Nasrin Alavi

If this book has whetted your appetite to learn more about Iran, I recommend 'The Soul of Iran' which has a nice combination of history and contemporary culture without being as dry and fact ridden as histories of old.

This book is filled with blogs commenting on life in Iran. It is interspersed with comments from the author who offers historical background and commentary.

Did you know the standard greeting in Iran is "I would die for you"?

EDIT: My Persian friend Shahla assures me that isn't so. Would Nasrin Alavi lie?