We Are Iran

I went on holiday to Iran last year and spent three weeks visiting Shiraz, Esfahan, Yazd and Tehran. I can truly say that the Iranians I met were the most hospitable and friendly people I have met anywhere in the world. There is nowhere I have been where the reality of a country is so different to the perception.

So yes, in response to some of the critics of this book, it represents by and large (but not entirely) the view of a middle class minority. However compared to the endless stream of negative reporting, cliche and liberal hand-wringing we normally get in Europe, it is a breath of fresh air. It must be noted there are also many stories of ordinary, working class people such as the 60-year-old female taxi driver who tells a western journalist she is in it for the money just to wind her up.

I must also disagree that "most Iranians don't have access to the internet". Everywhere I went in Iran was littered with internet cafes with young people online. In one of them, a young couple at the terminal next to me was sitting staring at the screen. I was confused because I didn't see them typing, but eventually I saw they were holding hands and talking to each other quietly. So sweet.

So yes -- perhaps for Iranians it represents a cliche. But don't underestimate the real absence of understanding of Iran abroad -- for most of us, it represents a rare glimpse into the lives of real people in Iran. The analysis and historical information is also very interesting.

We Will Be IRan (8/9 people found this helpful)

I loved this book. But I half-heartedly bought it after an overenthusiastic recommendation by an Iranian friend. Yet I was so moved that I must have reread many passages again and again. But I have to warn you this is not a techi book about blogs and the internet and more about Iran in general. It's rather an odd book in that the serious factual stuff is skilfully fused in with the poetic or funny posts by bloggers. We get to hear about the firsthand accounts of revolution, war, falling in love, relationships, and customs to passion for football or cinema. We get to hear from Islamic cleric bloggers to fans of David Beckam.

Above the unique insight it offers are the promises of hope. In a country were 70 per cent are under 30 and educated the future is bound to be promising. With informative societal historical cultural background on all things Iran, the narrative tries to highlight the views and aspirations of Iran's highly educated post-war baby boom generation, and as we get to read: "Throughout the 20th Century baby boomers' have had enormous impact on society during every stage of their collective lives, leading to the post-war transformation of the Western world. Baby-boomers are the drivers of change and Iran's new up-and-coming youth may well prove as significant and influential."

As a member of this baby boom generation, I have always felt that (if only by sheer numbers) we are Iran or will be the future of Iran anyway. I can't think of a better tribute than this book to my generation and the youth of Iran, rich or poor, religious or secular and so on. And I can't see any other way that you could truly see us the way you can in this book. It is amazing how though its diversity it captures the fundamental nature of my generation. We are all there in this moving yet at times very amusing and unflawed narrative.

A worthy Book of the Year (6/8 people found this helpful)

I bought this book after finding it on the 2006 books of the year list of one of our broadsheets. I can’t remember which one it was now. The book is made up of a skilfully constructed tapestry of fascinating, funny and poignant quotes that are mixed together with a factual background about everything anything Iranian, from religion, culture, history to pop music.

And I have to say that I was totally mesmerized throughout. Not only because it was such a pleasant and enjoyable read, but as it also somewhat went against my assumptions (or ignorance) about Iran and Iranians. Yet some of this was so startling that I even found myself sceptical and doubting the author’s factual assertions that I had to check them out. But his facts did always check out.

At a time when we are hearing rhetoric about Iran, reminiscent of noises made before the Iraqi invasion. Iran is one country we must all take time to understand and I can’t recommend a more enlightening and pleasurable way than reading We Are Iran.

court's out (1/2 people found this helpful)

This is the construct of a tiny minority purporting to represent a much larger majority than they do.
Fun and nice - even when indignant, but a mass movement it ain't.

Arrogant beyond belief (4/6 people found this helpful)

Comparing poor Afghans and Iranians to "blessed cheesemakers" is a typical example of the upper-class and exile snobbery that characterises the thinking behind this book. The idea that a sample of internet users can truthfully say "We are Iran" is a total absurdity. This is the kind of book you can dip into from time to time, but to claim it speaks for Iran is arrogant beyond belief. And you can get this book in Iran, by the way, or even (shock horror) take in a copy with you.

Nasrin Alavi

Reader Reviews:

Incredible, moving book (1/1 people found this helpful)

We Will Be IRan (8/9 people found this helpful)

A worthy Book of the Year (6/8 people found this helpful)

court's out (1/2 people found this helpful)

Arrogant beyond belief (4/6 people found this helpful)

Similar Products

Categories