A "Los Angeles Times" and "Economist" Best Book of the Year
With a New Preface
The grandson of an eminent ayatollah and the son of an Iranian diplomat, journalist Hooman Majd is uniquely qualified to explain contemporary Iran's complex and misunderstood culture to Western readers.
The Ayatollah Begs to Differ provides an intimate look at a paradoxical country that is both deeply religious and highly cosmopolitan, authoritarian yet informed by a history of democratic and reformist traditions. Majd offers an insightful tour of Iranian culture, introducing fascinating characters from all walks of life, including zealous government officials, tough female cab drivers, and open-minded, reformist ayatollahs. It's an Iran that will surprise readers and challenge Western stereotypes.
In his new preface, Majd discusses the Iranian mood during and after the June 2009 presidential election which set off the largest street protests since the revolution that brought the ayatollahs to power.

Brooklyn-set comedy written, directed by and starring Desiree Akhavan. Shirin (Akhavan) is a woman in her twenties who has just broken up with her girlfriend Maxine (Rebecca Henderson) and still hides the truth about her sexuality from her conservative Iranian parents. Working as a film teacher to overprivileged five-year-olds, Shirin struggles to get over Maxine and seeks to achieve some semblance of a personal, professional and cultural balance in her life on her own terms. A goal not aided by her overachieving brother and his new and adored Persian fianceé who both happen to be highly successful in the field of medicine, much to her parents' delight.