NEW Iran Action Group Bibliography

From Episcopal Peace Fellowship (www.epfnational.org)

Connect
NEW Iran Action Group Bibliography
By
Nov 22, 2006, 12:54

Selective Bibliography on Iran and Islam:

Iranian History:

The Persians, by Gene R. Garthwaite. Malden MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2005.

The author is a professor of Asian studies, specializing in the history of Iran and in particular the Bakhtiari tribe. This book gives a comprehensive survey of the history and peoples of Iran from ancient times to around 2000.

Iran Between Two Revolutions, by Ervand Abrahamian. Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press, 1982.

This book gives very comprehensive coverage of political and social developments in Iran between the Constitutional Revolution of 1906 and the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Very little coverage is included on the overthrow of the Iranian Prime Minister Mossadeq in 1953, and a great deal of attention is given to the development of political parties in Iran.

All the Shah’s Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror, by Stephen Kinzer. Hoboken NJ: John Wiles & Sons, Inc., 2003.

A really good read, and inside coverage of the overthrow of Mossadeq by CIA agents.

The Hard Awakening, by H. B. Dehqani-Tafti. London UK: Triangle SPCK, 1981.

The story of the Anglican bishop in Iran and his family at the time of the Islamic Revolution.

The Nuclear Crisis and U.S.-Iranian Relations:

Confronting Iran: The Failure of American Foreign Policy and the Next Great Crisis in the Middle East, by Ali M. Ansari. New York NY: Basic Books, 2006.

This book provides details and insight into the background history of Iranian and the U.S. relations from 1953 through the present nuclear crisis.

Iran’s Nuclear Program: Debating Facts Versus Fiction, by Kaveh L. Afrasiabi. BookSurge, LLC, 2006.

A collection of articles by the author concerning the nuclear crisis, written between 2003-2006, which present strong arguments for Iran’s position with regard to the development of nuclear technology.

Resurrecting Empire: Western Footprints and America’s Perilous Path in the Middle East, by Rashid Khalidi. Boston MA: Beacon Press, 2004.

Most of this book focuses on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on the American occupation of Iraq, but issues related to foreign intervention in Iran are covered as well. The author deplores the lack of knowledge of the Middle East by current U.S. policymakers and he makes a strong argument for a complete revision of U.S. policies in the Middle East.

Books about Iranian Life and Society:

Persian Pilgrimages: Journeys Across Iran. New York NY: W. W. Norton, 2002.

Reading Lolita in Teheran, by Azar Nafisi. Random House, 2003.

Daughter of Persia, by Satterah Farman-Farmian. Crown, 1992.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood, by Marjane Satrapi. New York NY: Pantheon, 2003.

Persian Mirrors: The Elusive Face of Iran, by Elaine Sciolino. New York NY: The Free Press, 2000.

Neither East Nor West: One Woman’s Journey Through the Islamic Republic of Iran, by Christiane Bird. New York NY: Washington Square Press, 2001.

Islam:

Understanding Islam and the Muslims, by T. J. Winter and John A. Williams. Louisville KY: Fons Vitae, 2002.

This is a short and beautifully illustrated book on the basics of Islam. Topics include the origins and basic beliefs of Islam, family law and practices, and Muslim beliefs and practices with regard to peace and war. Illustrated with photographs of Muslims from all parts of the world and Islamic art.

Ideals and Realities of Islam, by Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Chicago IL: ABC International Group, 2000.

This book was first published in 1966, and has been republished in a revised edition. It is a basic introduction to Islam, including discussion of the Qur’an, the Prophet Mohammad, Islamic Law, and a clear presentation of the different branches of Islam: Sufism, Shi’ia, and Sunni. The author is an Iranian scholar who is Professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University.

The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future, by Vali Nasr. New York NY: W. W. Norton, Co., 2006.

An excellent discussion of Shi’ism in general and with regard to current developments in Iran.

The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists, by Khaled Abou El Fadl. New York: HarperSanFrancisco, 2005.

This book provides a clear analysis of the differences between Islamic extremists, whom the author calls “puritans”, and moderates. The conclusion of the book provides guidelines for both Muslims and non-Muslims in addressing extremists. In particular, El Fadl recommends that non-Muslims become more educated and informed about Islam and support human rights movements throughout the world.

The Vision of Islam, by Sachiko Murata and William Chittick. St. Paul MN: Paragon House, 1994.

This book is a comprehensive text on all aspects of Islamic practice and beliefs.

Updated 12/7/06