Zeitgeist

How the U.S. and Iran Got Here

From the 1953 coup to Hormuz chokepoints to civilian casualties, six books that map the historical grievances, energy vulnerabilities, and political calculations driving the current U.S.-Iran war.

6 booksApril 2, 2026

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Pentagon probe points to U.S. missile hitting Iranian schoolnpr.org My Family Fled the Iranian Revolution. In the West’s War for “Freedom,” I See...vanityfair.com Trump’s Inexcusable Unpreparedness for the Iranian Oil Crisisnewyorker.com

Part of 470+ tracked lists

1. King of Kings
Scott Anderson
King of Kings traces Iran's modern political transformations and personalities that explain current regime behavior and...
Shelf signal: Iranian History
2. All the Shah's Men
Stephen Kinzer
All the Shah's Men explains the 1953 coup that shaped long term Iranian distrust of the United States and helps...
Shelf signal: Iranian History
3. Iran's Rise and Rivalry With the US in the Middle East
Mohsen M. Milani
Iran's Rise and Rivalry With the US in the Middle East offers a policy-focused account of Iran's regional interventions...
Shelf signal: Iranian History
4. Chokepoints
Edward Fishman
Chokepoints explains why disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on shipping produce outsized global economic...
Shelf signal: International Relations
5. Oilcraft
Robert Vitalis
Oilcraft challenges common assumptions about oil dependence and illuminates how energy narratives shape foreign-policy...
Shelf signal: Fossil Fuel Energy
6. For the Sun After Long Nights
Fatemeh Jamalpour, Nilo Tabrizy
For the Sun After Long Nights gives on-the-ground perspectives of recent Iranian protests and social dynamics shaping...
Shelf signal: Iranian History
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