The Reign of the Ayatollahs : Iran and the Islamic Revolution

by Shaul Bakhash

Book by Bakhash, Shaul

Genres: Iran, History, Nonfiction, Religion, Middle East

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1961

Reviews

[Nick B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fascinating book. I wanted to learn more about the Islamic Revolution and this was a very good overview of how it happened and the different forces that were at play in the country leading up to it. It was also good in telling how the processes of the Revolution developed into the Islamic Republic that followed it, and didn't treat the end as a fait accompli, showing some of the different paths that were possible and how varied peoples' expectations were. Well-written and clear, was definitely worth tracking down a copy.

[Joe Ballschneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chapter 6 is entirely dunking on Bani-Sadr and it rocks. Power corrupts.

[Evan Buehler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note to self. Still need to read... available on internet archive..

[Sumaiya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book captures the causes and effects of the Iranian Revolution in vast amounts of detail. The shah's desire to address demands of the population resulted in losses and misgivings. With the coming of the Ayatollahs emerged more clashes in culture in society but produced a calmness nonetheless.
Failed economy, cultural disputes, and popular protests characteristic of this period and many other revolutions in history have inspired me to write my paper on the unsolvable problems that have piled up over the decades before, during, and after the revolution. After the revolution a totalitarian Islamic regime developed, supported my some but despised by others. Throughout history, patterns of discontent prevail, leading to wars; disparities only grow bigger; and not everyone can be happy.
The main reason for the Revolution's starting in Iran was the shah's inability to make everyone happy. Even after his rule, Khomeini Ayatollah could not make everyone happy.