Iran Awakening: A Memoir of Revolution and Hope

Shirin Ebadi, winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize and a multitude of honours from various countries for her courageous and honourable stand for women's rights in a country notorious for it's poor human rights record.Herself, a qualified Judge, was stripped of her right to work in the area for which she was trained and suffered the indignities and frustration of her gender following the Revolution and establishment of the Islamic Republic, where women have been considered second rate citizens for centuries.She has been constantly harassed, jailed on one occasion, as well as being on hit lists, and is currently protected by bodyguards in fear of her life.Her determination to help create a better Iran for her fellow citizens, all the while respecting her Religious beliefs makes for an incredible and admirable human being.Iran Awakening tells the story of her struggle for the recognition of women and for the rights of normal men and women under a Regime that is steadfast in it's beliefs.The book is written without any sensationalism and is a quiet but powerful document on the problems in Iran.Intelligently and clearly written, I would urge anyone interested in world politics to read this book.

A well todo family educates its daughters and one becomes a lawyer. Life is good until the revolution in the 1970s. The manipulation of the Irianian government and rulers by the British and American Cia primes the populace for revolution and the return of clerical rule. The modern advances are repudiated and life becomes hard. Her story of life of a woman lawyer is harsh as the years pass and eventually she is jailed unjustly. An insiders story of the progression of the application of sharia law and the suppression of women.

I have a Ph.D. in Religious Studies and have found this book to be illuminating about Iranian history from the early 1950's to the present. This covers some very crucial Iranian-American history that both countries need to acknowledge. I can't help but envision a series of meetings between the heads of both countries with Shirin Ebadi present to facilitate and urge both sides towards confession and reconciliation. I don't know how our two countries can possibly talk with each other productively until this mutual history is acknowledged and embraced in all its troublesome detail. Of course this book is a wonderful portrait of a courageous and determined woman who risks everything in the name of human rights and is awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts. As 2012 moves towards 2013, and as we settle into 4 more years with our newly elected president, and as there's all this sword rattling between America and Iran (with Israel a focal point of it all), this book can inject some reality and sanity into the situation. I think this book is a more important read at this historical moment than when it was first published a few years ago. Please read this and consider.

Interesting story about the author's life. I appreciated learning more about the view of America from someone who has lived through much of Iran's more recent history. It's a fast easy read but that may have been at the expense of information and details about her life that seemed to be missing from this account. While she touches on the issues of her choice to stay in a country that constantly threatens her and her daughter's lives, I am still left wondering why. Perhaps this is because she doesn't say much positive about her experiences there. The same can be said about her marriage. While her husband figures prominently in the beginning he is no where to be found by the end.

Shirin Ebadi was an impassioned observer and participant in the significant events from the ouster of Mostagadeh to the flight of the Shah, the arrival of Khomeini and the hostage-taking by the young revolution through its evolution into the current Islamic State. Despite losing her judgeship and privileges, she has stubbornly resisted leaving her beloved Iran and continued resisting attempts by the government to still her voice and prevent her from defending her clients, victims of political repression. Thus account honestly and effectively introduces Americans to what daily life is like in present day Iran.

I am a retired attorney so I was very interested in the life of Shirin Ebadi who is close to my age. Trained as a judge in Iran during the time of the Shaw, she took part in protest against his extravagant lifestyle. She was hopeful when the Ayatollah returned to Iran. It became quickly clear that women's lives would drastically change when he assumed power.

Sometimes a book comes along that changes my thinking. This is one of those. Through it I have gained knowledge and understanding about Iran and it's political upheavals. I have also been given a glimpse into the lives of Iranian women.

To read about all the struggles of living in an authoritarian country like Iran was very enlightening and challenging. I kept asking myself, what would I do if I were in the author’s position. Would I live the courage of my conviction, if I were subject to ongoing death threats?Well written.

I've read this book 2 times and decided to buy a copy of it. Shirin Ebadi will take you though real-life scenarios....

Damaged copy. I paid for a new book.

Très joli livre, facile à lire pour les débutants en lecture anglaise et vraiment très intéressant ! On y découvre une femme à l’histoire incroyable ainsi qu’un pays qui gagne à être découvert.Pas de souci de livraison.