Episode · The Ezra Klein Show · 2026-03-14
Books mentioned on The Iran War: How America, Israel and Iran Got Here | The Ezra Klein Show
Ali Vaez recommended Persians by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, The Mantle of the Prophet by Roy Mottahedeh, and Tomorrow Is Yesterday by Hussein Agha and others.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Persians
Persians by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones is a comprehensive historical study that re-examines the ancient Achaemenid Empire through indigenous Near Eastern perspectives rather than traditional Greek accounts.
Recommended“So the first book I want to recommend is called The Persians The Age of the Great Kings by Lloyd Llewellyn Llewellyn Jones. And this is a really interesting book because most of the stories that have been written or histories that have been written about ancient Persia have been based on Greek sources.”
Where to get it
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The Mantle of the Prophet
The Mantle of the Prophet by Roy Mottahedeh is a celebrated historical narrative that explores religion and politics in Iran through the life and education of a traditional Shia cleric.
Recommended“The second book is The Mantle of the Prophet Religion and Politics in Iran by Roy Mottahedeh. Which also does something rare. It it it adds texture to the Iranian society and helps you understand the post-revolutionary Iran with all of its contradictions and societal trends”
Where to get it
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Tomorrow Is Yesterday
Tomorrow Is Yesterday by Hussein Agha and Robert Malley is a critical analysis of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations and the strategic missteps made by international diplomats and U.S.
Recommended“It's called Tomorrow is Yesterday life death and pursuit of peace in Israel-Palestine by Hussein Agha and and Rob Malley. And and one thing I really appreciate about about this book is that um it helps you understand how in conflict situations like this there's plenty of blame to go around.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“And he's a co-author of How Sanctions Work, Iran and the Impact of Economic Warfare.”