The Pre-Loved edit from Shopbop
To share your reaction on this item, open the Amazon app from the App Store or Google Play on your phone.

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

eBook features:
  • Highlight, take notes, and search in the book
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the authors

See all
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Iran Awakening: A Memoir of Revolution and Hope Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 278 ratings

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK The moving, inspiring memoir of one of the great women of our times, Shirin Ebadi, winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize and advocate for the oppressed, whose spirit has remained strong in the face of political persecution and despite the challenges she has faced raising a family while pursuing her work.

Best known in this country as the lawyer working tirelessly on behalf of Canadian photojournalist, Zara Kazemi—raped, tortured and murdered in Iran—Dr. Ebadi offers us a vivid picture of the struggles of one woman against the system. The book movingly chronicles her childhood in a loving, untraditional family, her upbringing before the Revolution in 1979 that toppled the Shah, her marriage and her religious faith, as well as her life as a mother and lawyer battling an oppressive regime in the courts while bringing up her girls at home.

Outspoken, controversial, Shirin Ebadi is one of the most fascinating women today. She rose quickly to become the first female judge in the country; but when the religious authorities declared women unfit to serve as judges she was demoted to clerk in the courtroom she had once presided over. She eventually fought her way back as a human rights lawyer, defending women and children in politically charged cases that most lawyers were afraid to represent. She has been arrested and been the target of assassination, but through it all has spoken out with quiet bravery on behalf of the victims of injustice and discrimination and become a powerful voice for change, almost universally embraced as a hero.

Her memoir is a gripping story—a must-read for anyone interested in Zara Kazemi’s case, in the life of a remarkable woman, or in understanding the political and religious upheaval in our world.

Praise for Shirin Ebadi and Iran Awakening

“This is the riveting story of an amazing and very brave woman living through some quite turbulent times. And she emerges with head unbowed.”
—Archbishop Desmond Tutu

“The safety and freedom of citizens in democracies is irretrievably bound with the safety and freedom of people like Shirin Ebadi who are fighting to reassert the best achievements of mankind: universal human rights. One of the staunchest advocates for human rights in her country and beyond, Ms. Ebadi, herself a devout Muslim, represents hope for many in Muslim societies that Islam and democracy are indeed compatible.”
—Azar Nafisi

“A moving portrait of a life lived in truth.”
The New York Times Book Review

“A riveting account of a brave, lonely struggle . . . [
Iran Awakening] reads like a police thriller, its drama heightened by Ebadi’s determination to keep up the quotidian aspects of her family life.”The Washington Post Book World

“A must read . . . may be the most important book you could read this year.”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Most Americans date troubles with Iran to the 1979 overthrow of the shah and the 444-day U.S. embassy hostage drama. Iranians date the friction back to 1953, when the U.S. orchestrated a coup that removed beloved Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. Ebadi recalls that period as the beginning of shifting politics that would erode basic freedoms and notions of human rights in Iran. Raised to believe in gender equality, Ebadi became a judge but was demoted to secretary when the Islamic Revolution under Ayatollah Khomeini demanded subservience of women. Ebadi estimates that five million Iranians, feeling oppressed by the revolution, left the country, draining valuable resources and leaving bitterly separated families. Ebadi lost her profession, her friends, and her country but was determined to stay and speak out against oppression. She eventually returned to public life as a human-rights lawyer taking on the defense of women, children, and dissidents. Ebadi offers a very personal account of her life and her fight for human rights in Iran. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

 “This is the riveting story of an amazing and very brave woman living through some quite turbulent times. And she emerges with head unbowed.”—Archbishop Desmond Tutu
 
“The safety and freedom of citizens in democracies is irretrievably bound with the safety and freedom of people like Shirin Ebadi who are fighting to reassert the best achievements of mankind: universal human rights. One of the staunchest advocates for human rights in her country and beyond, Ms. Ebadi, herself a devout Muslim, represents hope for many in Muslim societies that Islam and democracy are indeed compatible.”
—Azar Nafisi
 
“A moving portrait of a life lived in truth.”
The New York Times Book Review
 
“A riveting account of a brave, lonely struggle . . . [
Iran Awakening] reads like a police thriller, its drama heightened by Ebadi’s determination to keep up the quotidian aspects of her family life.”The Washington Post Book World
 
“A must read . . . may be the most important book you could read this year.”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
 
“As a testament to how a single, inspired voice can rise above the cacophony . . . the book should be required reading.”
The Nation
 
“Some of her admirers in Iran call her a woman of steel. Sure, the Iranian human rights champion also has a heart of gold. But it is Shirin Ebadi’s unbending will that explains how she has become the conscience of the Islamic Republic.”
Time
 
