The Shadow Commander, Arash Azizi
The Shadow Commander, Arash Azizi
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The Shadow Commander
Soleimani, the US, and Iran’s Global Ambitions

Author: Arash Azizi

Narrator: Eric Jason Martin

Unabridged: 10 hr 24 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 12/15/2020

Synopsis

Until his assassination by US drone strike in January 2020, commander Qassem Soleimani was one of the most powerful men in Iran and the military spearhead for Iranian foreign policy, enacting the wishes of the country's Supreme Leader in the region. A widely popular but also feared maverick operator, he helped to establish the Islamic Republic as a major force in the Middle East, with interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. This was a long way from where he began as a youth, living on the margins in a country ruled by a monarch supported by the United States.

In this engaging account, historian Arash Azizi examines Soleimani's life, regional influence, and future ambitions. The Shadow Commander breaks new ground through interviews with Iranians, Afghans, Iraqis, and Syrians who knew Soleimani for years, including his personal driver, the aides who accompanied him to his Moscow meeting with Vladimir Putin, and his brother. Ultimately, Azizi uses the story of this one important figure to make sense of the global ambitions of Iran, a country whose actions are much talked about but seldom understood.

About Arash Azizi

Arash Azizi is a historian at New York University, where he researches the transnational links that tied Iran and the Arab World during the Cold War. His writings have appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Times, and several of his book-length translations have appeared in Iran and elsewhere. He lives in New York City.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Murtaza on January 01, 2022

Great book about contemporary Iran's foreign policy using Qassem Soleimani's life as a thread line. The author is a good friend and also one of the most thoughtful people I know when it comes to foreign affairs in the Middle East. This book is not a straightforward reporting biography about Soleiman......more

Goodreads review by Clif on December 15, 2023

This book is the story of a warrior who grew from a childhood in back-country Iran (ear-RON) to a bold, courageous commander loved by his followers for his fearlessness and devotion to the cause. It is also a fascinating account of the years leading up to and following the 1979 overthrow of the Shah......more

Goodreads review by Rachel on December 16, 2020

This is a book more about Iran than Soleimani. Obviously you can’t separate the two all the time, but there are times when you must. Here’s some food for thought: When Soleimani was killed, the first photo put out to the public was that of his severed hand with ring. The claim was that we knew it was......more

Goodreads review by Zare on September 26, 2023

This was a very interesting book about the enigmatic and controversial person of IRGC Quds commander, general Soleimani. Through the entire book I am still not clear what author wanted to depict here - patriot fighting for ideals of his country or opressive hidden blade in hands of the Iran's govern......more

Goodreads review by Adam on August 13, 2023

3 stars [Foreign Affairs] (W: 2.89, U: 2.73, T: 2.92) Exact rating: 2.85 Four chapters in, it was barely about Soleimani. I didn't figure out what genre it was until at least halfway through! A mild socialist viewpoint, but it didn't get in the way too much. When Azizi finally got to Soleimani, the exp......more

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