Start reading Iran on your Kindle in under a minute. Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.

Try it free

Read books on your computer or other mobile devices with our FREE Kindle Reading Apps.

Iran: Empire of the Mind: A History from Zoroaster to the Present Day [Kindle Edition]

Michael Axworthy (Author)

4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews) |

Print List Price:	�9.99
Kindle Price:	�7.99 includes VAT* & free wireless delivery via *Amazon Whispernet*
You Save:	�2.00 (20%)
Unlike print books, digital books are subject to VAT.
	This price was set by the publisher

Length: 352 pages
Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.

Formats	Amazon Price		New from	Used from
Kindle Edition	�7.99		--	--
Paperback	�6.99		--	--

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and th... by Stephen Kinzer
4.5 out of 5 stars (20)

�6.29
Persian Fire: The First World Empire, Battle for t... by Tom Holland
4.4 out of 5 stars (62)

�6.99
Gaza in Crisis: Reflections on Israel's War Aga... by Ilan Papp�
5.0 out of 5 stars (11)

�5.49
Drinking Arak Off an Ayatollah's Beard: A... by Nicholas Jubber
4.8 out of 5 stars (6)

�6.64
Shah of Shahs (Penguin Classics) by Ryszard Kapuscinski
4.1 out of 5 stars (16)

�6.99
The Enemy at the Gate: Habsburgs, Ottomans a... by Andrew Wheatcroft
3.8 out of 5 stars (14)

�8.09

Product Description

Review

'At this time above all, we need a deeply informed, engagingly written history of the nation from Cyrus to Khomeini and beyond. Axworthy does the job with balance and aplomb. Readers ... will warm to his human-scale portrait of a self-renewing culture that, as with its world-beating cinema today, shows "enduring greatness" and "creative power".' --Boyd Tonkin, Independent

'Axworthy presents a history by turns thrilling, cautionary, inspiring and surprising'
-- Scotland on Sunday

'A beautifully distilled ... history that flashes with insight on every page'
--David Gardner, FT

Review

'The best single-volume introduction to Iranian history'

See all Product Description

Product details

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 1641 KB
Print Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Penguin (6 Nov 2008)
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.� r.l.
Language English
ASIN: B002RI9FRW
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #38,117 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #22 in Books > History > Countries & Regions > Asia > Middle East > Iran
- #45 in Kindle Store > Books > Nonfiction > History > Middle East

Would you like to give feedback on images?

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, and more.

› Visit Amazon's Michael Axworthy Page

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars (116)

�0.00

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars (1,221)

�2.70

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Kindle Edition
4.7 out of 5 stars (96)

�0.00

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars (59)

�0.00

› Explore similar items

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

(What's this?)

Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)

murakami(4)

cult(2)

japanese(2)

kindle(2)

penguin rip off(2)

ebook rip off(2)

very expensive(2)

fantasy(1)

iq84(1)

japanese fiction(1)

Customer Reviews

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

9 reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars

Write a customer review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful

First rate historical narrative. 28 April 2009

By Ian P Berry

Format:Paperback

I have just returned from Iran. I took two very good guides with me, Brant & Lonely Planet. At the last minute I took Michael Axworthys' Iran Empire of the mind, it proved invaluable for answering a myriad of dynastic details that the guides books do not have the scope for.It brings the reader right up to date and looks at this modern country and the philosophy behind its' culture. With Iran in the centre of world attention this book with its gripping and powerful narrative obliges us to take stock of our preconceived notions of this ancient land.

Comment |

Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Iran: Empire of the Mind 5 Dec 2010

By Spider Monkey HALL OF FAME TOP 50 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

`Iran: Empire of the Mind' explores the history of this enigmatic country from it's founding days, right up until the current government. This looks at it's art and culture, as well as the various wars and conquests it has been involved in over the years. I found the last hundred pages the most interesting as it dealt with the recent history and I could relate to it more. It was good to put the western influence into perspective to understand some of the Iranian animosity towards some western nations. It also clarifies some of the stereotypes and shows that the picture in Iran is a lot more complex than we are led to believe. This has many small black and white photos dotted throughout, as well as many maps that show how the country shrunk and grew over the years. You are left with an overwhelming picture of Iran as a cultured and enduring nation and this contrasts well with the image portrayed in the western media. All in all this is a fascinating and eye opening read about this influential and often maligned nation.

Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.

Comment |

Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

Excellent introduction 3 Jan 2010

By Helen D

Format:Paperback

Fantastic introduction to the history of Iran - manages to be consise yet cover a vast period of history in a way that is accessible, interesting and easy to read whilst still being detailed enough. I would highly recommend this book.

Comment |

Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

› See all 9 customer reviews

Write a customer review

Most Recent Customer Reviews

Excellent book

Very educational and well written book. Tells the story of Irans fascinating history in an easy to read compact format. Read it all over the course of 3 days. Read more

Published 1 month ago by ANTHONY MONAGHAN

A very good introduction

This is an excellent book. Of course, in just under 300 pages, it is impossible to cover all the details of Iranian history and culture. Read more

Published 4 months ago by The Prussian Reader

A book worthy of it title

This is an admirable historical book, well researched to explore major events that have so greatly influenced cultural, religious and political life of the Iranians and their... Read more

Published on 18 Dec 2009 by Bahram Fathi

First rate intellectual and political history

As stated in the sub-title, this is an overview of Iran as a political entity, in the context of the religious and intellectual currents which shaped it, from the earliest times. Read more

Published on 16 Aug 2009 by maryleopard

Visit Iran!

I've visited Iran last year and this country is worth to visit. In west its wrongly understood. These people are not arabs for a start and they are very polite and proud of their... Read more

Published on 20 Mar 2009 by Aleksander Pieri

Can't believe no one's reviewed this yet!

As it says on the blurb on the back of this book - it reads like a compelling novel. For only a relatively 'short' history book it certainly packs a lot in, Michael Axworthy is... Read more

Published on 2 Feb 2009 by A. Brown

Popular Highlights

(What's this?)

In the south of Iran there is a province called Fars. Its capital is Shiraz and it contains Irans most ancient and impressive archaeological sites: Persepolis and Pasargadae (along with Susa, in neighbouring Khuzestan). &quote;

Highlighted by 4 Kindle users

Anyone who knows, and knows that he knows, Makes the steed of intelligence leap over the vault of heaven. Anyone who does not know, but knows that he does not know, Can bring his lame little donkey to the destination nonetheless. Anyone who does not know, and does not know that he does not know Is stuck for ever in double ignorance (Anonymous, attributed to Naser od-Din Tusi &quote;

Highlighted by 3 Kindle users

It is a country with an ancient tradition of monarchical splendour, now an Islamic republic; but one where only 1.4 per cent of the population attend Friday prayers. &quote;

Highlighted by 3 Kindle users

.jsOffDisplayBlock { display: block; } .jsOffDisplayInline { display: inline; } .jsOffVisibility { visibility: visible; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jsOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jqOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jqOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jqOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; }