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All the Shah's Men
by Stephen Kinzer • 2003
The 1953 CIA coup in Iran: how a quick win for oil created decades of blowback.
4.29
12k+
All the Shah's Men Summary
All the Shah's Men 98%
The 1953 CIA coup in Iran: how a quick win for oil created decades of blowback.
by Stephen Kinzer 2003
4.29
12k+ ratings
The Last Shah
by Ray Takeyh • 2021
Two Pahlavi kings tried to drag Iran into modernity by force. Both died in exile.
3.90
202
The Last Shah Summary
The Last Shah 98%
Two Pahlavi kings tried to drag Iran into modernity by force. Both died in exile.
by Ray Takeyh 2021
3.90
202 ratings
[(The Coup
by Ervand Abrahamian • 2013
Oil, not communism, drove the 1953 Iran coup. Its buried logic still poisons US-Iran relations.
4.13
748
[(The Coup Summary
[(The Coup 97%
Oil, not communism, drove the 1953 Iran coup. Its buried logic still poisons US-Iran relations.
by Ervand Abrahamian 2013
4.13
748 ratings
The Shah
by Abbas Milani • 2007
A CIA-backed restoration, a forced march into modernity, and the revolution it made inevitable.
4.23
1k+
The Shah Summary
The Shah 97%
A CIA-backed restoration, a forced march into modernity, and the revolution it made inevitable.
by Abbas Milani 2007
4.23
1k+ ratings
The Fall of Heaven
by Andrew Scott Cooper • 2016
Oil wealth, repression, reform: how Iran's last shah built the forces that destroyed him.
4.16
931
The Fall of Heaven Summary
The Fall of Heaven 96%
Oil wealth, repression, reform: how Iran's last shah built the forces that destroyed him.
by Andrew Scott Cooper 2016
4.16
931 ratings
Understanding Iran
by William R. Polk • 2009
Start with Cyrus, not Khomeini. Iran's long civilizational memory drives everything the news misses.
3.84
391
Understanding Iran Summary
Understanding Iran 96%
Start with Cyrus, not Khomeini. Iran's long civilizational memory drives everything the news misses.
by William R. Polk 2009
3.84
391 ratings
Den of Spies
by Craig Unger • 2024
The Reagan campaign's secret pact with Iran: keep the hostages captive and win the White House.
3.84
264
Den of Spies Summary
Den of Spies 95%
The Reagan campaign's secret pact with Iran: keep the hostages captive and win the White House.
by Craig Unger 2024
3.84
264 ratings
خون و نفت خاطرات یک شاهزاده ایرانی
by Manoucher Farmanfarmaian • 1997
A Qajar prince's childhood in a seven-hundred-person harem. Forty years in oil. Then the revolution.
4.04
185
خون و نفت خاطرات یک شاهزاده ایرانی Summary
خون و نفت خاطرات یک شاهزاده ایرانی 95%
A Qajar prince's childhood in a seven-hundred-person harem. Forty years in oil. Then the revolution.
by Manoucher Farmanfarmaian 1997
4.04
185 ratings
The Oil Kings
by Andrew Scott Cooper • 2011
Secret U.S. deals armed the Shah and quadrupled oil prices. The world never recovered.
4.10
831
The Oil Kings Summary
The Oil Kings 95%
Secret U.S. deals armed the Shah and quadrupled oil prices. The world never recovered.
by Andrew Scott Cooper 2011
4.10
831 ratings
The Complete Infidel's Guide to Iran
by Robert Spencer • 2016
Iran's theology commands deception and world conquest. The nuclear deal ignored both.
3.53
73
The Complete Infidel's Guide to Iran Summary
The Complete Infidel's Guide to Iran 94%
Iran's theology commands deception and world conquest. The nuclear deal ignored both.
by Robert Spencer 2016
3.53
73 ratings
Devil's Game
by Robert Dreyfuss • 2005
The United States armed Islamism for sixty years. Al Qaeda was the bill that came due.
3.99
272
Devil's Game Summary
Devil's Game 94%
The United States armed Islamism for sixty years. Al Qaeda was the bill that came due.
by Robert Dreyfuss 2005
3.99
272 ratings
Covert Regime Change
by Lindsey A. O'Rourke • 2018
64 covert regime changes, a 39% success rate, and blowback that erased the gains.
4.14
85
Covert Regime Change Summary
Covert Regime Change 94%
64 covert regime changes, a 39% success rate, and blowback that erased the gains.
by Lindsey A. O'Rourke 2018
4.14
85 ratings
The Ayatollah Begs to Differ
by Hooman Majd • 2008
Iran's paradoxes are a platform, not a bug, built from Shia ritual and Persian pride.
