By Hooman Majd
The grandson of an eminent ayatollah and the son of an Iranian diplomat, journalist Hooman Majd is uniquely certified to provide an explanation for modern Iran's complicated and misunderstood tradition to Western readers.The Ayatollah Begs to Differ presents an intimate examine a paradoxical kingdom that's either deeply non secular and hugely cosmopolitan, authoritarian but proficient by way of a historical past of democratic and reformist traditions. Majd deals an insightful travel of Iranian tradition, introducing interesting characters from all walks of lifestyles, together with zealous executive officers, tricky lady cab drivers, and open-minded, reformist ayatollahs. It's an Iran that would shock readers and problem Western stereotypes.In his new preface, Majd discusses the Iranian temper in the course of and after the June 2009 presidential election which trigger the biggest highway protests because the revolution that introduced the ayatollahs to power.
A Los Angeles Times and Economist top booklet of the 12 months, 2008.
“In this pleasant e-book, Hooman Majd, a proficient storyteller, takes us on a journey of his personal deepest Persia, that's additionally the Iran of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. the consequences are illuminating, funny, sobering, and eventually reassuring.”
—Jon Lee Anderson, writer of the autumn of Baghdad
“Hooman Majd is a trendy and interesting consultant in the course of the by-ways of Iranian lifestyles. prime us from seminary to opium den to the presidential compound, his wry humorousness makes this e-book a excitement to read.” —Gary ill, Ph.D., senior examine pupil at Columbia college and member of the nationwide protection Council employees below Presidents Ford, Carter, and Reagan
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Sample text
Another guard, seated at a desk and infinitely more bored than the last, looked at me with raised eyeb�ows. "Mr. Javanfekr;' I said. "That door over there;' he replied, pointing to an office on the ground Hoor. I hesitated for a moment before realizing that no one would be escorting me, and then I walked straight into Javanfekr's of fice. Ali Akbar Javanfekr has the unenviable job of being President Ah madinejad's top press adviser, as well as his most senior official spokesman. uests, or with the de tails of the president's press schedule.
Go back to the corner building," he said after he hung up. "But they told me to come here," I said. "That's the president's office;' he said, pointing behind me. "If you go in here, you can't come out:' "Hotel California," again. I walked back down the street and stepped into the corner building. "Mr. Javanfekr;' I said to the guard. " he replied this time, forgetting that he'd sent me on a long detour from which I may not have returned had I not asked where I was going. " . "It's busy. H It. I sat down on one of three chairs and looked at my watch.
But it just doesn't matter anymore. What I wanted to know most from the president's top media adviser was who among the top echelon of government officials had thought, other than Ahmadinejad himself, that organizing a conference on the Holocaust in Tehran (held in the winter of 2006 to wide ridicule mainly outside, but also to some extent inside, Iran) had been a good idea. At least in terms of how the media would see it. Iranians, partic ularly those who haven't traveled much outside the country and no mat ter what their level of education, have very little knowledge, if any, of the Holocaust.