book data
129 ratings,
3.53
average rating, 56 reviews
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published
September 23rd 2008
by Doubleday
binding
Hardcover, 252 pages
isbn
0385523343
(isbn13: 9780385523349)
description
Hooman Majd, the son of an Iranian diplomat and the grandson of an ayatollah, grew up in exile, yet he also remained closely attached to his homeland.
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avg 3.53
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in October, 2008
I liked this book, if more for the three major points he made about Iranians than the writing or the form. In fact, the form was a bit annoying. He moved back and forth between his journalistic narrative of his own visits, and history of modern Iran. But to the major points.
First, he talk about an interesting idea, that of "ta'arouf," or hospitality. This is a rough translation, because its more like polite chit-chat that one encounters with every transaction with another...more
First, he talk about an interesting idea, that of "ta'arouf," or hospitality. This is a rough translation, because its more like polite chit-chat that one encounters with every transaction with another...more
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Hooman Majd says that when he travels to Iran his Persian side emerges, but when he comes back home to New York City, his fully Westernized modern man comes back. This perspective is unique and helpful as Majd attempts to explain that when the revolutionaries yelled, "Death to America" that they didn't literally want us in the U.S. all to die.
I had the serendipity of reading this book in tandem with Deer Hunting With Jesus by Joe Bageant, and the comparison between fundamentali...more
I had the serendipity of reading this book in tandem with Deer Hunting With Jesus by Joe Bageant, and the comparison between fundamentali...more
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Read in January, 2009
This is my third book on Iranian culture in the past year or so, and I'm fascinated. Tehran is on my list of places to visit.
Before I rip apart this book, let me first say I recommend it because it is an interesting, thoughtful analysis of the Iranian psyche.
Majd writing style is maddeningly frustrating. I almost threw the book against the wall a half-dozen times during the first 100 pages. The man cannot write a simple sentence. An entire paragraph in this book may have...more
Before I rip apart this book, let me first say I recommend it because it is an interesting, thoughtful analysis of the Iranian psyche.
Majd writing style is maddeningly frustrating. I almost threw the book against the wall a half-dozen times during the first 100 pages. The man cannot write a simple sentence. An entire paragraph in this book may have...more
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Read in April, 2009
So I am on this Iran kick right now and this was written in the past year and I had heard the author being interviewed on NPR and he sounded pretty moderate, pro-Iranian and very educated and so I put a hold on this book at our local library and I guess it was pretty popular, because I had to wait several months for it.
Unlike all the other books that I have read about Iran, this one was not a sweet story about growing up in Iran, spending most of one's years abroad and then returning...more
Unlike all the other books that I have read about Iran, this one was not a sweet story about growing up in Iran, spending most of one's years abroad and then returning...more
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Read in November, 2008
Very interesting approach to Iran's politics, religion and culture. Explains Iran's similarities and differences from the Western culture and Iranian's affinity for Islam. It dispels many notions Americans have associated with the "Axis of Evil" and describes a modern, proud, more democratic country. Majd's experiences as a Iranian-American are narrated in the book in a way that helps us understand the complexity of a great country.
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I thoroughly enjoyed this look into modern Iran, and it jived well with what little I know of the place. While many actors in the west wish to put Iran in a box (Axis of Evil, indeed), there is far more to Iran than the other members of this new Axis. It is a far more stable state than countries that the US counts as allies, that much should be obvious to anyone that can look past a blustery statement or two by the current president. While Majd glorifies former president Khatami to some extent (...more
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Read in January, 2009
Excerpts:
"I thought of Fuad, my Jewish-Iranian friend from Los Angeles who had explained to me his perspective on Ahmadinejad's Holocaust denial with no small measure of admiration for what he saw as the finest example of Persian ta'arouf one-upmanship. Ahmadinejad, Fuad reasoned, had in effect said to the Europeans...that he couldn't believe that Europeans had been or could be such monsters (and this at a time when Iran was being portrayed as monstrous). "You're not monsters,"...more
"I thought of Fuad, my Jewish-Iranian friend from Los Angeles who had explained to me his perspective on Ahmadinejad's Holocaust denial with no small measure of admiration for what he saw as the finest example of Persian ta'arouf one-upmanship. Ahmadinejad, Fuad reasoned, had in effect said to the Europeans...that he couldn't believe that Europeans had been or could be such monsters (and this at a time when Iran was being portrayed as monstrous). "You're not monsters,"...more
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recommends it for:
Those who find the Iranian they know confusing
This is going to be a hard one to review. It has some interesting nuggets that you have to pull from an assortment of stories that don't really make a coherent whole. It also does not carry the political significance or ramifications that some suggested I would take away from it. Indeed, he even gets some of the facts wrong, going with the Iranian myth while elsewhere warning the reader of and eschewing others. Stylistically, there are dependent clauses and internal asides to spare. Neverth...more
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Read in October, 2008
recommends it for:
shah
Reading it now, but so far it seems like a great way to show the world what Iranians are really like. Such diversity, culture, history, and beautiful and fun people can not be defined by the word "terrorist" nor the phrase "axis of evil". Maybe if people care to read this book there won't be a "war" with Iran.
So far, I love it.
So far, I love it.
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Read in December, 2008
Excitedly, Majd wants to tell us about Iranian society and politics. Unfortunately, he is not a concise writer. Each paragraph is a chore.
