Couchsurfing in Iran

Couchsurfing in Iran

Author: Stephan Orth

Publisher: Greystone Books Ltd

Published: 2018-05-01

Total Pages: 220

ISBN-13: 1771642815

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Included in the 2018 summer reading list by New York Times Books A modern-day glimpse into the surprising reality of life in Iran. Iran: A destination that is seldom seen by westerners yet often misunderstood. A country that simultaneously “enchants and enrages” those who visit it. A place where leading a double life has become the norm. In Couchsurfing in Iran, award-winning author Stephan Orth spends sixty-two days on the road in this mysterious Islamic republic to provide a revealing, behind-the-scenes look at life in one of the world’s most closed societies. Through the unsurpassed hospitality of twenty-two hosts, he skips the guidebooks and tourist attractions and travels from Persian carpet to bed to cot, covering more than 8,400 kilometers to recount “this world’s hidden doings.” Experiencing daily what he calls the “two Irans” that coexist side by side—the “theocracy, where people mourn their martyrs” in mausoleums, and the “hide-and-seek-ocracy, where people hold secret parties and seek worldly thrills instead of spiritual bliss”—he learns that Iranians have become experts in navigating around their country’s strict laws. Though couchsurfing is officially prohibited in Iran—the state fears spies would be able to travel undetected through the country—more than a hundred thousand Iranians are registered with online couchsurfing portals. And thanks to these hospitable, English-speaking strangers, Orth gets up close and personal with locals, peering behind closed doors and blank windows to uncover the inner workings of a country where public show and private reality are strikingly opposed.


Travel as a Political Act

Travel as a Political Act

Author: Rick Steves

Publisher: Rick Steves

Published: 2018-02-06

Total Pages: 581

ISBN-13: 1641710470

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Change the world one trip at a time. In this illuminating collection of stories and lessons from the road, acclaimed travel writer Rick Steves shares a powerful message that resonates now more than ever. With the world facing divisive and often frightening events, from Trump, Brexit, and Erdogan, to climate change, nativism, and populism, there's never been a more important time to travel. Rick believes the risks of travel are widely exaggerated, and that fear is for people who don't get out much. After years of living out of a suitcase, he still marvels at how different cultures find different truths to be self-evident. By sharing his experiences from Europe, Central America, Asia, and the Middle East, Rick shows how we can learn more about own country by viewing it from afar. With gripping stories from Rick's decades of exploration, this fully revised edition of Travel as a Political Act is an antidote to the current climate of xenophobia. When we travel thoughtfully, we bring back the most beautiful souvenir of all: a broader perspective on the world that we all call home. All royalties from the sale of Travel as a Political Act are donated to support the work of Bread for the World, a non-partisan organization working to end hunger at home and abroad.


Iran

Iran

Author:

Publisher: Turner Publishing Company

Published: 2007-08-24

Total Pages: 179

ISBN-13: 0470255412

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On June 24, 2005, after nearly ten years of supporting liberal reform, the people of Iran surprised the world by electing the conservative mayor of Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as their new president. Soon after, the new president announced Iran would restart its uranium enrichment program, drawing international criticism and condemnation from leaders in Europe and the United States. Many observers suspect it is the desire to produce not nuclear energy but nuclear weapons that lies behind Iran's controversial decision. Ever since President George W. Bush described Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as the "Axis of Evil," Iran has garnered increased international attention and threatens to become the new focus of European and American foreign policy. Now you can have at your fingertips up-to-date, must-know details on this complex, pivotal country-straight from one of the most trusted sources of information around the globe. The first in a major new series from Encyclopedia Britannica, Iran presents a balanced, sophisticated examination of Iran's social, cultural, and political landscape, past and present. From the constitutional revolution to the hostage crisis to weapons of mass destruction, this thorough guide provides the necessary background to comprehend all the important, ongoing issues surrounding this enigmatic country. Information on such leaders as Cyrus the Great and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, as well as on historical events like the Iran-Contra Affair and the Iran-Iraq War, place current developments into the broader context of world history, the Muslim world, the War on Terror, and the push for democratic reform in the Middle East. Every concise entry-from Afghanistan and Ayatollah Khomeini to Shari'ah law and the Shah-promotes the deeper understanding of issues and events that only Encyclopedia Britannica can provide. Since 1768, Encyclopedia Britannica has been a leading provider of learning products and one of the world's most trusted sources of information. www.britannica.com


New Zealand

New Zealand

Author: Barbara Jackson (Journalist)

Publisher:

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781426302008

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Provides current, detailed information on virtually everything that defines life in New Zealand, from economy and the environment to geography and social trends.


The Shooting Star

The Shooting Star

Author: Shivya Nath

Publisher: Penguin Random House India Private Limited

Published: 2018-09-14

Total Pages: 182

ISBN-13: 9353052653

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Shivya Nath quit her corporate job at age twenty-three to travel the world. She gave up her home and the need for a permanent address, sold most of her possessions and embarked on a nomadic journey that has taken her everywhere from remote Himalayan villages to the Amazon rainforests of Ecuador. Along the way, she lived with an indigenous Mayan community in Guatemala, hiked alone in the Ecuadorian Andes, got mugged in Costa Rica, swam across the border from Costa Rica to Panama, slept under a meteor shower in the cracked salt desert of Gujarat and learnt to conquer her deepest fears. With its vivid descriptions, cinematic landscapes, moving encounters and uplifting adventures, The Shooting Star is a travel memoir that maps not just the world but the human spirit.


