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All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror 2nd Edition, Kindle Edition
by Stephen Kinzer (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,562)
With a thrilling narrative that sheds much light on recent events, this national bestseller brings to life the 1953 CIA coup in Iran that ousted the country’s elected prime minister, ushered in a quarter-century of brutal rule under the Shah, and stimulated the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and anti-Americanism in the Middle East. Selected as one of the best books of the year by the Washington Post and The Economist, it now features a new preface by the author on the folly of attacking Iran.
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978-1620455302
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From the Back Cover
"A very gripping read . . . a cautionary tale for our current leaders."
--"The New York Times"
As zealots in Washington intensify their preparations for an American attack on Iran, the story of the CIA's 1953 coup--with its many cautionary lessons--is more urgently relevant than ever. All the Shah's Men brings to life the cloak-and-dagger operation that deposed the only democratic regime Iran ever had. The coup ushered in a quarter-century of repressive rule under the Shah, stimulated the rise of Muslim fundamentalism and anti-Americanism throughout the Middle East, and exposed the folly of using violence to try to reshape Iran. Selected as one of the best books of the year by the Washington Post and the Economist, it's essential reading if you want to place the American attack of Iraq in context--and prepare for what comes next.
"An entirely engrossing, often riveting, nearly Homeric tale. . . . For anyone with more than a passing interest in how the United States got into such a pickle in the Middle East, All the Shah's Men is as good as Grisham."
--"The Washington Post Book World"
"An exciting narrative. [Kinzer] questions whether Americans are well served by interventions for regime change abroad, and he reminds us of the long history of Iranian resistance to great power interventions, as well as the unanticipated consequences of intervention."
--"The Los Angeles Times"
"A swashbuckling yarn [and] helpful reminder of an oft-neglected piece of Middle Eastern history."
--"The New York Times Book Review"
About the Author
Stephen Kinzer is an award-winning foreign correspondent who has worked in more than fifty countries. He has been New York Times bureau chief in Istanbul, Berlin, and Managua, Nicaragua. His books include "Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq" and "Crescent and Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds."
Product details
ASIN : B00JJZTJIQ
Publisher : Trade Paper Press
Accessibility : Learn more
Publication date : 1 January 2008
Edition : 2nd
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From Australia
Eric A. Foster
5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Account
Reviewed in Australia on 9 July 2015
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I found this book to be a very well researched and written account of the deplorable events involving the Anglo Iranian Oil Company and the overthrow of Iran’s Mossadegh Government in 1953. The author provides a good insight to the development of Iranian attitudes and provides a clear historical background to the climactic event of the overthrow. The author also addresses all the key issues and provides thoughtful observations. I happily recommend this book to anyone seeking a thorough understanding as to why Iran hates the West. This is a story of the exploitation of an undeveloped country. It is also the story of mis-use of power and duplicity at the highest level of American and British Governments. Why would America and Britain expect to be trusted by anyone in the future?
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Ramin Marzbani
5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting book.
Reviewed in Australia on 27 November 2019
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Modern history at its best.
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Richard V Tasso
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Australia on 14 June 2015
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Brilliant yet disturbing. Another example of the English thinking they know what's best for everyone .
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From other countries
Ann Sheybani
5.0 out of 5 stars Why Understanding Iran Starts with Understanding What We Did There
Reviewed in the United States on 12 October 2025
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Every Iranian New Year, we'd drive through Abadan, and I'd watch the flames shooting from the tops of those massive stacks—the oil refinery burning off excess natural gas like some kind of industrial volcano. The infrastructure stretched for acres, a sprawling testament to British engineering and ambition, built back when Persia was just another piece on the colonial chessboard.
I didn't understand then what I was really looking at: the physical manifestation of why Iran doesn't trust us. Any of us.
Since living in Iran, I've been fascinated—maybe obsessed is more accurate—with the role foreign governments and companies have played in the Middle East, particularly in the petroleum industry. It's one thing to read about resource extraction and geopolitical maneuvering in a textbook. It's another thing entirely to live in a country where the national memory is scarred by it.
Stephen Kinzer's All the Shah's Men is the book I wish I'd read before I ever set foot in Iran. Hell, it's the book I wish every American would read before we collectively decide to have opinions about the Middle East.
Here's what happens when you live in Iran: you sit around tables with educated, sophisticated people who will, with complete sincerity, spin conspiracy theories that sound absolutely bananas to Western ears. And I used to find it funny, this cultural tendency toward seeing plots within plots, secret hands pulling strings behind every curtain.
