Cultures Of The World: Iran, by Cavendish Square

This book is a short, almost 150 page, book on Iran that is filled with beautiful pictures. Normally I consider the text of a book to be far more important than any photographs. Yet the situation of this book is somewhat different. For a variety of reasons, Iran is a nation that is extremely obscure to American readers, and few Americans have visited the country now for more than 40 years. This book does a great job of opening Iran to the American reader in terms of providing pictures of beautiful creation as well as architectural beauty. If it seems unlikely that many Americans will see the beauties of cities like Shiraz, Yazd, or Esfahan, the book does not avoid the smog of Tehran or problems of drought in the deserts of central Iran as well as Lake Urmia. Both natural and human-created beauty as well as the problems of oil dependence and crippling sanctions that have kept many technological advances and development away from the nation are on display in this book, and when I read it I just wanted to share the pictures even before reading the book, and that is something to appreciate.

This book is already short and it is divided further into 13 relatively short chapters, many of them containing gorgeous photographs. The book begins with a short welcome to Iran. After this there is a chapter about Iran’s geography, focusing on the plateau and surrounding mountains, waters, as well as plants and animals (1). This is followed by a chapter on Iran’s history, starting with ancient history, moving along through the Muslim invasion, the Mongols and Safavids, issues with war and oil, as well as the Islamic Revolution and Iran in the 21st century (2). A chapter on Iran’s complicated government, with its supreme leader, lawmakers, courts, armed forces, and the press follows (3). After this comes aa chapter about Iran’s economy, including oil, other industries, crops and livestock, rug making, tourism, and bazaars (4). A chapter on the environment brings up Iran’s struggle with keeping clean air, water, as well as the effects of pollution on plants and animals and regulations that are trying to help (5). A chapter on Iranians examines nomads, city dwellers, Iran’s multiethnic society, as well as queer life (6). A chapter on lifestyle looks at typical life, schools, Iran’s growing cities, small villages, and life for young and old people (7). A chapter on religion in Iran discusses Muslim belief and practices, two sects, the relationship between religion and law, the struggle for rights, official religious minorities, as well as Baha’i persecution (8). A chapter on language discusses modern Farsi, other languages, and other expressions (9). This is followed by a chapter on various arts, such as gardens, literature, architecture, painting, pottery, carpets, and audible art (10). Some thoughts on leisure, including sports in Iran, traditional leisure, and games (11). A chapter on festivals includes Islamic events, a sacred month (Ramadan), the marking of the new year, and public holidays (12). The last chapter discusses food, including kebabs (ground meat) khoresh (slices/cuts of meat), key components of food, dairy products, and sweets (13). The book ends with a map of Iran, information about the economy and culture, timeline, glossary, suggestions for further information, as well as a bibliography and index.

I am not familiar with the series written by Cavendish Square before, but judging by this book there is a good chance that I will be looking forward to reading whatever other volumes of this series that I can. This is a thoughtful book that manages to capture the beauty of Iran and its potential while also providing some thoughtful discussion of its struggles and difficulties as well. This is a book that celebrates the culture of Iran without whitewashing that culture, and given the evident access that the authors and photographers had, it was likely well understood that even a warts and all portrayal of Iran, with its environmental difficulties, would still convey a land of beauty and complexity that people would want to see. This hope, if it may be termed such, on a part of those who allowed the authors and photographers to take such varied photos of gardens, mosques, apartment buildings, towers of silence, nomad tents, watermelon farming in Baluchistan, gorgeous scenes in deserts and the forests just south of the Caspian Sea, rug markets, and many other places, appears to have been a successful one. The book looks like a book that could be used to further tourism to Iran. Iran certainly has a lot worth seeing, for those with a wide variety of travel interests, whether that means seeking to find rare endemic animals, visit religious shrines sacred to at least three religions–Shia Islam, Armenian Orthodoxy, and Zoroastrianism–as well as gorgeous territory seldom seen by outsiders, especially Americans. Perhaps Iran, even in these difficult times, could become a hipster place of adventure for the truly daring. Only time can tell.