All the Shah's Men

An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror

By: Stephen Kinzer

Narrated by: Michael Prichard, Jonathan Yen

Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

Half a century ago, the United States overthrew the democratically elected prime minister of Iran, Mohammad Mossadegh, whose "crime" was nationalizing the country's oil industry.

In a cloak-and-dagger story of spies, saboteurs, and secret agents, Kinzer reveals the involvement of Eisenhower, Churchill, Kermit Roosevelt, and the CIA in Operation Ajax, which restored Mohammad Reza Shah to power. Reza imposed a tyranny that ultimately sparked the Islamic Revolution of 1979 which, in turn, inspired fundamentalists throughout the Muslim world, including the Taliban and terrorists who thrived under its protection.

"It is not far-fetched", Kinzer asserts, "to draw a line from Operation Ajax through the Shah's repressive regime and the Islamic Revolution to the fireballs that engulfed the World Trade Center in New York."

©2003 Stephen Kinzer (P)2003 Tantor Media, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Breezy storytelling and diligent research.... This stands as a textbook lesson in how not to conduct foreign policy." (Publishers Weekly)

"With a keen journalistic eye, and with a novelist's pen....a very gripping read." (The New York Times)

"Kinzer's brilliant reconstruction of the Iranian coup is made even more fascinating by the fact that it is true. It is as gripping as a thriller, and also tells much about why the United States is involved today in places like Afgahanistan and Iraq." (Gore Vidal)

A must read

This book puts the present Iranian situation in historical perspective. I learned a lot about the plight of the Iranian people and their struggles in the 1920's to 1950's. It has more to do with the Father of Iranian democracy than the Shah of Iran. The book flows like an action novel.
Enjoy!

Everyone should read this

Most memorable moment:

Mosaddegh: Are you Roman Catholic?
British Rep: No
Mosaddegh: Then you are not qualified for this job. Roman Catholics don't believe in divorce and we are in the process of divorcing the Anglo Persian Oil Company

Amazing

Every American should read this

This well-researched, well-written tells how the British convinced the American government to overthrow Iran's democratically elected government in 1953 to reclaim access to Iranian oil.

Brings current Iranian/Islamic attitudes about the US into focus

Great history of how the British and CIA led to the 1979 Revolution and ongoing friction with the US/Iran into clear focus. It somewhat downplays Ike's fears that if we didn't solidify the Shah's power the Soviets may invade Iran, which may have had cataclysmic consequences. This book is 95%about the deposing of Mosaddegh and 5% about the Shaw's atrocities. I thought, going in, it would be 50/50. Still, a great historical record of Mosaddegh's downfall.

All the Shah’s Men

Excellent book. The narrator sounded like an old newsreel caster.

I learned so much from this book. Very well worth the time

well written and narrated.

This very informative book filled in much of the background I think all Americans should know. it also cleared up a number of my assumptions with facts. now I plan to listen to more of mr. kinzers work. I was impressed with his enthusiasm on democracy now!

Excellent

I went to Iran and visited Mossadegh’s home. Kinzer’s story telling is excellent and accurate. The narrator is also outstanding. Listen to it to understand why the world detests the United States and England.

Not just democracy, but whose democracy

A very informative account of the history of Iran in the 20th century, focusing primarily on the jockeying for political position of the Pahlavi family of Shahs, and Mohammed Mosaddegh, the reformist and nationalist Prime Minister of Iran in the early 50s. And into the mix the intrigue brought by master imperialist British and the upstart American imperialists. It's a fascinating story, which is lamentably replayed in nations all over the world. Primarily, a nationalist movement towards democracy, at least notionally rooted in the American ideal, but abandoned by its mentors by being a bit too independent for their tastes. It's only democracy if it's American democracy (a trick learned from the British). All in a hysterical panic to attempt to keep these countries out of a communist sphere of influence. We've seen it in the Middle East, Latin America, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, with disastrous consequences. In this case, a direct line drawn to the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, crowning the US as the great Satan, ostensibly dethroning the British. You're welcome. In it's way it's another frustrating story, displaying the lack of will and integrity of the supposedly great democracies to stand up for true freedom and self-determination. No, no, we can't have that, not with so much money to be made.

Hard to please

Being fairly conservative, I expected a liberal slant from a New York Times reporter. I felt the book was well researched and very well written. I'll never remember all of the Middle Eastern names mentioned in the book but I received an education that helps me understand current events in a more enlightened frame of mind.

I understand a bit better now

This is a fascinating book. The background of US/Iranian relations becomes a lot clearer when you have read this well written and well presented history that includes how we look to the Iranians. All of a sudden, their behavior no longer seems so inexplicable.