Then I read Ryan Holiday's Conspiracy, which chronicles how Peter Thiel quietly, methodically, and very successfully destroyed Gawker because they outed him as gay against his will. Turns out conspiracy theories aren't quite so ridiculous when you realize that powerful people actually do engineer elaborate, patient, multi-year schemes to achieve their ends. We Americans just aren't used to fearing such things, thanks to our relatively stable history.
Iranians, on the other hand, have every reason to believe in conspiracies. Because they've lived through them. Because their popular prime minister—Mohammad Mosadegh, wildly beloved by his people—was actually, genuinely, factually overthrown in a CIA-orchestrated coup in 1953.
That's not a theory. That's history.
And that's where All the Shah's Men comes in.
Kinzer's book does something remarkable: it explains not just what happened, but why it matters. It's not just a recounting of events (though it is that, and brilliantly so). It's a window into the Iranian national psyche, into why a country with such a long, proud history has so little patience for foreign meddling.
Iran isn't some backwards outpost that just appeared on the map. It's Persia, for God's sake—one of the world's great civilizations, with a history stretching back millennia. They've watched foreign powers trade in their resources for what amounts to glass beads. They've seen their own corrupt leaders sell them out again and again. They know what happens behind closed doors because it's happened to them.
When the British Petroleum's predecessor effectively owned Iran's oil and gave the country a pittance in return, Mosadegh tried to nationalize it. He wanted Iran's oil wealth to benefit Iranians. Radical concept, right? The British didn't much care for that idea, and they convinced the Americans that Mosadegh was a communist threat. So we—the United States of America, land of democracy and freedom—orchestrated a coup to remove a democratically elected leader and install the Shah, who would be far more amenable to Western interests.
That moment? That's the nadir of US-Iran relations. That's where the hostilities that eventually led to the 1979 revolution and the hostage crisis actually began. Not with religious extremism appearing out of nowhere, but with us deciding that Iranian democracy was fine as long as it served our purposes.
All the Shah's Men is a fabulous read, not just because Kinzer teaches the history of Iran in a clear, concise way—though he does that masterfully—but because he shows you the folly of toying with a nation that has a strong identity and a long memory.
He explains what was at stake then and what remains at stake now: access to oil, regional influence, the strategic geography of the Middle East. He makes clear why nations vie for power there and why, despite all evidence to the contrary, we keep making the same mistakes.
Most importantly, he illuminates why invading or attempting to control Iran is probably the stupidest thing any foreign power could do. You can't bomb a proud people into submission, and you can't expect them to forget what you've done.
What struck me most about the book is how it reveals the chess game happening behind the scenes—the back-channeling, the quiet machinations, the deals struck in rooms the average citizen never sees. We like to think of foreign policy as this noble, principled endeavor. All the Shah's Men shows you the grubby reality: it's often about resources, leverage, and maintaining the upper hand, regardless of the human cost.
If you want to understand why the Middle East is the way it is, why Iran views the West with such suspicion, why our attempts at influence so often backfire spectacularly—read this book. If you want to understand how we got here and why our "here" involves so much mutual hostility and mistrust—read this book.
And if you just want to read a damn good piece of non-fiction that reads like a thriller but happens to be true—definitely read this book.
Because the thing about history is this: if you don't understand it, you're doomed to keep repeating it. And God knows we've repeated this particular pattern enough times already.
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Francisco Guillermo Jáuregui
5.0 out of 5 stars The whole book
Reviewed in Mexico on 11 February 2025
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Well written a master piece of History!
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Karina
5.0 out of 5 stars Un estudio completo!
Reviewed in Spain on 6 September 2017
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Un libro muy bien documentado que se lee más bien como una fabula. No se si se puede trazar la linea entre los hechos del `53 y 9/11 pero seguro que la participación de la CIA en la caída del gobierno de Mossadegh ha marcado las relaciones entre Irán y Estados Unidos e igual también en las relaciones internacionales en el mundo moderno.
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Parvaneh Razi
5.0 out of 5 stars Eye opening book
Reviewed in Canada on 25 November 2023
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As a Persian I was extremely sad and angry at politicians who changed the history of my country in a way that was beneficial for them. Reading the history that I didn't know much about was eye opening and bitter which means the writer did a good job! I offered this book to my sister to read and she had the same feeling of bitterness after reading the book.
