A review by anniehines
Drinking Arak off an Ayatollah's Beard: A Journey Through the Inside-Out Worlds of Iran and Afghanistan by Nicholas Jubber

4.0

As far as travel writing goes, it is interesting, he keeps the reader engaged, and he has many interesting experiences that are fun to read about. While his interest in the Shanameh by the conclusion, in my opinion, feels confusing and disappointing. Although he meets some really interesting people that were fun to read about. Tamineh, a daughter to a professor in Tehran who has some enjoyable portions dedicated to her, and her brother introduced Nicholas to several other people that help shed some small light on different subcultures in Iran. In the end it is well written and easy to get through, especially if this is your first book on Iran, or the Middle East in general. But there are definitely others that are better.