Iran: A Very Short Introduction

Very Short Introductions #408

by Ali M. Ansari

Iran has rarely been out of the headlines. Yet media interest and extensive coverage has tended to hinder rather than help our understanding of Iran as an idea, an identity, and a people, leading to a superficial understanding of what is a complex and nuanced political culture and civilization. This Very Short Introduction presents a radical reinterpretation of Iranian history and politics, placing the Islamic Revolution in the context of a century of political change and social transformation. By considering the various factors that have contributed towards the construction of the idea of Iran and the complex identity of Iranians themselves, Ali Ansari steers a clear path towards a more realistic understanding for us all.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Genres: History, Iran, Nonfiction, Middle East, Politics, Islam, World History

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 2014

About the author

Ali Massoud Ansari is professor of Modern History at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. He is the founder of the Institute of Iranian Studies.

Reviews

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't get into this book. I wanted to get a good overview of Iran, which may have been there, but the way it was written was so hard for me to get into that I had to give up.

[Pallas10 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only recommended if you want to learn more of the pre-modern history of Iran. This book actually goes in a fair amount of detail regarding the bronze age and Iron age and follows up with present Iran's links with Islam. Modern history, which was my primary interest, is only dealt with briefly.
25% through I just skipped all previous mentioned chapters and went for the modern one immediatly which was, unsuprisingly, disappointing.
A better name for this book would be 'Persia: A Very Short Introduction': 85% was about Persia, 15% Iran.
Did not like it.

[Arash · Rating 5 out of 5]

کتابی خواندنی است. با آن که درباره تاریخ گذشته و معاصر ایران بسیار خوانده ام ، این کتاب معرفی خلاصه برایم آموختنی های بسیاری داشت. فصل ارتباط تاریخ افسانه ای ایران (پیشدادی و کیانی) و تاریخ واقعی و تاثیر آنها بر درک امروز مردم از کشور را خیلی پسندیدم. نسل ما (دهه ی پنجاه) شاید اولین یا دومین نسلی بود که با تاریخ واقعی کشور در آموزش عمومی مواجه شده بود و حکایت پیشدادیان و کیانیان را به عنوان تاریخ نیاموخته بود. تئوریهای جالب دیگری هم دارد. اینکه شاید الفبای عربی زبان فارسی را آسان تر کرده و نه سخت تر: و اینکه فارسی جدید (پس از فارسی میانه) در واقع نتیجه مثبتی پس از حمله اعراب بوده است. یا تعامل ایران و اروپا در ابتدای دوره ی صفویه را تعاملی دست بالا دانسته که در یکصد سال بعد (تا پایان صفویه) به تدریج وارونه شده است. و زبان فارسی نیز در آن دوران بیش از دوران پس از حمله ی اعراب آسیب دیده. تئوریهای مشهور دیگری را هم خیلی بهتر و جذاب توضیح داده است. این بسیاری دانشمندان "عرب" در واقع ایرانی بودند. و حتی دستور زبان اولیه ی عربی فصیح توسط ادیبان ایرانی تدوین شد. بحث انحطاط تدریجی پس از صفویان ، تاثیرهای شگرف و منفی حملات مغول و تیموری بر کشور و نظیر آن. فصلهای تاریخ معاصر هم خواندنی هستند و به نظرم عمق و تحلیل جدی ندارند و بیشتر دیدگاه نویسنده را بیان می کنند. در مجموع کتابی خیلی مفید تر از "ما چگونه ما شدیم" در نگاه تاریخی به شرایط کنونی است و از منفی نگریهای افراطی و به نظرم اسیب رسان کتابهایی نظیر "جامعه شناسی نخبه کشی" بدور مانده است.

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

Iran: A Very Short Introduction (2014) by Ali Ansari is a short introduction to the whole history of Iran. Ansari is a professor in Modern History at St Andrews University and he is also the founding director of the Institute for Iranian Studies.

The book is great of the history of Iran up until about the seventeenth century and then the book takes an odd turn with Ansari inserting more references to how Iran see its history now. It reads oddly from there on and the modern history of Iran feels very rushed It seems that the book may have been substantially cut down from what the author intended and what remains feels almost like a collage.

Short Introductions are often superb short books by mainly British academics. They are like an extended edition of In Our Time at their best. However, this one really doesn't work. It has made me want to read more about Iran, but also that the book was better edited.