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黒羽夏彦
5.0 out of 5 stars イランにおける反米感情の原点を描いた歴史ノンフィクション
Reviewed in Japan on 15 February 2010
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1953年に起こったイランのモサデク政権転覆クーデターは、CIA主導の秘密工作のうち最も有名な事件の一つであり、現在に至るもその悪影響を引きずっている。本書はモサデクの人物像を中心に、19世紀以来のイラン現代史、とりわけクーデターに至る経緯を描き出した歴史ノンフィクションである。
首相に就任したモサデクはイギリス資本の石油会社国有化を宣言、交渉が行き詰る中、英米側は彼の存在そのものが邪魔だと判断。CIAの工作員カーミット・ローズヴェルトの暗躍により、軍事クーデターでモサデクは逮捕された。アメリカはシャーの専制政治に肩入れした結果、イラン国民の反米感情を高めてイスラム革命を招き、さらには中東全体を不安定化させてしまったという歴史の連鎖が指摘される。
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Nancy Singh
5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing book.
Reviewed in India on 16 December 2021
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What an excellent read. This book gives an excellent account of the events of week in 1953 when coup managed by British and American politicians ,removed the prime Minister of Iran which affected the world around and has carried on the repercussions till now. It tells us how Britishers with their imperialistic mind set exploited Iran for its oil . It gives an intriguing account of propaganda that worked against the loyal and democratic leader of Iran who wanted to benefit and uplift his countryman by its own natural resources ie oil . Book wonderfully explains how Britishers ruled by looting the world thus uplifting their own country. Iran being the legitimate owners of their oil were given shoddy treatment and pennies in return which created hatred against western powers in people . Also corruption among its own people and exploitation by Britishers changed the course of world history which is felt even in new world.
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Jacky P.
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent pour le connaisseur et pour le moins connaisseur
Reviewed in France on 29 October 2016
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Ce livre donne une petite introduction à l'istoire récente d'Iran. C'est écrit dans une perspective iranophile assumée et justifiée explicitement dans une introduction qui donne une petite perspective historique et culturelle. Ensuite, le gros du livre est consacré à la description des actions des services secrets américains et anglais aboutissant au renversement du gouvernement démocratiquement élu de Mohamed Mossadegh, et à l'installation du régime autoritaire du shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Connaissant un peu l'histoire, j'ai surtout apprécié la description détaillée des actions de Kermit Roosevelt (agent américain). Mais mon épouse a vraiment apprécié l'ensemble, qui est une excellente introduction à ce chapitre d'histoire.
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Svetovid
5.0 out of 5 stars No going back to the same reality after reading this one
Reviewed in Germany on 5 January 2019
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You realize that the same system is still used nowadays to destroy many governments and impose lackeys which do not give a damn about the people. It is very easy to see that this scenario is simply copy-pasted for the last 50+ years.
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Peter C
5.0 out of 5 stars An extraordinary true story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 December 2012
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This is a remarkable account of an almost unbelievable series of events in Iran principally in 1953, although the author does give us a potted history of Iran from the early days and a more detailed history of the first half of the 20th century which led up to the events of 1953. The conduct of Britain in Iran during the century prior to 1953, particularly in connection with the massive oil reserves and the creation of the Anglo-Persian (later Anglo-Iranian) Oil Company, at the beginning of the 20th century to exploit the oil with massive profits to Britain and very little benefit to Iran, was quite appalling. Britain used the oil to fuel the forces during both world wars, and treated its Iranian employees like dirt while having wonderful facilities for its British staff. It was hardly surprising that the Iranians decided to nationalise the AIOC in 1950 and expel the British diplomats with their security staff. But then the Anglo-American plan in 1953 to get rid of the only prime minister who ever tried to start Iran on to a democratic path and to strengthen the position of the Shah was a disgusting attempt at interference in another country's affairs. The subsequent revolution in 1979 and the present situation may well not have happened if that had not occurred.
A well written account of a very interesting series of events which I was not previously aware of.
9 people found this helpful
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Dr. Ramin Pouladian
5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute eye opener !
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 October 2011
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This was an easy book to read and a difficult book to put down once you start. Having been born in Iran, I had always heard about the events surrounding Dr. Mossadegh and the British and American involvement in overthrowing the only democratic and a genuinely nationalist leader Iran had seen in it's recent history. But this book has given me a clear understanding of actual historical events and has put them into perspective. No wonder Iranians have a deep mistrust of the British and blame them for the country's misfortunes !!! This ia a real eye opener and a must for anyone who wants to learn about Iran, the Middle East, influence of Oil on British and US foreign policies and reasons for the animosities which exist around the world against the USA and UK.
5 people found this helpful
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Anders Flensborg
5.0 out of 5 stars Horror Story from real life !