3.76
2k+
The Ayatollah Begs to Differ Summary
The Ayatollah Begs to Differ 94%
Iran's paradoxes are a platform, not a bug, built from Shia ritual and Persian pride.
by Hooman Majd 2008
3.76
2k+ ratings
The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy
by John J. Mearsheimer • 2006
How a single interest group has reshaped U.S. Middle East policy, often against American interests.
4.12
4k+
The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy Summary
The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy 93%
How a single interest group has reshaped U.S. Middle East policy, often against American interests.
by John J. Mearsheimer 2006
4.12
4k+ ratings
Target Tehran
by Yonah Jeremy Bob • 2023
Inside the Mossad heist that stole Iran's nuclear archive and exposed its secret weapons program.
4.07
450
Target Tehran Summary
Target Tehran 93%
Inside the Mossad heist that stole Iran's nuclear archive and exposed its secret weapons program.
by Yonah Jeremy Bob 2023
4.07
450 ratings
Iran
by Abbas Amanat • 2017
Shi'ism became Iran's state religion in 1501, creating a unique nation and centuries of conflict.
4.23
829
Iran Summary
Iran 93%
Shi'ism became Iran's state religion in 1501, creating a unique nation and centuries of conflict.
by Abbas Amanat 2017
4.23
829 ratings
Black Wave
by Kim Ghattas • 2020
The 1979 contest between Saudi Arabia and Iran that dismantled a region’s cultural soul.
4.40
6k+
Black Wave Summary
Black Wave 93%
The 1979 contest between Saudi Arabia and Iran that dismantled a region’s cultural soul.
by Kim Ghattas 2020
4.40
6k+ ratings
The Shia Revival
by Vali Nasr • 2006
America's Iraq invasion accidentally broke a 1,400-year Sunni order. Iran seized the opening.
3.88
2k+
The Shia Revival Summary
The Shia Revival 93%
America's Iraq invasion accidentally broke a 1,400-year Sunni order. Iran seized the opening.
by Vali Nasr 2006
3.88
2k+ ratings
Overthrow
by Stephen Kinzer • 2006
America has toppled 14 governments since 1893; the reasons it gave were almost never real.
4.18
5k+
Overthrow Summary
Overthrow 93%
America has toppled 14 governments since 1893; the reasons it gave were almost never real.
by Stephen Kinzer 2006
4.18
5k+ ratings
Persians
by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones • 2022
Herodotus told one story. Persian tablets and reliefs tell another, and they survive.
4.07
2k+
Persians Summary
Persians 93%
Herodotus told one story. Persian tablets and reliefs tell another, and they survive.
by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones 2022
4.07
2k+ ratings
Killing Hope
by William Blum • 1995
For forty years, the CIA overthrew governments across the globe. The full ledger is in one book.
4.27
2k+
Killing Hope Summary
Killing Hope 93%
For forty years, the CIA overthrew governments across the globe. The full ledger is in one book.
by William Blum 1995
4.27
2k+ ratings
Sasanian Persia
by Touraj Daryaee • 2007
Rome's greatest rival invented an Iranian identity that outlived the empire itself.
3.84
180
Sasanian Persia Summary
Sasanian Persia 93%
Rome's greatest rival invented an Iranian identity that outlived the empire itself.
by Touraj Daryaee 2007
3.84
180 ratings
The Great War for Civilisation
by Robert Fisk • 2005
One reporter's fifty-year witness to the West's century-long war on the Middle East.
4.41
6k+
The Great War for Civilisation Summary
The Great War for Civilisation 93%
One reporter's fifty-year witness to the West's century-long war on the Middle East.
by Robert Fisk 2005
4.41
6k+ ratings
A Great Place To Have A War
by Joshua Kurlantzick • 2017
Laos was where the CIA learned to wage war without asking Congress. The lesson stuck.
3.90
788
A Great Place To Have A War Summary
A Great Place To Have A War 93%
Laos was where the CIA learned to wage war without asking Congress. The lesson stuck.
by Joshua Kurlantzick 2017
3.90
788 ratings
The Prize
by Daniel Yergin • 1991
How a dark liquid wrote the rules of power, decided wars, and built the greatest fortunes.
4.44
13k+
The Prize Summary
The Prize 93%
How a dark liquid wrote the rules of power, decided wars, and built the greatest fortunes.
by Daniel Yergin 1991
4.44
13k+ ratings
The Persian Empire
by John W.I. Lee • 2012
Greek histories painted Persia as despotism. The empire's own record tells a different story.
