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Tag Archives: Shah of Shahs
The Books: “Shah of Shahs” (Ryszard Kapuscinski)
My history bookshelf. Onward. Next book on this shelf is called Shah of Shahs by Ryszard Kapuscinski. This is about the fall of the last Shah of Iran and the rise of Khomeini. Kapuscinski was there. He appeared to be … Continue reading
Kapuscinski
Ryszard Kapuscinski, one of my own personal idols, has spent his entire life reporting on revolutions across the world. His books include: Another Day of LIfe – the story of the civil war in Angola. Kapuscinski was there. The Emperor … Continue reading
Posted in Books
Tagged Imperium, Ryszard Kapuściński, Shah of Shahs, The Shadow of the Sun, The Soccer War
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New Year’s Eve in Teheran, 1979
From Ryszard Kapuscinski’s book Shah of Shahs (about the last Shah of Iran): Kapuscinski was in Iran when the American hostages were taken. He had a front-row seat for the entire revolution. On New Year’s Eve, 1979, he takes a … Continue reading
Kapuściński: On Revolution XI
From Ryszard Kapuscinski’s book Shah of Shahs (about the last Shah of Iran): Dissent soon broke out in the revolutionary camp. Everyone had opposed the Shah and wanted to remove him, but everyone had imagined the future differently. Some thought … Continue reading
Kapuściński: On Revolution X
From Ryszard Kapuscinski’s book Shah of Shahs (about the last Shah of Iran): Revolution attaches great importance to symbols, destroying some monuments and setting up others to replace them in the hope that through metaphor it can survive. And what … Continue reading
Kapuściński: On Revolution IX
From Ryszard Kapuscinski’s book Shah of Shahs (about the last Shah of Iran): [The Shah] also perished because he did not know his own country. He spent his whole life in the palace. When he would leave the palace, he … Continue reading
Kapuściński: On Revolution VIII
From Ryszard Kapuscinski’s book Shah of Shahs (about the last Shah of Iran): The Shah’s vanity did him in. He thought of himself as the father of his country, but the country rose against him. He took it to heart … Continue reading
Kapuściński: On Revolution VII
From Ryszard Kapuscinski’s book Shah of Shahs (about the last Shah of Iran): A despot believes that man is an abject creature. Abject people fill his court and populate his environment. A terrorized society will behave like an unthinking, submissive … Continue reading
Kapuściński: On Revolution VI
From Ryszard Kapuscinski’s book Shah of Shahs (about the last Shah of Iran): All books about all revolutions begin with a chapter that describes the decay of totterign authority or the misery and sufferings of the people. They should begin … Continue reading
Kapuściński: On Revolution V
From Ryszard Kapuscinski’s book Shah of Shahs (about the last Shah of Iran): It is authority that provokes revolution. Certainly, it does not do so consciously. Yet its style of life and way of ruling finally becomes a provocation. This … Continue reading