Nevertheless, I learned quite a bit, in between cursing his prose.
In describing the locals, in sandals or suits, Majd has the air of an affluent couture-wearing Westerner. The details are culturally noteworthy, but the commentary is culturally ignorant.
But, I am neglecting the fact that regardless of the (inapplicable) titl...more
Nevertheless, I learned quite a bit, in between cursing his prose.
In describing the locals, in sandals or suits, Majd has the air of an affluent couture-wearing Westerner. The details are culturally noteworthy, but the commentary is culturally ignorant.
But, I am neglecting the fact that regardless of the (inapplicable) titl...more
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Read in February, 2009
Think about everything you know about Iran, and then forget it all. Majd gives us a unique insight into the life, religion and politics in Iran. An Iranian himself and grandson of a well-known Ayatollah, Majd is given unprecedented access to a country that remains a mystery to most Americans. The Ayatollah Begs to Differ is a journey in two separate worlds: a public world where people don't often speak freely or dress as they wish and the private life, a world behind walls where almost anything...more
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Read in December, 2008
Hooman Majd, born in Tehran but educated in the West has written a book that is simultaneously from an insider perspective as well as from an outsider perspective. His father was an Iranian diplomat, but Hooman Majd is now a US citizen.
He traveled through Iran and across the US with various Iranian political figures and met with the likes of current Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as well as former presidents like Mohammad Khatami. Because of Majd's family's history (his grand...more
He traveled through Iran and across the US with various Iranian political figures and met with the likes of current Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as well as former presidents like Mohammad Khatami. Because of Majd's family's history (his grand...more
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Read in November, 2008
Majd has an interesting story and important things to say about Iran.
Wonderful things actually--insights in the truest sense--and he almost develops a theme about the contradictions inherent in nearly every aspect of the society.
that said.
Doubleday shows its true colors here in its unwillingness to edit this book properly. Nearly every page has one poorly constructed paragraph. I'm talking poor here, like, so poor I'm insulted and wanna leave.
Anyway, itsa shame, Majd see...more
Wonderful things actually--insights in the truest sense--and he almost develops a theme about the contradictions inherent in nearly every aspect of the society.
that said.
Doubleday shows its true colors here in its unwillingness to edit this book properly. Nearly every page has one poorly constructed paragraph. I'm talking poor here, like, so poor I'm insulted and wanna leave.
Anyway, itsa shame, Majd see...more
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Read in March, 2009
An insightful trip into the society of Iran from the viewpoint of an outsider/insider. Mr. Majd's interactions with everyday people, the political caste and the moneyed elite give what I thought was a balanced view of a place that is so remote to Americans. Mostly by design. I began this book with no solid impressions of what Iran and Iranians are. I ended it fascinated and informed. It also sheds light onto the many sects of Islam and the way they have interacted throughout the history of ...more
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Read in March, 2009
The author is an Iranian raised in the United States, thereby allowing him to be in both cultures, languages included. He seems to have an ideal perspective to explain Iranians to us and he does a pretty good job, although I found his style little rambling. To me, the book reads more like a conversation with an informed friend rather that a book with a firm thesis and a tight plan to expound it. I came away from the ramblings enlightened but also a little disheartened that Iranians and Americ...more
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Read in November, 2008
Iranian society and culture is a closed book to many Americans. It's easy to get the false impression that Iran is a monolithic nation of Holocaust deniers and America haters. Alternatively, if you listen to some journalists, you'd come away with the idea that the Iranian people hate their Islamic government and seek to remake their nation in the image of the West. The truth does not so much lie somewhere in between as all across the spectrum. Hooman Majd helps us understand what Iranians va...more
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Read in January, 2009
This book was fascinating and informative, has lots of great information and a different perspective than the usual (somewhat limited and one-dimensional) US view of Iran. The author does an excellent job of explaining unfamiliar cultural concepts such as laat or ta'arouf and gives a good chunk of history through personal experiences. As much as I enjoyed it and found it interesting, it was at times difficult to get through just because the book is not really organized in any way I'm able to dis...more
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I really liked this book. After hearing so much about Iran in the news, particularly about their president and their nuclear program, it was very interesting to read about the country. The author is Iranian but has lived outside of Iran almost his entire life, so he is able to give perspective into the Iranian mindset, culture, and "personality" of the people which greatly affects their self-perception and behavior, even on a global scale. Perhaps, though, as somewhat of an outsider...more
Read in March, 2009
An insider's look at what Iranian society is really like in 2009. Some fascinating details --especially on the cultural differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims and Persian and Arab societies. However, some sections seemed to drag, especially when the author recounts his opium forays or some of the highly detailed biographical info on the Ayatollahs (it was just a bit much for the casual reader like myself, but possibly very interesting to someone who is more seriously studying Iran and Irania...more
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Read in January, 2009
From the point of view of an Iranian living in the US, who goes back to Iran to find out what the life of the ordinary citizen is like. The author is the son of the former ambassador, under the Shah, and is well connected still by his family ties. He is able also to talk to people at the highest level of government, and that is also most interesting.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
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quotes from this book
"It strikes me often while I am in Iran that were Christian evangelicals to take a tour of Iran today, they might find it the model for an ideal society they seek in America. Replace Allah with God, Mohammad with Jesus, keep the same public and private notions of chastity, sin, salvation, and God's will, and a Christian Republic is born."
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