Rating: 
Summary: Neither Precise Nor Accurate
Review: Farah's book describes a naive young girl who met the twice-divorced Shah in Paris near the height of his wealth and power. This must have been heady stuff. She describes her own life as rather shelered, and her life with the Shah was very sheltered. When they fled Iran, they had hundreds of millions of dollars, even though the Shah had grown up in poverty.Farah blames the horrible regime of the Islamic Republic for the overthrow of the Shah. It's true this government is a disaster for Iran. Farah doesn't mention any of the Shah's own shortcomings, however. He may have made some advancements for women's rights, but he was getting pressure from the West, since we put him in power. He maintained power through the military and was a dictator. Another reviewer mentioned the Falacci interview, and again in Falacci's book (available on Amazon) you can read the Shah's own words in which he says that "men are superior to women" and much more. This is not a balanced account.
Rating:
Summary: A Wife's Story
Review: This book was a surprise. It details Farah's life with the Shah, and the difficultities they experienced getting his cancer treatment. In this book, Farah (and I noticed several reviewers below) is an apologist for the Shah, but does not give a balanced picture of the worst judicial system in the world in its time, and injustices committed on the civil liberties of Iranians.
Rating: 
Summary: Capturing the Life Story of Royal Family with Grace
Review: In her memoir An Enduring Love, Her Majesty Farah Pahlavi captures the life story of Iranian royal family with grace and dignity. Her Majesty offers a genuine insight into the personal experiences, challenges and realities in the pre- and the post-revolution era. This autobiography reveals the caring, touching and approachable side of a lady who has been the source of inspiration with her dedication and commitment to promoting Persian culture, gender equality, and social justice for the underprivileged. Her Majesty Shahbanu Farah Pahlavi is sincere in her revelations. Most recently, I had the honor and privilege to witness in person her gracious and humble nature at a book signing event in San Francisco, California. Her Majesty's words are encouraging, as she views life from positive, philosophic and pragmatic perspectives. An Enduring Love is a must read.
Rating:
Summary: The Story We Never Hear
Review: I loved reading this story, with its evocative descriptions of the lovely country that is Iran. I'm an American, and spent 4 years in Tehran as a youngster in the late '60s during the "White Revolution" and coronation of the Shah. My family loved our time in Iran, and reading this book brought tears to my eyes as the queen's story vividly brought back the sights, sounds and smells of that wonderful country. If you want to know what Iran is really like, how the Shah wanted so badly to bring his nation into the 1st world, read this loving account of a precious time in Persia. I was 11 years old, and the memories of watching our housekeeper give up her chador, seeing her off to school and learning to read and write--a 30 year old woman who finally was able to enjoy the newspaper--that has stuck with me for 35 years. I loved reading the Empress' account of her life and am glad that there is finally a book in the popular press that can show Americans the story we never hear.
Rating:
Summary: Life Viewed From Tehran
Review: Farah Pahlavi tells her story of a commoner who marries the Shah, whose father was also a commoner who rose from poverty. For a time they were at the top of the pack in Iran, and I Farah worked at public while her husband ruled as dictator in Iran. The American installed Shah made some progress, but he was also getting pressure from the U.S. at the time, because we put him in power. In the areas where the U.S. had no control, such as siphoning off funds and oppressing dissention, the Shah had a horrible record. While Farah describes the lavish palace live, the infrastructure of Iran was still poor. Much was neglected. Many parts of the country didn't even have running water.
Rating:
Summary: An Enduring Love
Review: After reading few chapter of this valuable book I remember what we as a nation have lost, they are too expensive to mention. I can list just few, the first Human right was wrote in Iran or Persia and died after HIS Majesty and Empress Farah left their home land. When Shahin left Iran's air space, Freedom, world wide Reputation, Prosperity, Happiness, Healthy society and many more left Iran as well. Empress Farah is a true and unique Queen who her hand has touched so many lives regardless if they were coming from a small village some where in the middle of desert or newly grads from western countries. Her Majesty always welcomes them. She will be our Queen as long as we are alive, Shah's memory will be in our heart as a Crowned Father the one who loved his country and nation so much, if still some folks believe he was a dictator then, today the people of Iran knows what is the meaning of dictatorship, they have no rights, even to the life or future of their own children.
Rating:
Summary: Well Timed, Well Received & Genuine
Review: Whether a supporter or a critic of the Pahlavi dynasty, one has to agree that politics aside, Farah Pahlavi's graceful and regal handling of a very painful and intricate period in her life is an example for many for us to follow. Once the first lady of Iran, she subsequently went through the painful process of losing her husband, moving from country to country in search of a safe home for the remainder of her family and more recently losing a daughter. As an Iranian, I feel that her tragic story is the story of our nation's and the almost never ending series of calamities that we all seem to have suffered over the past 25 years. It is a well written book which has become a best seller for a good reason, read it.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointment
Review: What I found most interesting about this book was what Farah Pahlavi left out. Like Queen Noor, Farah talks about being a young woman and meeting the Shah in Paris, getting married, her children, and her family life. She discusses the Shah's death and how the U.S. couldn't treat him because hostages were being held in Tehran at the time. She is the third wife of the twice-divorced Shah who divorced a wife he loved because she couldn't have children and he needed a son. Farah left out the reason that President George Bush recently made a speech saying that our support of the Shah, who President Bush calls a tyrant, may have adversely affected U.S. politics in the Middle East. In other words we put a dictator in power (read also "All the Shah's Men"), and now we have even worse problems with an even worse government. Farah's perspective would have been invaluable, but she made no effort in this area. Perhaps she just wanted to write a story about being a woman, but she would have been more interesting telling of her experience as the wife of a tyrant and then as the wife of a deposed tyrant.
Rating:
Summary: Similar Story but Different History
Review: I looked forward to reading a history of this period in Farah Pahlavi's life, but this book seems to be remarkably similar to Queen Noor's book. Farah Pahlavi is no longer a queen, and her husband was a brutal dictator, very unlike King Hussein of Jordan. You'd never know it from this book, which is a pleasant bed time story for children with no memory of what really happened during this period in history.
Rating:
Summary: Rekindling Hopes For True Lovers of Iran
Review: A wonderful book by a graceful, compassionate and intelligent lady! All persons who possess true love for Persian culture and heritage will treasure this book. This book helps rekindle hopes that were cruelly dashed in the past 25 years. Hopes that Iran shall become a focal center of divine splendours and her darksome soil will become luminous and her land will shine. Hopes that although now destitute and despondent, Iran will obtain abundant grace, achieve distinction and find abiding honour. Hopes that will be inevitably realized.
| 