Reviewed in Germany on 21 December 2013
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But the book is fascinating reading and offers good insight on a congenial people, and it truly offers a better understanding of our time
2 people found this helpful
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Swati Chakrabarti
5.0 out of 5 stars i can very well understand the political as well as the social history of the world better
Reviewed in India on 20 April 2017
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Such a detailed investigative report... it doesnt only records Iran's but the worlds history in a way. Sitting in Asia, i can very well understand the political as well as the social history of the world better now
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ID
5.0 out of 5 stars Buena obra
Reviewed in Spain on 28 April 2020
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Excelente obra como complemento a otras sobre esa temática
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saeid
5.0 out of 5 stars I would recommend this collection
Reviewed in Canada on 7 April 2025
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Awesome Book About The Past And The History About What Went Down In The Middle East.
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Nash Boutros, Professor of Psychiatry
5.0 out of 5 stars A most amazing book
Reviewed in the United States on 14 August 2025
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All the Shah,a Men is by far the best book I have read in a number of years. It is a must reading for everyone even if not particularly concerned with history or politics. The book reads like a suspenseful intrigue spy novel making it hard to stop reading. As an Egyptian it made it clear why Britain and Fran e got so mad when Egypt,s Naser nationalized the Suez Canal only five years after Mosadeq nationalized the Iranian oil and how succeeding in removing him may ha e emboldened them to militarily attack Egypt. Even more importantly the Book increased my appreciation to President Truman vision and integrity but not so much for Eisenhower. Finally, the fact that Iran was on it's way to Democracy and instead of supporting it the effort was thwarted resulting in the current severe suffering of the Iranian people. I cannot recommend the book more for E vereone
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Streeds Reads
4.0 out of 5 stars Review: All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror
Reviewed in the United States on 21 January 2017
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FTC NOTICE: Library Book
REVIEW: “All the Shah’s Men” serves as the second book I have read by Stephen Kinzer, and it was full of intrigue, micro-histories, and biographies that left me with the desire to research and read more about the Middle East as well as additional books by this author.
It is not unusual for history books to discuss timelines and people; but, what I appreciated most in this text was Kinzer’s differing approach to historical data. He was generous with details about a significant array of people that were involved with multiple coups. There were names of people in his book that I did not recall seeing in other compendiums pertaining to Middle East history and/or Iran. Kinzer shared what their individual philosophies were and how they affected their decisions and the resulting behaviors.
One challenge I experienced while reading this book, and that which prevented me from giving it five stars in lieu of four of them, was that there was too much going back and forth in history. A political leader’s history and interactions with others was/were very well described; but, at the end of that history, the reader was then re-introduced to a character at the beginning or middle of the previous history and all within the same chapter. Segmentation via a few extra and short chapters would have helped.
Despite the back-and-forth of histories, Stephen Kinzer has a great way of making a reader take a look at a situation and evaluate what could have been done differently. Unfortunately, he waited until over 200 pages into the book for any analysis or extrapolation to occur. This was coupled with a whole series of “if” and “if” and “if-then” and “if.” In doing so, Kinzer inadvertently de-valued what he was trying to accomplish, and the history could no longer be evaluated as a reality. Thankfully I had already read another book called " Reset: Iran, Turkey, and America's Future " by Kinzer, so I knew what he was trying to accomplish, and I didn’t want him to think that this was lost on me. He wanted the reader to imagine how things could have been done differently; what would have happened if one or all of these things did not occur?
The author is also quite talented when it comes to creating imagery. He does this thoughtfully, purposely, and respectfully. Kinzer shares the details of his trip to Iran and his visit to Mossadegh’s final home. There are descriptions of colors, flowers, and buildings, and he places them in the context of what they experienced and looked like in history and how they had changed by the time of his visit. There is a certain romanticism about how he goes about interviewing people who were employees, villagers/neighbors, friends and family of Mossadegh. Stephen Kinzer makes it clear that with the Mossadegh name, there is a legacy, and there is a responsibility to keep the name pure.
Purity and the instability of relationships were prevalent themes in this book. The intelligence that the American government received was not consistently pure. There were people who wanted to make a name for themselves and leveraged “The Cold War” and its threat of spreading communism as a way to convince an American president that it was time to start supporting the British government in its efforts to take back Iran’s newly-nationalized oil company. Kinzer did a good job of “calling out” these people, namely The Dulles Brothers.
There were good people on all sides who had good intentions, and they were coupled with individuals or groups filled with mal-intent, which ultimately led to a surpise coup of Mohammed Reza Shah and the promotion to leadership and ultimate power of and for the Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran. There were well-described changes in alliances that ultimately put the United States in an unsavory position with countries in the Middle East…definitely an unfortunate stance and one that can hopefully be corrected.
29 people found this helpful
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manou Farrokhzad
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in Canada on 17 April 2015
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perfect
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