Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Middle East - General    5. Middle East - Iran    6. Political History    7. History / Middle East   

Features

• Abridged

Reviews (13)

Listening to/reading this book is not an error!
I listened to the abridged version of this book over the course of a few days and found it to be quite entertaining and informative.Those who are intrigued by the special mission units of the US military should look no further than here for an insider's account behind the scenes as many of the heavy hitters were just getting started in the late 1970s and early 1980s.Carney is at his best telling the tale of small unit leadership in action as he fought tooth-and-nail to gain respect and a mission for his "Brand-X" airmen.
The Quiet Professionals
No Room For Error fills a gap in military history. Such gaps have existed since the beginning of time whenever a 'special' operation was conducted. What Col Carney and the late Ben Schemmer have done is describe people, places, and events that bring to light the fact that the special ops 'community' before the 80s was a close knit family whose members and even kids often knew each other by name whether army, navy, or air force.
Interesting, but might be better as a Documentary Movie
I'm about 2/3 done with this book.I previously read Black Hawk Down, and picked up this book next.While Black Hawk Down makes you feel like you are in the middle of the action, this book reads more like a documentary.You never quite feel for the heroes the author writes about; you never quite understand who they are, what their personalities are like, are what these people have gone through.Instead, its almost as if you are watching a black-and-white movie and are set far back away from the action.There's a lot of facts, and a lot of names.Names of people that not too many people (at least today) know about. The main point of the book seems to be that Special Operations has really grown up in America, and that frankly it was really disorganized before. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. 21st century    3. Abridged Audio - Autobiography/Biography    4. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    5. Audiobooks    6. General    7. Government - U.S. Government    8. History    9. Military - General    10. Military - Strategy    11. Special forces (Military science)    12. United States   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Haddad, Heskel M    4. History - General History    5. Iraq    6. Israel    7. Jews    8. Jews, Iraqi    9. Middle East    10. Sociology, Social Studies   

Reviews (1)

very good book on time period
I found this book to be highly informative.I did disagree with some of it's conclusions, but the book would be an excellant intro to Iran's constitutional movement for a casual reader and is an excellant resourse for a more serious reader. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Constitutional history    2. Democracy    3. Feminism    4. Gender Studies    5. International Relations - General    6. Iran    7. Islam and state    8. Political Process - General    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Sociology    11. Social Science / Gender Studies   

Subjects:  1. Archaeology    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Architecture    4. Castles    5. History - General    6. Iran    7. Middle East - General    8. Syria    9. Asian / Middle Eastern history   

Reviews (2)

Excellent
It was quite informative, as modern Iranian art is somehow unknown, and is trying to find a character of its own. But also I have to disagree with the other comment , that Art in Iran is smehow quite different from the rest of the middle east, and it does not portrait the modern "Islamic Art" at all, and to understand Iranian art one has to consider so many other factors, such as the Persian art, and pre-Islamic art, and if you are interested in the art in middle east in GENERAL, then you should buy a book about art in middle east in General!

Beautiful & Informative Book
Since there are so few books on modern Islamic art, this book is an amazing find!It is filled with beautiful illustrations of posters, photographs, and paintings. Though scholarly, the essays are readable.The book shows how art can serve as a fascinating insight into the politics of the contemporary Middle East.Anyone interested in Iran or the Middle East will learn a lot from this book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Art    3. Art and society    4. Art, Iranian    5. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - General    6. History - General History    7. Iran    8. Middle East - General    9. Middle East - Iran    10. Middle Eastern    11. Pictorials    12. Travel / Pictorials   

Reviews (1)

The CIA Report on What We Did in Iran
In 1952/53 the CIA instigated an overthrow of the Government of Iran. It was successful, from the standpoint of the CIA anyway, established closer relations between Iran and the US. And of course led to the subsequent events in Iranian history.
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Subjects:  1. Government - International    2. History    3. History: World    4. Intelligence Operations    5. Iran - History    6. Middle East - General    7. Espionage & secret services    8. Iran    9. Political control & influence    10. USA    11. United Kingdom, Great Britain    12. c 1945 to c 1960   