“[Ebadi] has come forward with professional force and unflagging courage, and she has defied any danger to her own safety. She is truly a woman of the people!”
—Ole Danbolt Mjos, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
 
“[Ebadi] has risked her freedom and her life to defend democracy, free speech, and the rule of law.”
The Boston Globe

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000GCFVY2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House (May 2, 2006)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 2, 2006
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3735 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 278 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
278 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find the book provides enlightening information about Iranian history and culture. They describe it as an easy, compelling read with well-written and clear text. The story is described as captivating and realistic. Readers praise the writing quality, pacing, and art direction.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

28 customers mention "Iranian history"28 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides enlightening information about recent history in Iran. They say it provides insight into a different culture and the struggles they face. The book is educational, inspiring, and an eye-opener for readers.

"...Of course this book is a wonderful portrait of a courageous and determined woman who risks everything in the name of human rights and is awarded a..." Read more

"An eye opener, very interesting ....if you are a women concerned with human rights, irrelevant of creed or whatever, see the other side of the coin,..." Read more

"...I did enjoy the book and did learn a great amount about their revolution and the aftermath...." Read more

"Ms. Ebadi has a worthwhile story to tell. She certainly is a courageous woman!..." Read more

23 customers mention "Readability"21 positive2 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and well-written. They say it's worth the price and not disappointing.

"...Talk about a fighter against all odds, this lady is incredible ...brilliant! I purchased it only as I saw she is a Nobel prize winner!" Read more

"...The author's own daughter left to study in Canada. It is a good book but I preferred Roya Hakakian's "Journey from the land of No."" Read more

"What a great read, told from someone who thought the 1979 revolution would bring about "change." Boy did it ever!..." Read more

"Not only educational but a page-turner! This book is a great read, and does an excellent job of describing what happened with Iran...." Read more

23 customers mention "Story quality"20 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the compelling and engaging story. They find it an interesting memoir that draws them in like a novel. The book provides an insightful account of historical and modern Iran, making it an ideal read for those looking for inspirational stories.

"Interesting story about the author's life...." Read more

"An eye opener, very interesting ....if you are a women concerned with human rights, irrelevant of creed or whatever, see the other side of the coin,..." Read more

"...struggles of living in an authoritarian country like Iran was very enlightening and challenging...." Read more

"...This book was amazing in recalling the events that started the Islamic Revolution...." Read more

9 customers mention "Writing quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and easy to read. They describe it as a powerful yet quiet document on the problems in Iran. The writing is intelligent and clearly presented, making it credible.

"...It's a fast easy read but that may have been at the expense of information and details about her life that seemed to be missing from this account...." Read more

"...The book is written without any sensationalism and is a quiet but powerful document on the problems in Iran...." Read more

"...Well written." Read more

"...This book is a great read, and does an excellent job of describing what happened with Iran...." Read more

4 customers mention "Art direction"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's art direction and find it well-documented. They say it provides a fascinating look at life inside the spacecraft.

"A lot of redundancy.Artful in capturing your attention from one book to the next worth the price and not disappointing." Read more

"I loved this book. It is well documented and is a fascinating look at the life inside the quagmire of the Iranian judicial system pre and post..." Read more

"Beautiful and inspiring journey." Read more

"Fascinating look at the life of women in Iran..." Read more

4 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find the heroine to be an incredible and brilliant fighter against all odds.

"...Talk about a fighter against all odds, this lady is incredible ...brilliant! I purchased it only as I saw she is a Nobel prize winner!" Read more

"...The author is a Noble-Peace Prize award winner and an amazing woman who stayed in Iran through so much turmoil. I admire her greatly." Read more

"Ms. Ebadi is an amazing woman, achieving great achievements on behalf of Iranian women in circumstances that were threatening to her professionally..." Read more

"It's an amazing book by an amazing woman A Babazadeh" Read more

3 customers mention "Difficulty level"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book challenging. They appreciate the author's resolve and determination.

