Revolutionary Iran: A History of the Islamic Republic

Written by Michael Axworthy

Narrated by Derek Perkins

The Iranian Revolution of 1979 was a defining moment of the modern era. Its success unleashed a wave of Islamist fervor across the Middle East and signaled a sharp decline in the appeal of Western ideologies in the Islamic world. Michael Axworthy takes listeners through the major periods in Iranian history over the last thirty years: the overthrow of the old regime and the creation of the new one; the Iran-Iraq war; the reconstruction era following the war; the reformist wave led by Mohammed Khatami; and the present day, in which reactionaries have re-established control. Throughout, he emphasizes that the Iranian revolution was centrally important in modern history because it provided the world with a clear model of development that was not rooted in Western ideologies. Whereas the world's major revolutions of the previous two centuries had been fueled by Western, secular ideologies, the Iranian Revolution drew its inspiration from Islam.

Revolutionary Iran is both richly textured and from one of the leading authorities on the region; combining an expansive scope with the most accessible and definitive account of this epoch in all its humanity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Jul 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781494535315

Reviews for Revolutionary Iran

[nielsengw_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In Revolutionary Iran, Michael Axworthy makes a wonderful observation: “Iranian history can be seen as a microcosm of human history as a whole: empires, revolutions, invasions, art, architecture, warriors, conquerors, great thinkers, great writers and poets, holy men and lawgivers, charismatic leaders and the blackest villains.” I whole-heartedly agree with this statement. Iran (and the Middle East) has been a focal point for civilization in all its good and bad forms for the last ten millennia. With the Iranian revolution of 1979, however, we see the nation of Iran enter into a new era, one where the traditions and battles of the past come head-to-head with the beliefs of its people and the pressures of a global society. Axworthy’s modern history of Iran is a thick, educated, and brilliant look into this often-misunderstood country.Axworthy allows his readers their misconceptions, though. His aim is not to belittle the reader but to re-inform. He concentrates on Iran’s pivotal moments during the last 35 years—the Islamic traditions that inform its past, the 1979 Revolution, the ensuing war, Reconstruction under the Ayatollah, the Reform Era under Khatami, and the current administration headed up by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. His history is tight but filled with rich detail about the shifts in the political, religious, and social landscape of the country. If you’re looking for an excellent history of modern Iran, then go no further. Be warned, though, this is not a book you should read straight through. It’s best to read small bits, reflect, look at the today’s Iran, and then go back for more. It may be too soon to tell where the nation of Iran is headed, but at least we can see where it came from. This may be one of those rare books that change the way you look at a country.