Rating: 
Summary: Awful awful awful
Review: Probably one of the worst tutorial books ever written. I doubt how anyone without degree in grammatics could ever understand this book. It gets infuriating to read after the first few pages, and i put it down after less than 2days. I tried to return it to the bookshop, but a refund was refused because of the pages i'd torn out in anger.
Unless you're masochistic, or have a degree in in-depth grammar, keep away, well away.
Though the actual tutorial was half-decent, Thackston's use of unclearly explained and complex grammar (just to show off I would guess) put me well off.Stick to Mace or Rafiee.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent introduction to the Persian language!
Review: Really a great primer for just starting out in studying Persian. I'm not sure if this is o.k. to include, but this is the only text that the Middle Eastern Studies Department at U.C. Berkeley uses in their introductory level Persian language courses. What could be a better recommendation than that?
Rating: 
Summary: Logical Approach to Modern Persian
Review: Thackston applies a logical and systematic approach to teaching Persian. For those wanting to learn the language for letter writing and for reading newspapers, this is a great starting point. Although, as stated previously, a key to exercises would be more than helpful. Also, a broader introduction into the Persian alphabet would be useful to those learning to write as well. Thackston is correct in introducing the alphabet page one - as it is an essential hurdle to clear before learning the language-, however an appendix explaining different writing techniques would have been a big help. There are a number of Persian children's books which are available at Persian bookstores which give a solid introduction to the script, which I found useful to supplement my studies. I also have the Elwell-Sutton book, which does offer an appendix on Persian writing scripts and it's exercises do have an answer key. Still I prefer Thackston, as it offers a more logical approach to learning the grammar, and the vocabulary introduced is more practical. There are also fewer errors. With its limitations stated, Thackston is a great meat and potatoes system that will teach you the language if you approach the language with diligence. I did not buy the tapes, so I cannot rate them, but I do recommend that for those learning Persian without access to native speakers should invest in a good set of tapes. It is important to pick up on the pronunciation of the language, which can only effectively be learned by ear.
Rating:
Summary: Logical Approach to Modern Persian
Review: Thackston applies a logical and systematic approach to teaching Persian. For those wanting to learn the language for letter writing and for reading newspapers, this is a great starting point. Although, as stated previously, a key to exercises would be more than helpful. Also, a broader introduction into the Persian alphabet would be useful to those learning to write as well. Thackston is correct in introducing the alphabet page one - as it is an essential hurdle to clear before learning the language-, however an appendix explaining different writing techniques would have been a big help. There are a number of Persian children's books which are available at Persian bookstores which give a solid introduction to the script, which I found useful to supplement my studies. I also have the Elwell-Sutton book, which does offer an appendix on Persian writing scripts and it's exercises do have an answer key. Still I prefer Thackston, as it offers a more logical approach to learning the grammar, and the vocabulary introduced is more practical. There are also fewer errors. With its limitations stated, Thackston is a great meat and potatoes system that will teach you the language if you approach the language with diligence. I did not buy the tapes, so I cannot rate them, but I do recommend that for those learning Persian without access to native speakers should invest in a good set of tapes. It is important to pick up on the pronunciation of the language, which can only effectively be learned by ear.
