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Iran

A Modern History

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Iran

By: Abbas Amanat
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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About this listen

This history of modern Iran is not a survey in the conventional sense but an ambitious exploration of the story of a nation. It offers a revealing look at how events, people, and institutions are shaped by currents that sometimes reach back hundreds of years. The book covers the complex history of the diverse societies and economies of Iran against the background of dynastic changes, revolutions, civil wars, foreign occupation, and the rise of the Islamic Republic.

Abbas Amanat combines chronological and thematic approaches, exploring events with lasting implications for modern Iran and the world. Drawing on diverse historical scholarship and emphasizing the 20th century, he addresses debates about Iran's culture and politics.

Political history is the driving narrative force, given impetus by Amanat's decades of research and study. He layers the book with discussions of literature, music, and the arts; ideology and religion; economy and society; and cultural identity and heritage.

©2017 Yale University (P)2018 Tantor Asia Middle East Modern World Iran War Socialism Soviet Union Middle Ages Africa Ancient History Imperialism Self-Determination Military Ottoman Empire Capitalism Civil War Armed Force Russia Taxation Modern Iran

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All stars
Most relevant
With nearly 50 hours of content, I was ready to deep dive into understanding how Iran became the way it is today after Persia was at the birth of civilisation. This book goes deep into the histories and explains the trials and tribulations of the now failed state. Really immense research and explains a lot of the reasons for the way it self ostracised. But it needs a volume 2 to get deeper into the post Islamic Revolution leadership and failures that gets us to the current situation.

Fascinating and detailed

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Very good overview of the past 500 years of Iranian history. I bought this as I wanted to understand how the Islamic Republic came to be, and I ended up with a far greater understanding of Iranian history and culture than I had anticipated.

After reaching the chapters set in the 1980s and 90s, and the atrocities committed by the IR, it has given me a greater appreciation of the courage of contemporary Iranians trying to survive the regime.

Now I'll move on to pre-Islamic Iranian history, to cheer myself up a bit!

Very informative and insightful overview of Iran

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One of the most comprehensive books, entailing all detailed aspects of foreign, social, local and religious influences on iranian politics. The book is very engaging, bringing different aspects and layers of each era of Iran’s history into life. The only problem I had was with certain parts if the narrator. As much as I fully enjoyed Derek Perkin’s narration, there are certain names that he fully mispronounces on some occasions and pronounces fully correct on others. The inconsistencies are annoying. Also some names are lazily mispronounced (not too difficult to double check). Other than that, 5 stars!

One of the most comprehensive, detailed, unbiased and informative books on all aspects of modern history of Iran

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chapter 14. 39:03 there is a sound cut with some words missing.
Interesting to know the history of Iran

insightful Iran

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This is a thorough, comprehensive serious and scholarly work, discussing the evolution of Iranian socio-economic history from the Safavid period to the present day.
I found the 19th and 20th century accounts most interesting. Although there is a leitmotiv of the various dynasties seeking legitimacy by harping back to the Safavid period, I would have been equally happy had the book started with the Qajar dynasty.
The book is particularly well read and although there are some slight mispronunciations, it's as good a reading as any non-Persian speaker could have rendered.

An excellent scholarly work

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