Children of Paradise

The Struggle for the Soul of Iran

By: Laura Secor

Narrated by: Mozhan Marnò

The drama that shaped today’s Iran, from the Revolution to the present day.

In 1979, seemingly overnight—moving at a clip some thirty years faster than the rest of the world—Iran became the first revolutionary theocracy in modern times. Since then, the country has been largely a black box to the West, a sinister presence looming over the horizon. But inside Iran, a breathtaking drama has unfolded since then, as religious thinkers, political operatives, poets, journalists, and activists have imagined and reimagined what Iran should be. They have drawn as deeply on the traditions of the West as of the East and have acted upon their beliefs with urgency and passion, frequently staking their lives for them.

With more than a decade of experience reporting on, researching, and writing about Iran, Laura Secor narrates this unprecedented history as a story of individuals caught up in the slipstream of their time, seizing and wielding ideas powerful enough to shift its course as they wrestle with their country’s apparatus of violent repression as well as its rich and often tragic history. Essential reading at this moment when the fates of our countries have never been more entwined, Children of Paradise will stand as a classic of political reporting; an indelible portrait of a nation and its people striving for change.

Must read book on modern day Iran.

This was an excellent book on the pre-, revolutionary, and post-revolutionary Iran (And from an Iranian perspective). A must read for anyone who wants to understand modern day Iran and the internal strife that exists today.

Most Engaging

This is an engaging book. The stories & experiences of the people described here are heart breaking & leave you in awe of their courage and resilience. The book does a good job of balancing historical facts within the personal & emotional spectrum of the individuals. The narrator is also great.