Rating:
Summary: Demanding but excellent as your SECOND Persian book
Review: The reviews below make clear that different people have different reactions to this book. Having used a number of beginning textbooks of Persian over the years, here is another commentary that will hopefully put this book into perspective: It is a very complete and sophisticated handbook to the grammar of Persian, arranged in progressive lessons, but it does in many places demand a knowledge of English grammar (and grammatical terminology) that excees what most readers have these days. Frankly, I think that this book, and particularly the grammatical descriptions/explanations in it, would be very heavy going for a true beginner at Persian, especially someone working on his/her own without a teacher or class. For the true beginner, or the independent learner, I think the tried and true "Teach Yourself Modern Persian" by John Mace, (and NOT the new book by the same title written by Narguess Farzad) offers the easiest way to become aquainted with the Persian alphabet and language in easy stages in such a way that, even working on one's own, you can make good progress and get a good feel for the structure of the language. In my view, the Thackston book is a good follow-on book for someone who has already picked up the basics from Mace. Thackston's particular strength, in my opinion, is the way he has analyzed virtually all the aspects of the language and provided very clear-cut sample sentences, always in both Persian and English, to illustrate even the finest nuances of meaning. In this regard, it is outstanding, and the sentence-examples and their translations make the points sink in well even if the explanations are a bit abstruse in terms of grammatical teminology. But unless you already have a basic grasp of the fundamentals of Persian, you may not be able to benefit so much from Thackston. In short, I think Thackston's book is marvellous as a "follow-on" textbook for people who have already picked up a basic understanding of the way the language works, but is probably a bit heavy for those just starting out. I thus recommend it as your SECOND Persian book, and I think that if you approach it in this way you will value it very highly for the way it clarifies and solidifies what you have learned from Mace.
Rating:
Summary: A misleading title
Review: The title of the book is misleading. Instead of "Introduction to Persian Languages" it should have been "Summary of Persian Grammar and Idioms" as it really is, no more. If this is the best book in this subject then I don't envy students of Persian language! It can be helpfull as a reference book for instructors. The fact that the book has no accompanying cassete or CD to help in pronunciation justify this conclusion. All in all, a lifeless book.
Rating:
Summary: A misleading title
Review: The title of the book is misleading. Instead of "Introduction to Persian Languages" it should have been "Summary of Persian Grammar and Idioms" as it really is, no more. If this is the best book in this subject then I don't envy students of Persian language! It can be helpfull as a reference book for instructors. The fact that the book has no accompanying cassete or CD to help in pronunciation justify this conclusion. All in all, a lifeless book.
Rating:
Summary: Ideal for the student of written Farsi
Review: This book does not pretend to be a guide to the spoken language and so if that is what you want you'll need to find another book to supplement this one. For those of us seeking to master the written language, this is the best introduction on the market. After months of wading through Elwell-Sutton and drowning in Lambton, Thackston convinced me that learning Persian is not only possible but actually enjoyable. The one drawback for the independent student is the lack of a key to the excercises, however the material is so well presented, as compared to its well-known copetitors, I hardly felt I needed one.
Rating:
Summary: Great introduction
Review: This book is an excellent introduction, and I found that, after studying it for about 2 hours a day, I was able to acquire basic conversational ability by the end of the book. He has a very accessible way of presenting elements of the language. Moreover, Thackston's appendices provide a useful and clear introduction to the particulars of Classical and colloquial usages, alongside texts from both Classical and modern authors. However, the book is only an introduction. What the Persian language gains in grammatical simplicity, it loses in stylistic complexity. If the learner wants to tackle the florid and roundabout prose of an Iranian newspaper editorial, Lambton is still the better option. While Lambton's grammar is not as user-friendly or conversational in its approach, its completion does guarrantee that the reader will be able to handle even the most baroque piece of Persian prose. Still, I would say Thackston is the best intorduction to spoken Persian availible.
Rating:
Summary: Great introduction
Review: This book is an excellent introduction, and I found that, after studying it for about 2 hours a day, I was able to acquire basic conversational ability by the end of the book. He has a very accessible way of presenting elements of the language. Moreover, Thackston's appendices provide a useful and clear introduction to the particulars of Classical and colloquial usages, alongside texts from both Classical and modern authors. However, the book is only an introduction. What the Persian language gains in grammatical simplicity, it loses in stylistic complexity. If the learner wants to tackle the florid and roundabout prose of an Iranian newspaper editorial, Lambton is still the better option. While Lambton's grammar is not as user-friendly or conversational in its approach, its completion does guarrantee that the reader will be able to handle even the most baroque piece of Persian prose. Still, I would say Thackston is the best intorduction to spoken Persian availible.
|