Reviews (13)

instruction of buying the book
To whom is conserned transport
Hello Sir/Lady This book is a fabrication of the truth
The author of this book has added heaps of wrong information in this book to the point that it becomes clear that he has been undeniably bias. He has got basic information wrong, such as the date that the National Council of Resistance of Iran was formed. This book has gone completely against what the author had promised...to BE FAIR I recommend that people read: DEMOCRACY BETRAYED, ON THE BRINK OF CHANGE, CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY... WOMEN, ISLAM AND EQUALITY. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1941-1979    2. 1979-1997    3. General    4. History    5. History: World    6. Iran    7. Islamic Government    8. Middle East - Iran    9. Politics and government    10. Sazman-i Mujahidin-i Khalq    11. Sociology    12. Såazmåan-i Mujåahidåin-i Khalq (Iran)    13. Political Science / General    14. Social Science-General    15. Social Sciences   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Great Britain    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. International Relations - General    7. Iran    8. Relations    9. Asian / Middle Eastern history: from c 1900 -    10. Imperialism    11. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. 20th century    3. General    4. Health Care Delivery    5. History    6. History: World    7. Iran    8. Medical / Nursing    9. Medicine    10. Public health    11. World - General    12. History of medicine   

Reviews (6)

Interesting, a lot of objective information, lack of analysis
This is an interesting book to read for those who are not avare that there is a big part of Azerbaijan located in Iran and that this part of the country has its own unique adn rich culture. Unfortunately, not very well preserved due to the iranian politics that is geard towards discrimination and ingnorance of the ethnicity. It is very sad to realize that the official government sources do not even report to international agencies like CIS UNDP and others the EXISTENCE of such an enthnicity in the country, referring to them as "turks". Therefore, I am glad to see thourough explanations in this book.
Highly recommended
I have been amazed by those tree comments above. As a proud Iranian-Azeri I found this book very enlightening about a history that because of some political reasons is steal under shadow. I think that Mr. Atabaki intension in his book is to mention some historical fact rather then an attempt for separation of Azerbaijan from its mother-land, Iran. My personal impression from whole book was that, at the same time that Mr. Atabaki tried to write an academically type book but some times in the book he was hunted by his feelings about Iran specially when he talks about "na�ve Nakhjavanin request for union with Iran from Russia.

Interesting Perspective
This book describes a very interesting part of Azerbaijan.Under the Shah, there were a lot of ethnic struggles, and the Turks were considered a minority.They spoke a different language, practiced a different branch of Islam, and had different customs.The Turkish influence is strong in this part of the country.Even many food dishes are different.Read more

Subjects:  1. Azerbaijan (Iran)    2. General    3. History    4. History: World    5. Middle East - General    6. Middle East - Iran    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    9. Ethnography    10. Iran    11. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000   

Reviews (2)

The Constitution of Iran
Close observers of the Iran have long puzzled over the paradox of the anti-Western Khomeini founding a republic based on a constitution that represents the nation via the decisions of a parliament which is chosen through popular elections-for these are all Western concepts.In a exquisitely detailed and revealing study of Iranian politics, Schirazi (a researcher at the University of Berlin) makes this paradox the center of his research and provides an important new understanding of the ideas that have dominated Iran for nearly two decades. Important, but needs an editor
I admit it: I ordered this book on the basis of its title. I was researching the Republic of Iran for a comparative government class, and the university library is woefully short on books about non-Western civilizations.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1979-1997    2. Constitutional history    3. Constitutional law    4. Contemporary Politics - Middle East    5. Government - Comparative    6. Iran    7. Islam and state    8. Islamic Government    9. Middle East - Iran    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics and government    12. Politics/International Relations   

Reviews (5)

A luminary of the philosophical tradition
This book is a vital resource for anyone wishing to understand Seyyed Hossein Nasr's philosophy. The biography provides a rare insight into this leading philosopher. His breadth and depth of knowledge on subjects ranging from Physics to Theology as well as philosophy - Western and Islamic, is staggering. Though he would abhor the term - from a Western point of view - he is a Renaissance Man.
Nasr's Critique of Modernity not a Call for Violence
Nasr is a premier philosopher of science and arguably the West's leading Islamicist. A good summary of his philosophy
Book is about his philosophy in the form of critics written by other scholars in this field or against it. It starts with short biography of Dr.Nasr, mostly his activities written by him. It sounds a liitel strange when he praises himself but what is the difference if it is the truth. Main part of the book is various themas of his Perennial Philosophy. Each scholar has taken some aspects of his writings or known beliefs and either commented on it, supported it or tried to negate it. After each such writing, Dr. Nast has responded and gave his defence or clarifications on the issues that might have been mis represented or mis understood. This book is a quick and short way into his philosophy for lazy minds. Rather than reading his book "Knowledge and Sacred", you can read this book and get the whole idea. In his theory of Transendental Unity of Religions it sounds like he is building on the ayat that says similar to each man is born with a concept of God. Theory seems to be long strech and depends on definition of Religion. Besides the philosophy itself this book is worth to read for someone interested in unity of religions and view of contemporary Islamic scholar on philosphy of religion. One thing is important that you need to read this book with symbolism and mystisism in mind and in the context of the subject than you understand what he is saying, otherwise you could get crooked interpretations. One of the writers in the book had a wrong understanding about his statement about modern world and Mr. Nasr has given a good answer to it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Eastern - General    2. History & Surveys - Modern    3. Nasr, Seyyed Hossein    4. Philosophy    5. Philosophy Of Science    6. Philosophy Of The 20th Century    7. Philosophy, Islamic    8. Biography: general    9. Comparative religion    10. Iran    11. Islamic & Arabic philosophy    12. Oriental & Indian philosophy    13. Philosophy of religion   

Subjects:  1. Amir Khusraw Dihlavi,    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Asian    5. Calligraphy    6. Criticism - Middle Eastern    7. Illumination of books and manu    8. Illumination of books and manuscripts, Iranian    9. Illumination of books and manuscripts, Islamic    10. Illustrations    11. Iran    12. Khamsah    13. Middle Eastern    14. Painting - General    15. Techniques - Calligraphy    16. Techniques - Painting    17. ca. 1253-1325    18. Amir Khusraw Dihlavi    19. Art / Criticism    20. Decorative arts & crafts    21. History of art: c 500 CE to c 1400    22. Illustration    23. Painting & paintings    24. Persian (Farsi)    25. Persian Empire    26. c 1000 CE to c 1500    27. Architecture    28. Design   

Reviews (8)

From Palace to Prison: Inside the Iranian Revolution
Naraghi, a leading Iranian intellectual, has written an important and absorbing account of his experiences between September 1978 and September 1983. In part one, he recounts in great detail his eight conversations with Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi during the last, agonizing months of the shah�s 37-year reign. Both sides of the conversation held considerable interest�we see the shah�s desperate turn of mind and Naraghi�s intelligent insights into the monarch�s problems (for example, he traces the shah�s troubles to 1962, when his abrasive, anti-Islamic remarks forced the religious leaders to respond by becoming revolutionaries). Inside the Iranian Revolution
Naraghi, a leading Iranian intellectual, has written an important and absorbing account of his experiences between September 1978 and September 1983. In part one, he recounts in great detail his eight conversations with Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi during the last, agonizing months of the shah's 37-year reign. Both sides of the conversation held considerable interest-we see the shah's desperate turn of min d and Naraghi's intelligent insights into the monarch's problems (for example, he traces the shah's troubles to 1962, when his abrasive, anti-Islamic remarks forced the religious leaders to respond by becoming revolutionaries).In part two, Naraghi recounts his three years in prison. Arrested twice because of his conversations with the shah and another time because he had been an academic mentor of Abul-Hassan Bani-Sadr, the ousted ex-president of Iran (as one of Naraghi's friends correctly observed to him, "You're always on the side of the losers."). Naraghi offers a surprisingly benign view of the prison authorities. He portrays his time served as a unique opportunity to meet varied Iranians and even distinguished ones. Indeed, on his third arrest, the author admits that "in all honesty the idea of making new and interesting acquaintances was not altogether displeasing to me." From palace to prison
I read the book with pleasure. The author is a great writer and highly educated man .The book is informative and well written.So ,I suggest it to all book lovers . ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    2. Biography: general    3. Iran    4. Political oppression & persecution   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (4)

Saddam; just part of the brutal history of Iraq
Ala Bashir presents a quite fascinating and thought provoking diary of critical events in the history of Iraq dating from the first world war until 2003 culminating in the rise and fall of Saddam Hussein. As surgeon, artist and scholar Bashir had access to many members of the ruling elite and presents insights in to their feuds, foibles, atrocities and corruption. Here are unique insights in to the personality of Saddam and his family with Saddam presented as a complex personality ruling through a tribal Tikriti clan, initially dominating the nation but ultimately losing control of his appointees. Bashir writes as a neutral observer whose main concern was for his patients, with clear regret for loss of life, however caused. As Plastic Surgeon his department treated 22,000 injured from the disastrous Iraq Iran War and later observed the deprivations of the civilian population from the sanctions and collapse of infrastructure after the First Gulf War.
Truthful, Educational and Extraordinary
This could be the first book written, which describes in great informative detail, events in the modern history of Iraq.It is written from a unbiased witness who is simply displaying with an honest and unobjective view, the misuse of power and obvious consequences of hate and revenge. It will become the book which all turn to as an acurate recording of historic facts.

