Ali Vaez
Ali Vaez is the Iran project director at the International Crisis Group.
Persians by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
So the first book I want to recommend is called The Persians The Age of the Great Kings by Lloyd Llewellyn Llewellyn Jones. And this is a really interesting book because most of the stories that have been written or histories that have been written about ancient Persia have been based on Greek sources. But but what what this author has done is that he's actually gone to the Persian sources.
on a podcast · 14 Mar 2026 · Report
The Mantle of the Prophet by Roy P. Mottahedeh
The second book is The Mantle of the Prophet Religion and Politics in Iran by Roy Mottahedeh. Which also does something rare.
on a podcast · 14 Mar 2026 · Report
Tomorrow Is Yesterday by Hussein Agha and Robert Malley
It's called Tomorrow is Yesterday life death and pursuit of peace in Israel-Palestine by Hussein Agha and and Rob Malley. And and one thing I really appreciate about about this book is that um it helps you understand how in conflict situations like this there's plenty of blame to go around.
on a podcast · 14 Mar 2026 · Report
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