Reset

Iran, Turkey, and America's Future

By: Stephen Kinzer

Narrated by: Alan Sklar

What can the United States do to help realize its dream of a peaceful, democratic Middle East? Stephen Kinzer offers a surprising answer in this paradigm-shifting book.

Two countries in the region, he argues, are America's logical partners in the 21st century: Turkey and Iran. Besides proposing this new "power triangle", Kinzer recommends that the United States reshape relations with its two traditional Middle East allies, Israel and Saudi Arabia.

This book provides a penetrating, timely critique of America's approach to the world's most volatile region and offers a startling alternative. Kinzer is a master storyteller with an eye for grand characters and illuminating historical detail. In this book he introduces us to larger-than-life figures, such as a Nebraska schoolteacher who became a martyr to democracy in Iran; a Turkish radical who transformed his country and Islam forever; and a colorful parade of princes, politicians, women of the world, spies, oppressors, liberators, and dreamers.

Kinzer's provocative new view of the Middle East is the rare book that will richly entertain while moving a vital policy debate beyond the stale alternatives of the last 50 years.

©2010 Stephen Kinzer (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

“An original, unsettling critique... [and] an imaginative solution to the Middle-East stalemate.” ( Kirkus Reviews)

Good one

Good one . This is a very entertaining read and a well narrated book. Kudos to Audible for having this book in their store.

Essential, read on Middle East

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It has a very interesting and new look at the issues in the Middle East politics. It provides some context on the current status of Iran and Turkey. Their similarities and differences.

Very informative

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was great. Described in detail the modern history of Turkey, Iran, and the US's involvement in the region. The writer did a great job putting all the information together. I really liked the reader's voice, sounded very powerful. Recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Middle East and also how problems in the Middle East including the Israeli and Palestinian conflict might be solved.

challenges stereotypes

In Reset Stephen Kinzer challenges stereotypes that need re-evaluation if another destructive war is to be avoided. For people whom the history of Iran and Turkey is a blur, this is a useful corrective. The narrative is clear. I sometimes did have to stop to orient myself to be sure if it is Iran or Turkey that is being described. There is a period of parallel developments in secularization where the story moves from one nation to the other to make the comparisons more vivid. The ear does not comprehend this as easily as the eye would.

Nevertheless, this is well written and well read. His chapters on Israel and Saudi Arabia were enlightening and unexpected. The account of Israel's operations as a proxy for the US in Central America was a shocker.

Despite Kinzer's recognition of the dark corners of history, he sees in the United States a great potential to realize itself as an agent for peace in the world. But to to bring about peace in the middle east, it must divest itself of the anachronistic assumptions of the cold war.

Extremely well written. The US blew it.

Would you consider the audio edition of Reset to be better than the print version?

I don't have time to read, most unfortunately.

Who was your favorite character and why?

After listening to Kinzer's book, I am confident I can hold my own when it comes to explaining what went wrong with Iran and how it could have been so different. What we didn't understand about Iran really hurt us. One really awful mistake after another. This book is extremely informative and should be required reading for all of our politicians. Never an extraneous word. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Have you listened to any of Alan Sklar’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes: Sklar is an excellent choice for this book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

If we had just not interfered (CIA) in Iranian affairs we could have had a real ally in the middle east.

Any additional comments?

Makes me want to learn much more about the middle east.