Product Description
In the first anthology of its kind, Lila Azam Zanganeh argues that although Iran looms large in the American imagination, it is grossly misunderstood—seen either as the third pillar of Bush's infamous "axis of evil" or as a nation teeming with youths clamoring for revolution.

This collection showcases the real scope and complexity of Iran through the work of a stellar group of contributors—including Azar Nafisi and with original art by Marjane Satrapi. Their collective goal is to counter the many existing cultural and political clichés about Iran. Some of the pieces concern feminism, sexuality, or eroticism under the Islamic Republic; others are unorthodox political testimonies or about race and religion. Almost all these contributors have broken artistic and cultural taboos in their work.

Journalist Reza Aslan, author of No God But God, explains why Iran is not a theocracy but, rather, a "mullahcracy." Mehrangiz Kar, a lawyer and human rights activist who was jailed in Iran and is currently a fellow at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, argues that the Iranian Revolution actually engendered the birth of feminism in Iran. Journalist Azadeh Moaveni reveals the underground parties and sex culture in Tehran, while Gelareh Asayesh, author of Saffron Sky, writes poignantly on why Iranians are not considered white in America, even though they think they are. Poet and writer Naghmeh Zarbafian expounds on the surreal experience of reading censored books in Iran, while Roya Hakakian, author of Journey from the Land of No: A Girlhood Caught in Revolutionary Iran, recalls the happy days of Iranian Jews. With a sharp, incisive introduction by Lila Azam Zanganeh, this diverse collection will alter what you thought you knew about Iran.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 5 reviews)

Iranian eye opener

I was surprised by what I found inside, and a bit shocked. Iran
has two cultures living within each other. There is a desperate air
of frustration of a people forced to live within the confines of
policies dictated by fundamentalism that is an uncomfortable fit
given the history of the country. Definitely recommend it.
September 11, 2007

A complicated conversation

My Sister, Guard Your Veil; My Brother, Guard Your Eyes understands that the articulation of Iran must be incomplete--that the contributors to this volume, women and men, give us their conversations, their essays, their reminiscences, is a gracious endeavor to color and shade a contemporary depiction of Iran which is very black and white. The voices in this book are varied and intelligent, and their stories offer a complicated look at a country, a history, nationalism, and the very notion of `home.' I loved it.
June 20, 2006

Another Disappointment

Another series of theses full of superlatives that fail to capture any meaningful understanding of what is happening in Iran: Here, religion is bad, good and evil are simplified/linear and all is either surreal or superficial. It ignores the larger Iran as a whole and focuses on two marginal but very visible groups, the semi-intellectual immigrants outside and the semi-intellectual urbanites inside. All the while, 2/5 of Iran's population lives in rural areas. Of those in urban areas, a large number are rural transplants who are religious and fanatic but literate and vocal. Where are the analyses and stories of these real Iranians who decide the fate of the country?

Iran is not a country hijacked by a group of aliens, as most Western intellectuals portray it (as they do in this book), it is much more complex and full of dichotomies and contradictions that cannot be broken down into bite sized one-size-fits-all analysis.

Ms. Nafisi should coordinate a tour of rural schools, Mr. Aslan should spend a year doing field research in out of way places in Iran, and Ms. Satrpai would benefit from light stroll in the slums of Southern Tehran.

Read this for its amusing self-deception than its claim to be a real window into the soul of Iran.

May 15, 2006

Lila Azam Zanganeh has produced a gem

I loved this book! From the introduction to the interviews to the stories...it's seamless!! The writing is excellent throughout and the book has a great flow. The variety of personal experiences, voices & stories aroused & satisfied my curiosity. I learned a lot and now feel inspired to read more work from some of these writers- and more about Iran. Thank you!
May 13, 2006

Great Read

If you're interested in finding something different, refreshing and insightful to read, this is it.
May 02, 2006

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