Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Earlier this month, as war between Israel and Iran broke out, we published a curated selection of books to read on the conflict, the history of Iran and its context within the broader Middle East region. In the comments, you shared your favourite, most enlightening reads on the Islamic Republic. Here are some of your top picks.
The Persians: Ancient, Mediaeval and Modern Iran
by Homa Katouzian
In this widely acclaimed text, economist, poet and scholar Homa Katouzian offers a uniquely Persian perspective of Iran’s rich history. The book, originally published in 2009, captures the nuances of the region’s many iterations, from the Persian empire to the modern Iranian state, blending social, political and cultural history to explain Iran’s cyclical legacy of absolute power and instability.
Iran: What Everyone Needs to Know
by Michael Axworthy
Axworthy’s accessible and concise introduction to Iran starts with the idea that the nation cannot be defined by its modern-day foreign relations. Exploring Iranian history from ancient times to the 20th century, Iran: What Everyone Needs to Know (2017) lays out the key moments for understanding its current state. Finishing with a portrayal of 21st-century Iran’s culture, economy and politics, Axworthy — former head of the Iran section at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office — assesses the nation’s future and the challenges it faces.
Revolutionary Iran: A History of the Islamic Republic
by Michael Axworthy
An earlier work by Axworthy, this 2013 history recounts the development of the Islamic Republic following its 1979 revolution. Revolutionary Iran offers a timeless and sympathetic analysis of Iranian ideology, exploring how the nation has managed to withstanding sanctions and its eight-year war with Iraq, while offering acritical analysis of its reputation as a troublemaker across the Middle East.
All the Shah’s Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror
by Stephen Kinzer
Former New York Times correspondent Kinzer’s All the Shah’s Men (2003) tells the inside story of the Iranian coup of 1953, which overthrew the democratically elected prime minister Mohammad Mossadegh. The revolt, which was backed by the CIA, accelerated the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and anti-Americanism in the Middle East, and this detailed account serves as both a historical investigation and a warning about the consequences of foreign intervention.
Garden of the Brave in War: Recollections of Iran
by Terence O’Donnell
American author O’Donnell lived in Iran for 15 years in the 1960s and 1970s. During this period, he filed a daily report, observing life and culture in southern Iran. Driven by O’Donnell’s personal experience, Garden of the Brave in War (1980) is a deeply immersive memoir that offers valuable insights into the everyday life of Iranians during those years.
Iran: Dictatorship and Development
by Fred Halliday
In this book, originally published in 1978, Halliday accurately predicts the revolution that went on to oust Shah Reza Pahlavi from power. Halliday explores Iran during the period from the early 1960s to 1978, assessing the economic, social and political conditions, and the alliance that existed between the Shah and the US. He provides key insights into how and why the revolution took place, using Iran as a case study for authoritarian modernisation under imperialism.
The Iran-Iraq War
by Pierre Razoux
Written by a French defence expert, The Iran-Iraq War offers a comprehensive military analysis of the eight-year conflict that devastated the Middle East but was misunderstood in the west. First published in French in 2013 and translated into English two years later, the book draws on archival material to convey the true extent of the war, and the human cost.
Join our online book group on Facebook at FT Books Café and follow FT Weekend on Instagram, Bluesky and X
Read the full article here