Daughter of Persia by Sattareh Farman Farmaian

I've just finished an autobiography called Daughter of Persia by Sattareh Farman Farmaian. It is not as well written as The Peabody Sisters and was harder to get into, but the insight into the modern history of Iran made it well worthwhile. The author was born into a wealthy Iranian family (one of nine children of the third wife) and was independent enough to want to get out into the world rather than marry and live the sheltered life of a wealthy Iranian wife.

Satti observed the American teachers and social workers in Teheran, and eventually was able to get to the United States where she earned a bachelor's degree and MSW. She returned to Iran and set up a school dedicated to educating Iranian social workers. It was ground-breaking work for the country and she succeeded magnificently. But, from my point of view, the worth of the book lies in her observations of political events. She lived through the rise and fall of the Pahlavi dynesty and the return of Ayatolleh Koumeini, and she reports it all as a sensitive, non-political observer. She is both pro-Iranian and pro-American but does not shrink from criticizing either country; as a person dedicated to helping the less fortunate among us, she is well grounded in common sense and wants the best for us all.