Items related to Occidentosis: A Plague From the West
Synopsis
Suppressed in Iran during the reign of the Shah, this book for the first time in a careful, annotated translation was published after the Islamic Revolution. It is a strong and emotional statement by an Iranian intellectual deeply concerned with what he saw as his country’s succumbing to "A plague from the West" or "occidentosis." Offering observations, insights, reasons for pride in Iran’s past and culture, and critical analyses of the Western role in th world. Jalal Al-i Ahmad expresses many of the concerns that agitated the intelligentsia during the two decades before the Islamic Revolution.
The author begins by explaining his term "occidentosis: and describing how he sees the world: as divided between the poles of East and West. The division is not so much a geographical or an ideological schism, as a division between the produces and the consumers of machines. A brief review of history helps explain how and why Iran grew occidentotic. He cannot and does not ignore the role of oil.
The many contradictions that result from the forced consumption of Western machines and goods in Iran are the subject of the longest and most carefully considered chapters in the book. Westerners, who industrailized step by step over hundreds of years, never saw such sharp contrasts as "a man grading Kharg Island with a monstrous bulldozer with blue bead hanging from the steering wheel."
Breaking the spell of occidentosis is the subject of another chapter. The author rejects both the options of remaining passive consumers of the machine and eschewing the machine and reverting to pre-industrial modes of existence. Rather, he advocates gaining control of the machine so Iranians can use it as a means, not an end, "to abolish poverty and put material and spiritual welfare with the reach of all."
As an educator Jalal Al-i Ahmad was particularly concerned with ow Iran's schools preserve its occidentotic society. He points out in this book how leaders whose first interest was not the welfare of the Iranian people or the preservation of its cultural traditions were turned out year after year by Iranian universities or returned to their country from American and European educational institutions.
The book closes with a plea for everyone not just Iranians or Easterners, to awaken to the dangers of mechanosis, the ultimate end of which will be destruction of the world with a nuclear bomb.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Translated from the Persian by R. Campbell with annotations and an introduction by Hamid Algar
Hamid Algar, born in England in 1940, received his formal training in Islamic studies at Cambridge Univrsity, from which he received his Ph.D. in 1965. Since 1965, he has been teaching at the University of California, Berkeley. He ia Professor of Persian and Islamic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. He has published widely on bothe Sufism and Shi'ism.uthor
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherIslamic Pubns Intl
- Publication date1984
- ISBN 10 0933782136
- ISBN 13 9780933782136
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages160
- EditorAlgar Hamid
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
US$ 101.10
Shipping:
US$ 3.00
Within U.S.A.
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
Occidentosis: A Plague From the West
Seller: Blue Vase Books, Interlochen, MI, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials. Seller Inventory # 31UTLL004M72_ns
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Occidentosis: A Plague From the West
Seller: SecondSale, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. Item in very good condition! Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00074164807
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Occidentosis: A Plague From the West
Seller: SecondSale, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00071235252
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Occidentosis: A Plague From the West
Seller: Book Deals, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Fair. Acceptable/Fair condition. Book is worn, but the pages are complete, and the text is legible. Has wear to binding and pages, may be ex-library. 0.4. Seller Inventory # 353-0933782136-acp
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Occidentosis: A Plague From the West
Seller: GF Books, Inc., Hawthorne, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Book is in Used-Good condition. Pages and cover are clean and intact. Used items may not include supplementary materials such as CDs or access codes. May show signs of minor shelf wear and contain limited notes and highlighting. 0.4. Seller Inventory # 0933782136-2-4
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Occidentosis: A Plague From the West
Seller: GF Books, Inc., Hawthorne, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. Book is in Used-VeryGood condition. Pages and cover are clean and intact. Used items may not include supplementary materials such as CDs or access codes. May show signs of minor shelf wear and contain very limited notes and highlighting. 0.4. Seller Inventory # 0933782136-2-3
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Occidentosis: A Plague From the West
Seller: Books Unplugged, Amherst, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Buy with confidence! Book is in good condition with minor wear to the pages, binding, and minor marks within 0.4. Seller Inventory # bk0933782136xvz189zvxgdd
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Occidentosis: A Plague From the West
Seller: Irish Booksellers, Portland, ME, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. SHIPS FROM USA. Used books have different signs of use and do not include supplemental materials such as CDs, Dvds, Access Codes, charts or any other extra material. All used books might have various degrees of writing, highliting and wear and tear and possibly be an ex-library with the usual stickers and stamps. