A History of Iran
Empire of the Mind
Basic Books · Print & ebook · May 24, 2016
The definitive history of Iran, from the ancient Persian empires to today. “Michael Axworthy’s deft untangling of the country’s history, from the advent of Zoroastrianism to the 1979 revolution, is a stunning achievement.” ―Guardian Iran is a land of contradictions.
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- Who it’s for
- A compact, scholarly sweep through Iran’s long historical memory, written for sustained reading.
- Genres
- Iranian History, History of Islam, Middle Eastern Politics
- Published
- Basic Books, May 24, 2016
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For younger readers: No God But God: the Origins and Evolution of Islam, Everything Sad Is Untrue (a True Story), Iran - the Culture
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The definitive history of Iran, from the ancient Persian empires to today. “Michael Axworthy’s deft untangling of the country’s history, from the advent of Zoroastrianism to the 1979 revolution, is a stunning achievement.” ―Guardian 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.
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Iran's religious culture encompasses the most censorious and dogmatic Shi’a Muslim clerics in the world, 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 student population of the nation’s universities. In A History of Iran, acclaimed historian Michael Axworthy chronicles the rich history of this complex nation from the Achaemenid Empire of sixth century BC to the revolution of 1979 to today, including a close look at Iran’s ongoing attempts to become a nuclear power. This comprehensive volume offers general readers an essential guide to understanding this volatile nation, which is once again at the center of the world’s attention. “[A] sweeping, sensitive and evenhanded overview of the ancient nation.” —Kirkus Reviews
A Clear Lens
A compact, scholarly sweep through Iran’s long historical memory, written for sustained reading.
Come here for
- layered cultural context
- serious, conversation-ready history
Expect
- institutional clarity
- prestige without fuss
Where it sits
| Iranian History | 100% |
|---|---|
| History of Islam | 30% |
| Middle Eastern Politics | 25% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Ancient History
- Iranian History
- History of Islam
- Middle Eastern Politics
Show all 5 publisher categories
- Islamic History
- Authors
- Michael Axworthy
- Publisher
- Basic Books
- Published
- May 24, 2016
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Reading lane
- Ancient History