And also, last night, as I finished it, I was struck by the concluding paragraph (written in 1982, when the revolution was brand new): "The temporary factors that account for clerical ascendency include the charismatic personality of Khomeini, the intense averseion felt by the public for the shah, and the organizational handicaps that the regime had for a quarter of a century placed on the secular political parties. The clergy are unlikely to produce another Khomeini. For, while some of his disciples have his revolutionary credentials and others have his political astuteness, none combines both to be able to emerge as a successful revolutionary leader. Similarly, the clergy are unlikely to find another public enemy as unpopular as the shah against whom they can rally the whole population-unless, of course, a foreign enemy invades the country and threatens the existence of the entire nation. Finally, the clergy will gradually lose their organizational monopoly once the secular forces catch their breath and start establishing roots among the discontented classes, especially among the intelligentsia, the urban proletariat, and the rural lower classes" (Ervand Abrahamian, page 537). For all his talk about wanting a regime change, if Donald Trump had truly wanted it, he should have just left them alone. Instead, he provided the perfect Common Enemy to unite the people around their leader even more - especially when they killed him. It has only destroyed those "roots" Abrahamian was talking about, that people were establishing. If he really wanted a regime change, he should have left them alone. Now it will probably take decades more before the Republic is replaced with something else (if it is). But, of course, I already knew Trump was full of garbage and I didn't need to read this book to know that. It just accelerated what I already believed. Long message short, thanks for the recommendation.

Rarely do people (including myself) actually follow through on reading recommendations so it makes happy that you read one of the best books written about Iran.

This book is such a solid starting point in understanding Iran in general but it's core message has always been that external intervention will always activate revolution. And we're seeing it happen again because this administration was stupid enough to listen to the Israelis who def don't understand this.

But yeah that last paragraph feels like a warning to the west and reinforces Khomeini's theory and structure as valid. Def read his later book The Coup. You really start to see how fucked up the US has been about Iran to cover up for 1953.

If you're an American you owe it to the 165 school girls killed by your country. Read that book and understand how you were sold this distorted concept of Iran to cover up for America's crimes in 1953 (and onwards).

Iran isn't irrational. It's not the fanatic actor that America desperately needs to paint it as so you don't look into the coup.

You’re doing fine. It’s okay.

Do what you can when you can and that’s fine.

But also, if there’s someone in your life that can help, please don’t let shame or embarrassment prevent you from seeking that help. If you genuinely can’t keep up with certain tasks, please consider asking a trusted person for assistance.

And don’t listen to anyone disparaging you. They don’t know your life. They aren’t in your shoes. They can’t understand the difficulties you face. And ultimately, your actions don’t effect them.