Blood and Oil: : Memoirs of a Persian Prince
Author: Manucher Farmanfarmaian
List Price: $35.00
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ISBN: 0679440550
Publisher: Random House (07 April, 1997)
Sales Rank: 130,383
Average Customer Rating: 4 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 3 out of 5
An Aristocrats View of Life in the Imperial Iran
The author was a previleged and lucky child as he was born into a rich family in Iran and got all the usual perks that came with it. His memoirs regarding historical events in Iran are extremely subjective and the author has not bothered at all even to show a pretense of objectivity. This is not a book for a reader seeking historical knowledge about Iran but it is valuable for a more knowledgable reader to see the how life in Shah's Iran looked from the vantage view of a high official of that regime. For the knowledgable reader who actually knows what was life in Imperial Iran was like, the author provides a clear example of the total ignorance of ruling elite about the internal situation of Iran. The book also gives a clear indication of the "inferiority complex" that had inflicted the Iranian ruling elite where they had total disdain for Iranians and considered everything Western superior.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Apologist
Historical review of British involvement is fascinating reading, especially the parts concerning the partnership disputes with the Persian government.Analysis of political events is shallow particularly from an "insider". Reads more like an apologist making excuses for the Shah. Mostly attributes the unpopularity of the Shah to incompetent government and glosses over the terrible human rights abuses widely reported by Amnesty International on brutal treatment of political opponents of the Shah.
What is left out of this book would make for great reading. Author seems to have a very selective memory and appears to have quite the ego. Claims to be involved in too many critical events in recent Iranian history and always portrays himself as correctly predicting course of events.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Reads like a thriller plus its fabulously informative
The cover of this book was a little intimidating--It looked to be a dryly academic men's book. What a wonderful surprise lies waiting inside. I could not put it down. It is a thrilling read and very informative.Even this opinionated woman was taken with the eloquent narrative, the compelling story and impressed by the honesty of the author.
A GREAT READ
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