Lonely Planet Iran (3rd Edition)

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Summary: Racist Commentary But with Good Maps
Review: Racist commentary presented in backhanded journo-speak that is unfortunately typical of english language books on Iran. Example of tactics employed - if you want to say something particularly offensive/outrageous/demeaning, deflect blame by attributing the comment to a "source" or a "reader". Hopefully actual readers with the gumption to travel to the Middle East are intelligent enough to sift through Yale's antipathetic commentary and put the book to its best use - a compact set of maps, place names and telephone numbers.

Rating:
Summary: Racist Commentary But with Good Maps
Review: Racist commentary presented in backhanded journo-speak that is unfortunately typical of english language books on Iran. Example of tactics employed - if you want to say something particularly offensive/outrageous/demeaning, deflect blame by attributing the comment to a "source" or a "reader". Hopefully actual readers with the gumption to travel to the Middle East are intelligent enough to sift through Yale's antipathetic commentary and put the book to its best use - a compact set of maps, place names and telephone numbers.

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Summary: A poorly researched and inaccurate representation of Iran.
Review: The book does not discuss the tremendous changes taking place in today's modern Iran.

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Summary: this is the best guide book
Review: The one book I took with me everywhere on a 1 month family "vacation" to Iran summer of 2001. We spent 6 months planning it, getting all the paperwork in order, etc. We traveled to every region of Iran. It's a fascinating, wonderful country---worth the heat, aggravation, misogynist government, pollution, dangerous traffic, travel headaches, lack of western organizational tools (like telephone directories), etc. The people were wonderful, the food was fabulous and fresh. This guidebook captures all the hazards and headaches for the traveler and presents the solutions. In a country without good communication, this guidebook gave us very reliable info. I'm buying this guidebook for anyone I know that's going there. It's a gem.

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Summary: Been There...Done That
Review: This book gives an fairly impartial yet Western view of modern Iran. I can see how some Iranians would criticize it, but my wife who is Iranian and me (an American) spent 4 weeks traveling in Iran in March 2000 found this book to be useful before, during, and after the trip. We never encountered any anti-American or anti-West attitudes during our trip, in fact just the opposite. Sure there aren't the nightclubs or other forms of 'entertainment' that you find in the west, like Paul mentions but for us this became an opportunity to do other things. They don't roll up the streets at dark, far from it. The coffee shops, resturants, stores, and bazaars in many cities are open quite late with many people shopping, having a meal or a chat. My wife said it was much better there than her last trip in 1996. I had a great time! If you're planning a trip to Iran (even if you're Iranian) get this book (my wife enjoyed it too).

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Summary: get this book and get the ticket to Tehran
Review: This book is the best guidebook ever written for travelling to Iran. I recomend this book to anyone who wishes to explore the magnificent land of persia. First get this book and then you only need to bye the ticket, whit this book you find your way perfectly through the glory of the Achamenids up to the contemporary Iran. All what you ever need to know for travelling to Iran is preapared in these page. Thank you Pat for all the hardwork and knowledge.

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Summary: This book was not at all objective
Review: This book was not objective and had nothing positive to say about the country. It was somewhat mean spirited and had a plethora of stereotypical information.

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Summary: Excellent Guide and Funny too!
Review: This detailed guide finally updates the old guidebook with new information. A must for travellers to Iran. Paul Greenway's narrative and explanations are also more interesting (and quite funny in some cases) than David St. Vincent's older edition.

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Summary: This Lonely Planet is not good
Review: While the guide is relatively useful for hotels (prices are outdated), it is not very interesting for the restaurants nor transport (many many obvious options aren't listed), nor for other practical information as many of Pat Yale's comments are negative, predicting hassle, bureaucracy or cheating when there is only friendlyness, smiles and enough english to handle the situation.
Her comments on wearing the Hedjab are displaced. If wearing a scarf ruins your holiday to that point, are you realy the right person to write a guide book ?
Pat Yale seems to have been afraid during her trip in Iran, and annoyed by iranians. They are the most friendly people I have encourtered on my many trips. I travelled on my own, and was not pinched in the back or molestated by anyone, never. The Lonely Planet, full of comments warning lone women travellers to better take a guided tour, made me hesitating unneccesarily before my departure.
I did not appreciate her comments on the american blocus, where she pretends that other countries, including Europe and Japan, are too eager to tap on Irans ressources.
Iran and the Iranians, and you as a tourist, definitely desserve a better guide, and Lonely Planet needs more competition.