual 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. The author spends a lot of good words on Khomein's mysticism.From other books about Muslims I had gotten the impression that followers of Islamic mystics tended to be mellower and generally wished to get along with the outside world. But this is a false impression with regard to the Ayatolla, if you believe the author's analyis of His mysticism. --- "For Khomeini the mystic, when Man reaches a sense of unity with God, his anger becomes that of God." (page 296).

Informative 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.The book begins with a description of the society Khomeini was born into in Central Iran; a wealthy, landowning family where he was one of several siblings.The book describes his childhood, his education, his entry and rise thru the clergy, and finally his rise thru politics.The book covers the topic in chronological order, and emphasizes his public life, specifically his years in the clergy and then in national and later international politics.
ENDLESS 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

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Heads of state    6. Iran    7. Iran - History    8. Islam - General    9. Khomeini, Ruhollah    10. Political    11. Religious    12. Ulama   

Subjects:  1. Democracy    2. International Relations - General    3. Iran    4. Islam    5. Islam and politics    6. Islamic Government    7. Islamic Studies    8. Political Ideologies - Democracy    9. Religious aspects    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. Asian / Middle Eastern history: from c 1900 -    13. Middle East    14. Political structures: democracy   

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Middle East - General    5. Middle East - Iran    6. Asian / Middle Eastern history: c 500 to c 1500    7. History / Middle East    8. Iran    9. Iran - History    10. Persian Empire   

Reviews (1)

Informative but a bit emotional
This a good book to gather information and historical trends of the countries it talks about however I think the justifiably liberal point of view looses a little creditability because it gets emotional at times- sort of like it is trying to persuade me too much. I can do without the slights and overly slanted remarks. Facts reflect fact: you don't have to spin up the truth too much to get your point across. I like the book but it makes me think the author(s) might have been insiders or closely related to but for some reason now have sharp teeth and snarls about the subject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. International Relations - General    3. Political Science    4. Politics - Current Events    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    8. Current Events / General    9. International relations    10. Iran    11. North Korea    12. Syria    13. USA   

Reviews (1)

Gender Bending Images of Beauty: a Mind-boggling Read
Living in Iran for five years, I became fascinated by one particular image of Iranian women. Not the woman in the black, cover-all chador, but the round-faced curly-haired sun lady, or Khorshid Khanoum, seen on everything from key-rings to hand-painted crockery. I wrote to Afsaneh Najmabadi, asking if she knew the origin of the image, and found to my delight that it would be the subject of a chapter in her new book, "Women with Mustaches and Men without Beards." It's a fascinating and revealing detective story of how images of beauty have changed over the centuries.
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Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. 20th century    3. Feminism & Feminist Theory    4. Gender Studies    5. Gender identity    6. History    7. History: World    8. Iran    9. Middle East - General    10. Social conditions    11. Sociology    12. Women    13. Gay & Lesbian studies    14. History / Middle East   

Reviews (6)

A well-balanced and authoritative book on Iran's modern history
I have used Professor Nikki Keiddie's "Modern Iran" in the classes I teach on gender and women in the Middle East. By far, this updated edition is the most comprehensive yet concise and accurate social history of modern Iran available for the students of the Middle East, especially Iran. This is a well-balanced account of the past two centuries of Iran, written in a lucid and accessible language. Throughout its 12 chapters and conclusion, it remains keen on the role of Iran's internal, regional and international politics, religion and Shii discourse, secular as well as religious intellectuals, socioeconomic factors, culture, women and gender. Highly recommended.
Did not live up to expectations
As I'm writing this review in mid-2006,Iran is a country that has a great deal of influence in world affairs.Like Iraq, most people (especially Americans) would benefit from learning as much about Iran as they can.
Modern Iran: Roots and Results of Revolution
University of California historian Keddie published the first version of this book, titled Roots of Revolution, in 1981, and a generation of students has read her work in an effort to make sense of revolution in Iran. With Modern Iran, Keddie updates her study to take into account the Islamic Republic's first quarter century.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. General    3. History    4. History - General History    5. Iran    6. Middle East - Iran    7. Modern - 20th Century    8. Modern - 21st Century    9. Political Science    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Revolution, 1979    12. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    13. Political Science / General   

Reviews (6)

We need to read this book
In the late 1990s, the Islamic Republic adopted a policy of cautious outreach to the world and Khatami's landslide victory in 1997 raised hopes of a more moderate regime in Iran, with democracy, a free press, the free flow of information, political and religious tolerance, and participation by women and minorities.However, this revolution in thinking brought Khatami's government into conflict with the ruling clerics with their own vision of an Islamic society. Based on interviews conducted during their residence from 1998 to 2001, Abdo and Lyons concluded that the clerical establishment is still very powerful and is able to block any move not to their liking. As a consequence little if any of the hoped for changes have taken place. All politics in Iran stem ultimately from theological conflict and the deep doctrinal, philosophical and political differences separating the Sunnis who dominate the broader Islamic world and the Shi'ites who recognize only the authority of Mohammed's direct heirs. Both sides believe in preserving the Islamic system, but it is the degree of flexibility and independence within the system that forms the basis of their disagreement. Currently there are two issues which are being fought behind the scenes - will it be the democratically elected or the clerics who rule Iran and will it be the Sunnis or the Shi'ites who will win the battle for the minds of the young people. The truth shall set you free
In 1979 Iranians took to the streets to depose the Shah.The Shah had dismantled everything the religious radicals held dear in Iran.He had abolished `Islamic only' history and began speaking of a `pre-Islamic' state based on the historical Persia.He ordered his army to rip the veils off women and then finally gave women the right to vote, something that Islamic radicals like the Ayatollah found anathema to their male dominated society.Lastly the Shah became an ally of Israel.In many ways the Shah wanted to emulate Ataturk but he didn't realize Ataturk succeeded because he was a nationalist.This book details the total failure of the alternative to the Shahs rule. A Good Book Four Years Out of Date
As interesting as this book is, I must say it is four years late and four years out of date. Iran has moved on so much in the last four years since Abdo and Lyons were kicked out by the "reformist" elements.Read more

Subjects:  1. History & Theory - General    2. Islam - General    3. Middle East - Iran    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Religion    6. Religion, Politics & State