"...in an authoritarian country like Iran was very enlightening and challenging...." Read more

"...of an Iranian lady judge, lawyer and activist full of courage and determination, who loves her country and has fought for law and justice, risking..." Read more

"Her resolve is impressive -- she shows the strength a mother has for her children, and extends it to all the children of the country there...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2012
    I have a Ph.D. in Religious Studies and have found this book to be illuminating about Iranian history from the early 1950's to the present. This covers some very crucial Iranian-American history that both countries need to acknowledge. I can't help but envision a series of meetings between the heads of both countries with Shirin Ebadi present to facilitate and urge both sides towards confession and reconciliation. I don't know how our two countries can possibly talk with each other productively until this mutual history is acknowledged and embraced in all its troublesome detail. Of course this book is a wonderful portrait of a courageous and determined woman who risks everything in the name of human rights and is awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts. As 2012 moves towards 2013, and as we settle into 4 more years with our newly elected president, and as there's all this sword rattling between America and Iran (with Israel a focal point of it all), this book can inject some reality and sanity into the situation. I think this book is a more important read at this historical moment than when it was first published a few years ago. Please read this and consider.
    8 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2015
    Interesting story about the author's life. I appreciated learning more about the view of America from someone who has lived through much of Iran's more recent history. It's a fast easy read but that may have been at the expense of information and details about her life that seemed to be missing from this account. While she touches on the issues of her choice to stay in a country that constantly threatens her and her daughter's lives, I am still left wondering why. Perhaps this is because she doesn't say much positive about her experiences there. The same can be said about her marriage. While her husband figures prominently in the beginning he is no where to be found by the end.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2016
    Shirin Ebadi, winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize and a multitude of honours from various countries for her courageous and honourable stand for women's rights in a country notorious for it's poor human rights record.
    Herself, a qualified Judge, was stripped of her right to work in the area for which she was trained and suffered the indignities and frustration of her gender following the Revolution and establishment of the Islamic Republic, where women have been considered second rate citizens for centuries.
    She has been constantly harassed, jailed on one occasion, as well as being on hit lists, and is currently protected by bodyguards in fear of her life.
    Her determination to help create a better Iran for her fellow citizens, all the while respecting her Religious beliefs makes for an incredible and admirable human being.
    Iran Awakening tells the story of her struggle for the recognition of women and for the rights of normal men and women under a Regime that is steadfast in it's beliefs.
    The book is written without any sensationalism and is a quiet but powerful document on the problems in Iran.
    Intelligently and clearly written, I would urge anyone interested in world politics to read this book.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2015
    An eye opener, very interesting ....if you are a women concerned with human rights, irrelevant of creed or whatever, see the other side of the coin, read this ! I recommended it to my Book Club !! Talk about a fighter against all odds, this lady is incredible ...brilliant! I purchased it only as I saw she is a Nobel prize winner!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2018
    To read about all the struggles of living in an authoritarian country like Iran was very enlightening and challenging. I kept asking myself, what would I do if I were in the author’s position. Would I live the courage of my conviction, if I were subject to ongoing death threats?
    Well written.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2023
    I always wondered about the Shah of Iran and the US giving him asylum under the Carter administration. What was happening at that time? I was 9 years old at the time and more interested in playing outside.

    This book was amazing in recalling the events that started the Islamic Revolution. Also they immediately went to war with invading Iraq almost immediately after.
    This book gave me more of an understanding of the different branches(?) of Islamic practice and that Iran was the strictest of them all.

    I think I am a fairly intelligent person who likes to read especially history. However there were times in this book that I could not understand what was happening.
    Some of this was political and I'm not good with politics. Those parts I skimmed. It would probably make more sense too if I was familiar with Iran and their politics as well as the running of their government. The paragraphs were also very long which made it difficult in itself to read.
    I did enjoy the book and did learn a great amount about their revolution and the aftermath.
    Yes I am an American and I do not ever see myself stepping foot into Iran because Americans are seen as the enemy. That is why books like these are so important so that I can "travel" to them safely.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2006
    Ms. Ebadi has a worthwhile story to tell. She certainly is a courageous woman! I can't catagorize this as a great book because I put it down several times and was not running to pick it up again. I don't understand the title at all. After reading the book I don't see Iran "awakening" at all. I see the author as someone either very clever in evading death, or just plain lucky. I agree with a previous reviewer who felt the author wrong in unfavorably judging Iranians who left after the revolution. Most of them were running for their lives, as perhaps she might have done. The author's own daughter left to study in Canada. It is a good book but I preferred Roya Hakakian's "Journey from the land of No."
    3 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Florie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Très bien
    Reviewed in France on September 12, 2018
    Très joli livre, facile à lire pour les débutants en lecture anglaise et vraiment très intéressant ! On y découvre une femme à l’histoire incroyable ainsi qu’un pays qui gagne à être découvert.
    Pas de souci de livraison.
  • shima
    5.0 out of 5 stars I've read this book 2 times and decided to buy ...
    Reviewed in Canada on October 3, 2015
    I've read this book 2 times and decided to buy a copy of it. Shirin Ebadi will take you though real-life scenarios....
  • Nazia A
    1.0 out of 5 stars Second-hand copy instead of new
    Reviewed in India on June 12, 2019
    Damaged copy. I paid for a new book.

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?