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Iran is a country best understood through its stories: its long history, its poets, its cooks and the people who have lived through its upheavals. Here is our pick of the books worth reading before you go, or instead of going.
History and politics.
- Iran: A Modern History by Abbas Amanat: a big, authoritative history of Iran from the Safavids to the Islamic Republic, and the best single book on how the modern country took shape.
- The Persians by Homa Katouzian: a shorter, very readable account of Iranian history from ancient times to the present, with a sharp eye for patterns that repeat.
- All the Shah’s Men by Stephen Kinzer: the gripping story of the 1953 coup against Mohammad Mosaddegh, essential for understanding Iran’s relations with Britain and the United States.
Memoir and life in Tehran.
- Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi: a graphic memoir of growing up in Tehran through the revolution and the Iran–Iraq war, funny and moving in equal measure.
- Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi: a literature professor’s account of a secret reading group of young women in 1990s Tehran.
- City of Lies by Ramita Navai: eight interwoven true stories from along Valiasr Street, revealing the hidden lives of modern Tehranis.
Poetry and epic.
- Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings by Ferdowsi, translated by Dick Davis: Iran’s national epic, in a lively English version that mixes prose and verse.
- Faces of Love, translated by Dick Davis: beautiful translations of Hafez and other poets of medieval Shiraz. Hafez is the poet Iranians quote most.
Food.
- Food of Life by Najmieh Batmanglij: the classic book of Persian cookery, rich in recipes, history and customs.
- Persiana by Sabrina Ghayour: modern, accessible Persian and Middle Eastern recipes for home cooks.
For the trip.
- Lonely Planet Iran: still the most complete printed guide, though check the edition date, as much has changed. Use it alongside our transport guide and city guides.
More. Planning a visit? Start with our guides to visas and Tehran’s top attractions.
Poetry and film. For the poets, see our guide to Persian poetry in English, and for the cinema, our list of ten Iranian films to watch.