[Prophet James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really hard to get through despite how interesting it could’ve been. Can’t tell if it was information overload or the fact that 90% of the book covers Ancient Persia and then hardly touches upon the Islamic Republic/revolution, and when it does it feels like an afterthought. Maybe my fault for not knowing enough about the ‘introduction’ series or what the book was trying to teach me.

[Blue Morse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ansi writes that “to begin understanding Iran is to appreciate its history, both real and mythological ... Iranians will seek refuge from the present in the comfort of an imagined past.”

In light of current tensions with Iran and our failure as the West to look any deeper than 1979, this is an excellent read.

[Jesse Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't bad ... a bit hard to read and focused too much on ancient history and myth. Still, interesting to read about the Babi uprising from a different point of view.

[Derek Henderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horribly written and diffuse. Will look elsewhere for a useful introduction to Iran.

[Nathan]

'Iran: A Very Short Introduction' is a very long introduction that summarizes the history of Iran in 196 pages using super fancy terms and hard-to-remember names. There is no doubt that this book is both professional and well-written but my tiny ape brain cannot even begin to comprehend the marvelous masterpiece that composes this fascinating monument of modern literature. Each impeccable paragraph betrays the countless hours the author sacrificed for the glorious formation of this graceful book. The flow between well-chosen subjects is beyond reproach, maintaining the delicate balance of each item, all resonating with each other, complementing their strengths and filling their weaknesses, eventually leading to the ultimate prodigious finished product. Each word is like a spoonful of a 9-course 3-Michelin star meal, bursting with flavor and passion, yet further expanded when united with the divine strength leaking from other words. The society formed by the passages of this unbelievable work of art has reached an exellence that no human would ever dream of until the deadline of temporal continuity. I deeply suspect this book did not come from the flesh, but originated from superior planes of existence, it is an undeniable piece of evidence that the mythological plane 'Heaven' exists, and was merciful enough to display to us a higher standard of literature, so that we may look up to the heavens, and praise god for thy exellence. Though this booketh saddens me at the same timeth, t reminds us of a sky we can nev'r toucheth, a mountain we shall nev'r climb, yond the ceiling madeth from our human inadequacy cannot beest breach'd. T may as well beest int'rpret'd as a punishment f'r the 'riginal sineth our fath'r Adam committ'd. F'r us to wallow deep inside our owneth despair and caterwauling out: "when shalt salvation bringeth us one grise clos'r to this tome of knowledge at the highest calibre, at which hour shalt we discard our m'rtal bodies and achieveth coequal the slight resemblance to this objecteth of divinity, 'r at when the final hour cometh, wouldst we beest thrown down the pits of hell, with our greatest regreteth being unable to realizeth and accepteth the enshielf meanings of this empyreal assemblage of divine comprehensions?"

Other than that, this book was pretty good.

[Avesta · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite a disappointing read. I felt like Ansari has butchered the beauty of our country's culture and history throughout the book. However, he is consistently neutral throughout the book, and this might be because he lacks a thorough understanding of Iran's history, particularly in the 20th century.

His supposed neutrality makes him come across as quite a misinformed writer - he fails to acknowledge the brutal regime that currently exists in Iran, and you can see quite major gaps within his timeline at the end of the book. Other gaps are the formation of the Islamic Republic, the massacres, the transformation of Iran from a relatively progressive society to an extremely backwards society.

Disappointed in the author - if you want to write a book about Iran and provide a decent introduction to those interested in learning more about Iran, you should have a less dry, passionless writing style.

He does offer some interesting information, but I feel that even people with the most basic understanding of Iran can point out the gaps and flaws.

Perhaps he should change the name of this book to 'Iranian Mythology' because he only really did quite well with that chapter, but didn't do so well at any other part...

[Marya S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does not offer a straightforward and basic history of Iran. It offers something much more interesting. Ali M. Ansari deftly weaves mythology, religion, and nation-building to offer a compelling narrative for the creation of Iranian identity through centuries of conquest, empires, and intellectualism. As well as this, it simultaneously charts the spread of Islam through the Persian language to signify the shift from Islam being seeing as just an 'Arab' religion. I am rating this 4 stars out of 5 solely because I wouldn't recommend this as an accessible read. However, it definitely surpassed my expectations and was thoroughly enjoyable and sublimely written. It will definitely be reread in order to recapture all the details mentioned in this tiny book.