4.10
520
The Persian Empire Summary
The Persian Empire 92%
Greek histories painted Persia as despotism. The empire's own record tells a different story.
by John W.I. Lee 2012
4.10
520 ratings
The Brothers
by Stephen Kinzer • 2013
The Secretary of State and CIA director were brothers. They ran the Cold War as a family crusade.
4.15
5k+
The Brothers Summary
The Brothers 92%
The Secretary of State and CIA director were brothers. They ran the Cold War as a family crusade.
by Stephen Kinzer 2013
4.15
5k+ ratings
The Management of Savagery
by Max Blumenthal • 2019
Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Trump: three products of the same American national security machine.
4.29
807
The Management of Savagery Summary
The Management of Savagery 92%
Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Trump: three products of the same American national security machine.
by Max Blumenthal 2019
4.29
807 ratings
House of Bush, House of Saud
by Craig Unger • 2004
Oil, covert wars, and a revolving door: the Bush-Saudi alliance that 9/11 nearly destroyed.
3.91
2k+
House of Bush, House of Saud Summary
House of Bush, House of Saud 92%
Oil, covert wars, and a revolving door: the Bush-Saudi alliance that 9/11 nearly destroyed.
by Craig Unger 2004
3.91
2k+ ratings
Fiasco
by Thomas E. Ricks • 2006
A year planning the invasion, zero for the peace: how ideology and hubris lost Iraq.
4.09
8k+
Fiasco Summary
Fiasco 92%
A year planning the invasion, zero for the peace: how ideology and hubris lost Iraq.
by Thomas E. Ricks 2006
4.09
8k+ ratings
Diplomacy
by Henry Kissinger • 1994
Europe balanced power; America chases ideals. Three centuries of diplomatic collision.
4.25
10k+
Diplomacy Summary
Diplomacy 92%
Europe balanced power; America chases ideals. Three centuries of diplomatic collision.
by Henry Kissinger 1994
4.25
10k+ ratings
Imperial Hubris
by Michael Scheuer • 2004
Al-Qaeda is not a terror group but an insurgency, and American policy is its top recruiter.
3.81
2k+
Imperial Hubris Summary
Imperial Hubris 92%
Al-Qaeda is not a terror group but an insurgency, and American policy is its top recruiter.
by Michael Scheuer 2004
3.81
2k+ ratings
Surprise, Kill, Vanish
by Annie Jacobsen • 2019
Between peace and open war: the secret history of presidents who chose killing in the shadows.
4.31
7k+
Surprise, Kill, Vanish Summary
Surprise, Kill, Vanish 92%
Between peace and open war: the secret history of presidents who chose killing in the shadows.
by Annie Jacobsen 2019
4.31
7k+ ratings
World Order
by Henry Kissinger • 2014
Europe invented the state system; now every civilization advances a rival blueprint for world order.
4.04
14k+
World Order Summary
World Order 92%
Europe invented the state system; now every civilization advances a rival blueprint for world order.
by Henry Kissinger 2014
4.04
14k+ ratings
From Miniskirt to Hijab
by Jacqueline Saper • 2019
A Jewish girl's Tehran: cocktail parties, then revolution, then air raids, then one desperate exit.
4.16
667
From Miniskirt to Hijab Summary
From Miniskirt to Hijab 92%
A Jewish girl's Tehran: cocktail parties, then revolution, then air raids, then one desperate exit.
by Jacqueline Saper 2019
4.16
667 ratings
A Peace to End All Peace
by David Fromkin • 1989
The modern Middle East was drawn in European offices; a century of instability is the result.
4.22
10k+
A Peace to End All Peace Summary
A Peace to End All Peace 92%
The modern Middle East was drawn in European offices; a century of instability is the result.
by David Fromkin 1989
4.22
10k+ ratings
The Envoy
by Zalmay Khalilzad • 2016
An Afghan immigrant becomes America's envoy in the Muslim world, finding a crisis wars cannot solve.
3.64
163
The Envoy Summary
The Envoy 92%
An Afghan immigrant becomes America's envoy in the Muslim world, finding a crisis wars cannot solve.
by Zalmay Khalilzad 2016
3.64
163 ratings
A Century of War
by F. William Engdahl • 1992
How Anglo-American elites controlled oil to engineer a century of wars and financial crises.
