PublishedPenguin, January 2015 |
ISBN9780241956106 |
FormatSoftcover, 272 pages |
Dimensions19.8cm × 12.9cm × 1.6cm |
In The Ministry of Guidance Invites You to Not Stay, Hooman Majd introduces us to the delights and challenges of life in the so-called axis of evil. His funny, wry account of daily life in Iran is a mixture of extreme driving, intense sociability, yellow-tinged sheep's yoghurt and truly good Cuban cigars, interspersed with challenges from the religious police, stealthy internet use and polite yet concerning interrogations inside government ministries.
At parties he both hears stories from friends of life in Evin prison after the Green Revolution and witnesses heady Western-style nihilism. From the smoggy streets of Tehran to the beautiful cities and mountains around it, this is a warm and revealing account of life in reverse-exile. 'Entertaining and insightful, by turns tender and wry . . . gives readers a guided tour of an Iran that they will not find in the news.' Eamonn Gearon, Literary Review 'I found myself engrossed . . . sheds light on what is too often presented as a monolithic political culture.' David Shariatmadari, Guardian 'When the Iranian-born but Western-raised writer Hooman Majd decided to take his wife and baby son to live in Iran for a year, he knew the powers-that-be would not festoon his path with roses. This book is the fruit of that year, written in Majd's wry, laconic style. He takes us through daily life- negotiating traffic jams and pollution; dealing with unsolicited advice on childcare; observing high unemployment in an increasingly tech-savvy and young population; the morality squads . . . an insightful, appealing read.' Leyla Sanai, Independent 'Majd's depiction of the clash of identities is masterly.' Amir Taheri, The Times 'A breezy, down-to-earth account of everyday domestic life in the polluted, congested, tense and utterly fascinating megapolis that is modern Tehran . . . builds a sympathetic and nuanced picture of a complex society too often misinterpreted by the outside world.' Ed O'Loughlin, Sunday Telegraph 'A bold and discerning account . . . his best book.' Roland Elliott Brown, Spectator
