Modern Iran

This history of modern Iran is not a survey in the conventional sense but an ambitious exploration of the story of a nation. It offers a revealing look at how events, people, and institutions are shaped by currents that sometimes reach back hundreds of years. The book covers the complex history of the diverse societies and economies of Iran against the background of dynastic changes, revolutions, civil wars, foreign occupation, and the rise of the Islamic Republic.

Savushun chronicles the life of a Persian family during the Allied occupation of Iran during World War II. It is set in Shiraz, a town which evokes images of Persepolis and pre-Islamic monuments, the great poets, the shrines, Sufis, and nomadic tribes within a historical web of the interests, privilege, and influence of foreign powers; corruption, incompetence, and arrogance of persons in authority; the paternalistic landowner-peasant relationship; tribalism; and the fear of famine.

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 30 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.  

In 2026, Iran stands at the most dangerous crossroads in its modern history. After regional war, the collapse of nuclear diplomacy, and a domestic uprising that shook the Islamic Republic to its core, the regime faces converging pressures unlike any since 1979. Sanctions have tightened. Proxy networks are strained. Water shortages threaten internal stability. And the nuclear program has moved closer than ever to weapons capability. How did Iran reach this moment? Iran 2026: What’s Next is a sweeping and deeply researched examination of Iran’s long arc—from the Persian Empire and the ...

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR A hugely ambitious, “delightfully readable, genuinely informative” portrait (The New York Times) of the two-centuries-long entwined histories of Iran and America—two powers who were once allies and now adversaries—by an admired historian and...

“Realistic and Frightening” • “A Must Read” • “Captivating” Straits of Fire plunges readers into the tense opening act of a new world war. As the next installment in The Eagle & The Dragon Series, this military technothriller captures the razor’s edge of geopolitics where power, deception, and firepower collide. For decades, Pax Americana’s Navy kept the sea lanes open and the global order intact. But Beijing’s ambitions have outgrown its patience. While the world watches Chinese carriers mass in the Taiwan Strait, the real trap is being laid thousands of miles away. ...

MODERN WARFARE: History’s Most Devastating Cyberattacks dives deep into the hidden battleground of the 21st century—where masked hackers, rogue states, and shadowy cyber units wage war on critical infrastructure, government networks, and private enterprises. From the Stuxnet worm that crippled Iran’s nuclear program to the NotPetya blitz that shattered global supply chains, this riveting chronicle unveils the anatomy of each attack and the real-world consequences of digital combat. Explore Pivotal Incidents: In-depth analysis of landmark events—Stuxnet, Sony Pictures breach, ...

A landmark new history of Syria—a country forged in conflict, cursed by civil war and dictatorship, and pivotal to the future of the Middle East “A masterful history of Syria that is both sweeping in scope and brimming with vivid detail...a riveting and insightful book.” —Wendy Pearlman...

'Vivid and monumental . . . Could not be a more essential primer' SUNDAY TIMES, Book of the Week 'Both zips along and bulges with detail . . . A blockbuster narrative' TELEGRAPH 'Gripping, dazzingly written . . . A masterpiece - no other word will do' MATTHEW D'ANCONA, former editor of the...

The definitive history of Iran, from the ancient Persian empires to today. “Michael Axworthy’s deft untangling of the country’s history, from the advent of Zoroastrianism to the 1979 revolution, is a stunning achievement.” -Guardian Iran is a land of contradictions. It is an Islamic...

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY New York Times Christian Science Monitor NPR Seattle Times St. Louis Dispatch National Book Critics Circle Finalist -- American Library Association Notable Book A thrilling and revelatory narrative of one of the most epic and...

New tech is changing the contours of geopolitical stability—America must act now, or risk losing its global standing forever. Technology has always driven political competition. For decades, the US set the international rules on innovation, standards, and export regulations, using soft power...

A moving and harrowing portrait of the lives of Iranians across five decades, tracing the promise of the 1979 Iranian revolution, its betrayal by forces of autocracy, and a people’s undying spirit of resistance "One of the most perceptive books on modern Iran in years." —The New York Times...

En 2026, Irán se encuentra en el momento más delicado de su historia moderna. Tras una guerra regional, el colapso de la diplomacia nuclear y un levantamiento interno que sacudió los cimientos de la República Islámica, el régimen enfrenta presiones simultáneas que no se veían desde 1979. Las sanciones se intensifican. Las redes de influencia regional se debilitan. La crisis del agua amenaza la estabilidad interna. Y el programa nuclear se acerca al umbral armamentístico. ¿Cómo llegó Irán a este punto? Iran 2026: ¿Qué viene? ofrece un análisis amplio y documentado que recorre...

From the prehistoric ages to the modern Islamic Republic, Iran has always maintained its prevalent position in history as one of the most vibrant, distinct, and diverse countries in the world. Located in western Asia, sandwiched between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf, the mountainous regions of the Zagros Mountains have long been home to a civilization whose marvelous development throughout history is like no other.

An extraordinary memoir from an Iranian journalist in exile about leaving her country, challenging tradition and sparking an online movement against compulsory hijab. A photo on Masih's Facebook page: a woman standing proudly, face bare, hair blowing in the wind. Her crime: removing her veil, or...

The moving, riveting and immersive story of six Iranians who, together, lived the entire arc of modern Iranian history: the promise of the 1979 revolution, its betrayal by the Islamic mafia state and a people’s undying spirit of resistance. Fuelled by Iranians’ dreams of social justice and...

A former member of the State Department's Policy Planning Council, Polk describes a country and a history misunderstood by many in the West. While Iranians chafe under the yolk of their current leaders, they also have bitter memories of generations of British, Russian, and American espionage, invasion, and dominance. There are important lessons to be learned from the past, and Polk teases them out of a long and rich history and shows that it is not just now, but for decades to come that an understanding of Iran will be essential to American safety and well-being. 

The war began the moment they crossed the berm into Iraq. In FIRST DAY, FIRST FIREFIGHT, Lieutenant Colonel John J. McBrearty recounts the moment when preparation ended and combat began for an American armor battalion during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Within hours of entering Iraq, the soldiers of California’s Army National Guard encounter their first enemy contact. The firefight that follows marks the battalion’s true entry into war. Through the eyes of Battalion Executive Officer Major Darby Hillcrest, readers experience the weight of command in combat—where every decision can mean ...

The History of Iran: From Ancient Persia to the Modern Era Iran, a land of emperors and poets, conquerors and revolutionaries, has played a defining role in shaping world history for over 3,000 years. From the grandeur of the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great to the intellectual brilliance of the Persian Golden Age, from the invasions of Alexander and the Mongols to the rise of the Islamic Republic, Iran’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and cultural endurance. The History of Iran offers a compelling and in-depth journey through the country’s past, exploring its ...