Ten Months in Iran

 Author's Summary

This is an account of the developments in Iran prior to the 1978 collapse of the Shah's government. It details the civil and political conditions that led to the collapse and subsequent anarchy. It answers to the question of why Iran is now our enemy when, at the time, it was our best friend and a stabilizing force in that area of the world. 
 
He gives you an idea of what went wrong in our foreign policy that caused the loss of Iran to religious fanatics and he points a finger at the person responsible for losing Iran's friendship and support. He worked for Bell Helicopter in Isfahan, Iran as a cobra test pilot. The story begins with a vivid account of his final trip through the city of Isfahan amidst gunfights between soldiers and rioters. On his return home, the author was stunned to learn that many of the people he knew had been executed by the cleric dictator Ayatollah Khomeini.

MWSA Review

A true story of one American’s experiences working in 1978 pre-Ayatollah Khomeini Iran. This is the story from the author’s perspective regarding the political and religious traditions of an ancient land and its people.  Simpson describes the role American politics played in cementing the course of Iran’s domination by Islamist fundamentalists and the eventual and inevitable plunge into chaos. 

A detailed description of the author’s experiences during his 10 month assignment as a test pilot for Bell Helicopter in Isfahan, Iran, clearly an accurate account from an American’s point of view.

Also, it might have been interesting to read more about the difficulties and issues arising from the author’s non-religious perspective as it encounters an almost wholly, life encompassing fundamental religious doctrine. 

This is an excellent expose of the author’s beliefs and feelings about the people and cultures of the Middle East. While someone may not share the author’s beliefs, he is very clear about where he stands and gives just enough personal history to make sense of his position. The author never strays from his own perspective of his experiences for the 10 months he worked in Isfahan. 

Reviewed by: Carmen Stenholm (2010)