A gripping history of the first covert operation by the CIA to overthrow the popularly elected government of another nation in 1953. That nation is Iran and the deposed leader is Mohammad Mosaddeq, the Iranian prime minister who dared stand up against Western imperialism. The fascinating thing about this book is that for much of Mosaddeq's reign many US leaders supported Iran's self-determination and attempts at democracy. Iran's squabble was with Great Britain, especially regarding the exploitative nature of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. When Mosaddeq nationalized Iranian oil, British leaders wanted him removed, but needed US approval which was eventually gained by the specter of Communism. A number of familiar names play a role in the plot: Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, CIA director Allan Dulles, CIA agent Kermit Roosevelt, Jr. (grandson of Theodore), and Norman Schwarzkopf, Sr. (father of the Desert Storm commander). Kinzer tells the story in great detail with the ultimate outcome balanced on the coming together of some very unlikely events

Kinzer concludes that the immediate result - a stable and anti-communist Iran under the Shah - was beneficial to the United States but the long-term results were disastrous. The Shah's tyrannical rule in Iran, and the knowledge that the US supported him, turned most Iranians virulently against the United States. When revolutionary Iranians took hostages at the US embassy in 1979 it was because the embassy had been a base of covert activity in 1953. Finally, it set a pattern of CIA-sponsored activities in other parts of the world that havecontributed to the loss of the USA's image as a standard-bearer of freedom. ( )

History for me is exciting and interesting. History books can be a shaky proposition, a lot are boring and dull. They read like a brochure for watching grass grow. But some history writers can really translate the power of history into a great story. Stephen Kinzer is one of those writers. All the Shah's Men is a fantastic book, I could not put it down. He not only thoroughly explains the Irainian Coup of 1953, and the West's involvement, but he paces the book like a political thriller (which it truly is). Anyone who wishes to know why the middle east is in the state it is now, and why the west in general and America specifically are despised, must read this book. I can't recommend it enough. ( )

An American coup and the roots of middle east terror (Mosadegh and the Shah and the CIA)

Informative history of the reasons Iran mistrusts the Americans and British for their interference in their oil economy and the CIA's coup. A must read today to understand the position of the Iranians. Written for the people of Iran. A Tragedy to realize the overthrow of Iran's legitimate government in order to control the profits of oil (Anglo-Iranian Oil Co, now BP) for the British and eventually Americans. An explanation for USA of the hostage crisis in 1979. ( )

Informative and Engaging. Kinzer tells the story of the 1953 coup in Iran quite vividly. He brings to life a rather large cast of historical characters and we see many of them from the point of view of each of the 3 major players: Iran, England, and the US. I liked the foundation he laid about the religious history of Iran and how that played a role in every major turning point for Iran. The major plots that get woven expertly in this short yet dense book include oil, the cold war, religion, democracy in Iran, colonialism, and the cult of character surrounding important figures. I'd recommend this to anyone wanting to get a feel for the major bullet points of US/Iran relations this century.