4.20
480
A Century of War Summary
A Century of War 92%
How Anglo-American elites controlled oil to engineer a century of wars and financial crises.
by F. William Engdahl 1992
4.20
480 ratings
War on Peace
by Ronan Farrow • 2018
Before Trump, before forever war, Washington gutted the one tool that could prevent them: diplomacy.
4.14
9k+
War on Peace Summary
War on Peace 92%
Before Trump, before forever war, Washington gutted the one tool that could prevent them: diplomacy.
by Ronan Farrow 2018
4.14
9k+ ratings
A Line in the Sand
by James Barr • 2011
Why the Arab-Israeli conflict began as a secret war between Britain and France.
4.06
5k+
A Line in the Sand Summary
A Line in the Sand 92%
Why the Arab-Israeli conflict began as a secret war between Britain and France.
by James Barr 2011
4.06
5k+ ratings
The Jakarta Method
by Vincent Bevins • 2020
Washington's greatest Cold War win killed a million Indonesians. Then the method went global.
4.61
18k+
The Jakarta Method Summary
The Jakarta Method 92%
Washington's greatest Cold War win killed a million Indonesians. Then the method went global.
by Vincent Bevins 2020
4.61
18k+ ratings
Buddhism
by Damien Keown • 1996
Buddhism has no god, no bible, no pope. What holds its many traditions together?
3.74
3k+
Buddhism Summary
Buddhism 92%
Buddhism has no god, no bible, no pope. What holds its many traditions together?
by Damien Keown 1996
3.74
3k+ ratings
The Blood Telegram
by Gary J. Bass • 2013
Nixon needed Pakistan for a secret China opening. When genocide began, he looked away.
4.35
3k+
The Blood Telegram Summary
The Blood Telegram 92%
Nixon needed Pakistan for a secret China opening. When genocide began, he looked away.
by Gary J. Bass 2013
4.35
3k+ ratings
Cobra II
by Michael R. Gordon • 2006
How the Pentagon fight over troop numbers toppled Saddam quickly and then lost the peace.
3.97
2k+
Cobra II Summary
Cobra II 91%
How the Pentagon fight over troop numbers toppled Saddam quickly and then lost the peace.
by Michael R. Gordon 2006
3.97
2k+ ratings
The Yom Kippur War
by 50Minutes • 2016
How a Yom Kippur ambush shattered Israel's myth, drew in superpowers, and led to Camp David.
3.00
3
The Yom Kippur War Summary
The Yom Kippur War 91%
How a Yom Kippur ambush shattered Israel's myth, drew in superpowers, and led to Camp David.
by 50Minutes 2016
3.00
3 ratings
The Afghanistan Papers
by Craig Whitlock • 2021
Washington’s own postmortem: the war was unwinnable, and they hid the truth for twenty years.
4.25
7k+
The Afghanistan Papers Summary
The Afghanistan Papers 91%
Washington’s own postmortem: the war was unwinnable, and they hid the truth for twenty years.
by Craig Whitlock 2021
4.25
7k+ ratings
The Twilight Struggle
by Hal Brands • 2022
How America's Cold War playbook for long-haul rivalry can be updated for China and Russia.
3.98
248
The Twilight Struggle Summary
The Twilight Struggle 91%
How America's Cold War playbook for long-haul rivalry can be updated for China and Russia.
by Hal Brands 2022
3.98
248 ratings
The Shadow of the Great Game
by Narendra Singh Sarila • 2006
India's partition was engineered by Britain to secure a Cold War foothold, not just communal strife.
4.16
290
The Shadow of the Great Game Summary
The Shadow of the Great Game 91%
India's partition was engineered by Britain to secure a Cold War foothold, not just communal strife.
by Narendra Singh Sarila 2006
4.16
290 ratings
Churchill, Hitler, and "The Unnecessary War"
by Patrick J. Buchanan • 2008
Britain's empire fell not to war but to a diplomatic blunder that handed the world to its rivals.
4.21
2k+
Churchill, Hitler, and "The Unnecessary War" Summary
Churchill, Hitler, and "The Unnecessary War" 91%
Britain's empire fell not to war but to a diplomatic blunder that handed the world to its rivals.
by Patrick J. Buchanan 2008
4.21
2k+ ratings
Power, Terror, Peace, and War
by Walter Russell Mead • 2004
America's soft power will not recover via Hollywood, but via microfinance in Khayelitsa.
3.67
108
Power, Terror, Peace, and War Summary
Power, Terror, Peace, and War 91%
America's soft power will not recover via Hollywood, but via microfinance in Khayelitsa.
by Walter Russell Mead 2004
3.67
108 ratings
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