There are countless Iran courses, tutorials, articles available online, but for some, having a book is still a necessity to learn. This is an up-to-date list of recommended books.
- Revolutionary Iran: A History of the Islamic Republic (2016)
- A History of Modern Iran (2018)
- Lonely Planet Iran (Travel Guide) (2017)
- A History of Iran: Empire of the Mind (2016)
- The Twilight War: The Secret History of America’s Thirty-Year Conflict with Iran (2013)
- Iran: A Modern History (2019)
- Captive in Iran: A Remarkable True Story of Hope and Triumph amid the Horror of Tehran’s Brutal Evin Prison (2014)
- Understanding Iran (2011)
- Iran: Make Love not War: A Maverick Iranian Way (2019)
- Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2018)
- Persian of Iran Today, Volume 1 (Persian Edition) (2013)
- Iran Reframed: Anxieties of Power in the Islamic Republic (Stanford Studies in Middle Eastern and Islamic Societies and Cultures) (2019)
- Iran Awakening: One Woman’s Journey to Reclaim Her Life and Country (2007)
- Iran: What Everyone Needs to Know® (2017)
Revolutionary Iran: A History of the Islamic Republic (2016)
In Revolutionary Iran, Michael Axworthy guides us through recent Iranian history from shortly before the 1979 Islamic revolution through the summer of 2009, when Iranians poured into the streets of Tehran by the hundreds of thousands, demanding free, democratic government.
A History of Modern Iran (2018)
In a radical reappraisal of Iran’s modern history, Ervand Abrahamian traces the country’s traumatic journey from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day, through the discovery of oil, imperial interventions, the rule of the Pahlavis, and the birth of the Islamic Republic. The first edition was named the Choice Outstanding Academic Title in 2009.
Lonely Planet Iran (Travel Guide) (2017)
is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Hike among the Castles of the Assassins in Alamut Valley, Lose yourself in Esfahan’s historic bazaar, or ski in the Alborz Mountains; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Iran and begin your journey now! our most comprehensive guide to Iran, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled. Looking for more extensive coverage?
A History of Iran: Empire of the Mind (2016)
Iran is a land of contradictions. It is an Islamic republic, but one in which only 1.4 percent of the population attend Friday prayers. Iran’s religious culture encompasses the most censorious and dogmatic Shi’a Muslim clerics in the world, yet its poetry insistently dwells on the joys of life: wine, beauty, sex.
The Twilight War: The Secret History of America’s Thirty-Year Conflict with Iran (2013)
For the past three decades, the United States and Iran have been engaged in an unacknowledged secret war. This conflict has frustrated five American presidents, divided administrations, and repeatedly threatened to bring the two nations to the brink of open warfare.
Iran: A Modern History (2019)
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.
Captive in Iran: A Remarkable True Story of Hope and Triumph amid the Horror of Tehran’s Brutal Evin Prison (2014)
Maryam Rostampour and Marziyeh Amirizadeh knew they were putting their lives on the line.
Understanding Iran (2011)
William R. Polk provides an informative, readable history of a country which is moving quickly toward becoming the dominant power and culture of the Middle East. A former member of the State Department’s Policy Planning Council, Polk describes a country and a history misunderstood by many in the West.
Iran: Make Love not War: A Maverick Iranian Way (2019)
Iran is completely different to the cartoon-like image portrayed in the West, of a land of religious fanatics chanting Death to America. In reality it’s a fabulous ancient civilisation and a country that’s full of intelligent young people. This book, Iran: Make Love not War is an impression of Iran, gleaned from a three-week visit in 2018.
Inside Iran: The Real History and Politics of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2018)
In 1979, the Iranian Revolution brought a full-scale theocracy to the 80 million inhabitants of the Middle East’s second largest country, with. The rule of the ayatollahs opened the door to Islamic fundamentalism. In the decades since, bitter relations have persisted between the U.S. and Iran.
Persian of Iran Today, Volume 1 (Persian Edition) (2013)
Persian of Iran Today: Volume 1 is the first of two introductory Persian language textbooks by Anousha Shahsavari and Blake Atwood. Its innovative multimedia curriculum draws on the latest trends in language pedagogy and interweaves grammar- and vocabulary-building exercises with narrative elements in order to engage and develop students’ abilities in Persian.
Iran Reframed: Anxieties of Power in the Islamic Republic (Stanford Studies in Middle Eastern and Islamic Societies and Cultures) (2019)
More than half of Iran’s citizens were not alive at the time of the 1979 Revolution. Now entering its fifth decade in power, the Iranian regime faces the paradox of any successful revolution: how to transmit the commitments of its political project to the next generation. New media ventures supported by the Islamic Republic attempt to win the hearts and minds of younger Iranians.
Iran Awakening: One Woman’s Journey to Reclaim Her Life and Country (2007)
• Best known in this country as the lawyer working tirelessly on behalf of Canadian photojournalist, Zara Kazemi—raped, tortured and murdered in Iran—Dr. Ebadi offers us a vivid picture of the struggles of one woman against the system.
Iran: What Everyone Needs to Know® (2017)
Since the beginning of recorded history, Iran/Persia has been one of the most important world civilizations. Iran remains a distinct civilization today despite its status as a major Islamic state with broad regional influence and its deep integration into the global economy through its vast energy reserves.
Best Iran Books Everyone Should Read
We highly recommend you to buy all paper or e-books in a legal way, for example, on Amazon. But sometimes it might be a need to dig deeper beyond the shiny book cover. Before making a purchase, you can visit resources like Library Genesis and download some iran books mentioned below at your own risk. Once again, we do not host any illegal or copyrighted files, but simply give our visitors a choice and hope they will make a wise decision.
Integrated Procedures in Facial Cosmetic Surgery
Author(s): Seied Omid Keyhan, Tirbod Fattahi, Shahrokh Bagheri, Behnam Bohluli, Mohammad Hosein Amirzade-Iranaq DDS
ID: 2992265, Publisher: Springer International Publishing, Year: 2121, Size: 145 Mb, Format: pdf
The Struggle for Iran: Oil, Autocracy, and the Cold War, 1951–1954
Author(s): David S. Painter, Gregory Brew
ID: 3559056, Publisher: University of North Carolina Press, Year: 2023, Size: 10 Mb, Format: pdf
Ayatollah Khomeini Through the Lens of the Iran-Iraq War
Author(s): Meysam Tayebipour
ID: 3567101, Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, Year: 2023, Size: 3 Mb, Format: pdf
Please note that this booklist is not final. Some books are truly best-sellers according to The Wall Street Journal, others are drafted by unknown writers. On top of that, you can always find additional tutorials and courses on Coursera, Udemy or edX, for example. Are there any other relevant resources you could recommend? Drop a comment if you have any feedback on the list.