Persia 1001 Nights

Persia 1001 Nights

Author: Max Fatouretchi

Publisher:

Published: 2021-03-29

Total Pages: 128

ISBN-13:

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THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO IRAN If you announce that you are going to Iran, someone will certainly advise you not to go. Ignore them, for this is one of the most exciting countries on Earth. This book will take you all the way through 5,000 years of Persian history into today's modern Iran. It is about the places and history of Persia's "One Thousand and One Nights" and how those stories have shaped the modern Iran that it is today. Many westerners, especially women (including some of my friends), feel hesitant about travel to Iran. This is because the western media only reports kidnappings, terrorist activities and endless wars in the region. This has been particularly since the 9/11 attacks, when a group of Al-Qaeda terrorists, a Wahabi religious group from Saudi Arabia, attacked the United States. These attacks resulted in 2,977 fatalities and causing long-term consequences for the Middle East and the rest of the world. With the US invasion of many countries in the region including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya. The so-called 'War on Terror' resulted in countless casualties and tremendous human suffering in these countries. Interestingly, Iran managed to stay out of these US led wars until today, although President Trump was awfully close to bombing Iran towards the end of his term. Fortunately, he was not re-elected to office in 2020. This book helps you prepare for a romantic tour in Iran, should you choose to and are able to do so. We will visit the authentic historical places of Persia's "The One Thousand and One Nights" stories and see Iran from an insider's perspective. This is an opportunity to explore the origin of these stories from our childhood, from "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" to "Sinbad the Sailor". In Chapter 2 Brief history of Persia: Iran is home to one of the world's oldest and continuous civilizations and reached its territorial height in the sixth century BC, when Cyrus the Great founded the Achaemenid Empire, which stretched from Eastern Europe to the Indus Valley, making it one of the largest empires in history. In Chapter 3 Amazing inventions from Persia. Many Philosophers, Scientists, Medics, Chemists, Architects, Physicians, Geologists, Psychologists and Mathematicians from Persia and at that time, were leading the Ancient World and delivered the basis for today's inventions. In Chapter 4 A historical tour of two weeks through Iran. The Persian Empire has left remnants of an extraordinarily rich cultural heritage, not only in today's Iran, but also across the entire ancient empire territory. From Persepolis, the ancient capital of Persia, to the World Heritage sites in Esfahan and Yazd, we will discover them all. Chapter 5 The discrepancy between the western media representations of Iran and of the real conditions in Iran by some highly researched data and well-grounded facts. We shall explore the day-to-day life of Iranian people on the streets. Chapter 6 Diversity, which is in the DNA of Iran and its root are in the cultural heritage of Persia. Many tribes of Turkish, Armenians, Georgians, Jewish and Caucasians migrated to Iran building one of the most diverse societies on Earth. Chapter 7 Iran's politics today. The political system in Iran is shaped by its history, its diversity and by its unique geopolitical position. In Chapter 8 The illegal US sanctions on Iran. In October 2018, the UN's "International Court of Justice (ICJ)" declared the US sanctions on Iran as illegal. We will discover the reasons behind these US led sanctions. In Chapter 9 Despite all the human suffering caused by the US sanctions, Iranians have shown great strength, perseverance and resilience. Iran has made great progress in many areas. A substantial part of the proceeds from the sales of this book goes towards supporting the UNHCR .


America and Iran

America and Iran

Author: John Ghazvinian

Publisher: Knopf

Published: 2021

Total Pages: 688

ISBN-13: 0307271811

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"A history of the relationship between Iran and America from the 1700s through the current day"--


Treacherous Alliance

Treacherous Alliance

Author: Trita Parsi

Publisher: Yale University Press

Published: 2007-10-01

Total Pages: 381

ISBN-13: 0300138067

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This award-winning study traces the shifting relations between Israel, Iran, and the U.S. since 1948—including secret alliances and treacherous acts. Vitriolic exchanges between the leaders of Iran and Israel are a disturbingly common feature of the news cycle. But the real roots of their enmity mystify Washington policymakers, leaving no promising pathways to stability. In Treacherous Alliance, U.S. foreign policy expert Trita Parsi untangles to complex and often duplicitous relationship among Israel, Iran, and the United States from 1948 to the present. In the process, he reveals shocking details of unsavory political maneuverings that have undermined Middle Eastern peace and disrupted U.S. foreign policy initiatives in the region. Parsi draws on his unique access to senior American, Iranian, and Israeli decision makers to present behind-the-scenes revelations that will surprise even the most knowledgeable readers: Iran’s prime minister asks Israel to assassinate Khomeini; Israel reaches out to Saddam Hussein after the Gulf War; the United States foils Iran’s plan to withdraw support from Hamas and Hezbollah; and more. Treacherous Alliance not only revises our understanding of the recent past, it also spells out a course for the future. An Arthur Ross Book Award Silver Medal Winner A Choice Magazine Outstanding Academic Title