REVIEW OF ALA BASHIR'S THE INSIDER BY JOHN CHUCKMAN
This is an interesting book. Doctor Ala Bashir was as much an insider as it possible to be without being treated as a criminal by Bush's invasion forces. He served as a personal physician to Saddam Hussein for about twenty years. He is also an artist whose work Hussein favored.
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Subjects:  1. Contemporary Politics - Middle East    2. General    3. Government - General    4. History    5. History: World    6. International Relations - General    7. Iraq - History    8. Middle East - General    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Presidents & Heads of State    11. ARTISTS_BIOGRAPHY    12. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    13. Biography & Autobiography / Presidents    14. Biography: historical    15. HEADS OF STATE    16. HUSSEIN, SADDAM, 1937-    17. IRAQ_POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT    18. IRAQ_SOCIAL CONDITIONS    19. Iraq    20. PHYSICIANS_BIOGRAPHY   

Subjects:  1. History: American   

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Iraq - History    4. Iraq War, 2003    5. Middle East - General    6. Military - General    7. Military - Iraq War    8. Military History (General)    9. Pictorial works    10. Politics/International Relations    11. 21st century    12. History / General    13. Iraq    14. War & defence operations   

Reviews (2)

Great Photographs - Pity About the Text
This guide to Iraq has some wonderful photographs, but the text is larded with anachronistic assertions and factual errors. For example, on page 11, Munier gives the dates for the Sumerian civilization as between 3500 to 2350 BCE, and then a few lines later says that the Sumerians had "agricultural knowledge that produced an improved, iron plow". That's pretty amazing, since the Iron Age and the smelting of iron in the region didn't begin for another 1100 years! It's the equivalent of saying that the MP3 player was introduced in the Middle Ages. Other absurdities abound, especially when Munier begins covering the more recent history of the country and his admiration for the former regime begins to show. If you want good photographs, it might be worth the money, but ignore the text: let's hope better guidebooks to Iraq are soon produced!
Disappointing
Did you know that every bad thing that's ever happened to Iraq in its 8,000-year history is the fault of the United States? You would think that if you read this book. It seems as if every other page has to find something to make an anti-American comment, especially concerning the damage and destruction to historical sites and artifacts. The author even blames the United States for the looting of a Basrah Museum during the Gulf War One in 1991... which, as I recall, was never occupied by the Coalition during that conflict.
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Subjects:  1. Guidebooks    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Iraq    6. Iraq - History    7. Middle East - General   

Reviews (10)

Juan Cole is in bed with Ibrahim Cooper
Apologize for islamic barbarism pays well these days, Juan? Juan Cole's credentials are consistently undermined but his uncanny ability to apologize and/or ignore the savagery perpetrated by the Shia on ALL non-Shia citizens in their midst. This blatant deception reduces the entire work to yet another source of propaganda with that mighty Islamic stamp of approval. Who pays your bills, Juan?

If you want facts on something, go to the primary source...
If you're looking for information on something, research a little about the author first. Sorely Needed Baha'i Text
While there exists a plethora of apologetic material on this young religion (for the most part provided by Baha'i officialdom which maintains a vigilant eye on any and all material written by its adherents), there is precious little available that addresses the Baha'i faith from an academically sound historical approach.Modernity and the Millenium is one of the few texts to bridge the gap, written by a follower of the Baha'i prophet Baha'u'llah who is also an academically respected and published historian.Modernity and the Millenium provides fresh insights about the contextual universe of both Baha'u'llah and his religion.Highly recommended reading for professional historians and researchers, as well as the interested layperson. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. Baha' i    3. Bahai Faith    4. General    5. History    6. History - General History    7. Middle East    8. Middle East - Iran    9. Religion    10. Asian / Middle Eastern history: c 1500 to c 1900    11. Baha'i    12. Cultural studies    13. Ethnic studies    14. History / Middle East    15. c 1800 to c 1900