The Ayatollah Begs to Differ

Bol Partner

The grandson of an eminent ayatollah and the son of an Iranian diplomat, Hooman Majd is now an American citizen -- 100 percent Iranian and 100 percent American. Combining an insider's knowledge of how Iran works with a remarkable ability to explain its history and its quirks to Western readers, he paints a portrait of a country that is fiercely proud of its Persian heritage, mystified by its outsider status, and scornful of the idea that the U.S. can dictate how it should interact with the community of nations.With wit, and style HOOMAN MAJD reveals the paradoxes of the Iranian character, which have baffled Americans. With unforgettable portraits of Iranians, from government figures to women cab drivers to reform-minded Ayatollahs, Majd brings to life a country that is deeply religious yet highly cosmopolitan, authoritarian yet with democratic and reformist traditions.

Bol

Hooman Majd, acclaimed journalist and New York-residing grandson of an Ayatollah, has a unique perspective on his Iranian homeland. In this vivid, warm and humorous insider's account, he opens our eyes to an Iran that few people see, meeting opium-smoking clerics, women cab drivers and sartorially challenged presidential officials, among others. Revealing a country where both t-shirt wearing teenagers and religious martyrs express pride in their Persian origins, that is deeply religious yet highly cosmopolitan, authoritarian yet reformist, this is the one book you should read to understand Iran and Iranians today.

Amazon

Pages: 320, Edition: Illustrated, Paperback, Anchor