[Anna Janes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to Iran as a a developing concept. It may be a bit abstract for those looking for a more traditional chronological history, or those focused more exclusively on modern history. What it does do, is chart Iran, as a political, and/or cultural entity through history. Identifying the dynamics and the inherent duality that has ensured its survival over millennia. It may not be perfect, but the reasoning is clear, the reader is neither assumed to be completely ignorant nor is a PhD required for understanding. The author doesn't try to oversimplify or paint Iran, or any of its rivals in black or white.

[Collin Cheng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Iran: A Very Short Introduction is one of many other very short introductions. As the title implies it gives a brief overview of Iran. It goes over Iran's history. Compared to other books it does indeed live up to its name of "A Very Short Introduction", but as a small bird brain such as myself, I found myself bored with reading the text. I can appreciate the time the author took to shorten Iran's history in an easy-to-understand format but despite that, I am not a fan. That does not mean it's a bad book, far from it in fact. This book is well written and contains so much information it's just not the type of book I would read.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy some of the Very Short Introduction series. This one has left my unsure how to rate. The writing is very formal and beautiful. I love when authors use big words. This book is also very philosophical and romantic, I guess I'd say. That's a bit different for a history book. It protrays a very idealized view of past history. There are brief mentions of numerous historic dynasties. Probably should be 3.5 stars. I felt like the book left me with more awareness of what I didn't know, but didn't educate me much on those things. If I read more by this author, beware of the flowery writing style.

[Ben Duffield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting overview of Iranian identity. Other reviewers have commented that this book seems to focus more on Persian mythos and history and less on the modern nation of Iran; I'm not as bothered by that as others seem to be, although I do see it as a fair critique. I think a more fitting title for this would be Iranian Identity: A Very Short Introduction. I think others wanted this book to be a description of the modern nation-state of Iran, and this was more of a history of the nation (sometimes called Iran) in all its permutations. Still, I found it interesting and a helpful introduction. On to some of his recommendations for further reading.

[Ocean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of great information, but it's very tough to read. I found myself getting lost in the terminology at times when the author seems to neglect the fact that this is an introduction and not a book for those already familiar with the topic. That aside, it's a great overview that gives great insight to the complicated history of Iran and the kind of competition of thought that is relevant to its history. I particularly loved the exploration of Iranian identity and its evolving foundations through the centuries.

[Atoosa Ryanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this VSI. I had so many questions about my ethnicity and was filled with so many thoughts of doubt due to nobody ever really admitting the illogical hypocrisies of Iranian history and culture. If this book taught me anything, it's that having a lifelong identity crisis is just in my genes. I also highly appreciated that the author specifically called out Iranian vs. Persian in the first paragraph.

[Dlee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Iran: A Very Short Introduction WAS NOT a very short introduction for us 9th graders who possess bird brains. Admittedly, however, it gave a very detailed 'short' introduction of Iranian history, and gave a brief analysis on the effects of the actions different historical figures made in Iran. This book was used more like a 'textbook' for our class and it helped me a little bit to wrap around this history of Iran.

[Ahmet Ramazan Akur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found what I expected, brilliantly written, tells so much with that few pages, clear and concise. Gives a general idea about the historic timelines and the dilemmas lies at the core of Iran and Iranian people. Very good introduction.

[Cole Himali · Rating 4 out of 5]

when i first started reading this book i thought it was very focused on appealing to a western audience. as I read more of it though i saw what the author was doing. it had alot of interesting points and he mentions alot of important facts that other books about modern iranian history have left out.

[Emmapettitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Th usual good stuff from this fascinating series.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too narrowly focused at times for what I was anticipating but painted a fascinating picture of Iran nonetheless

[Thia Sheth]

Cool

[May]

I cried reading this

[Danielzhang · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst book of all time guys.

[Frank · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are better ways to get this across.

[Vasco Barroso · Rating 3 out of 5]

A leitura é cansativa, mas a história e a mitologia que explora é de um profundo interesse para compreender as dinâmicas geopolíticas da actualidade.

[Connor Cardinale · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not an introduction. You need to come in with an intermediate knowledge of the region and religions in order to understand anything because nothing is explained.

[B Dog · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Diarmuid Angland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book to whets your appetite to learn more than one to necessarily get an understanding of Iran.

Though I did enjoy the theme of Iranians claiming that they were the source of pretty much everything worthwhile.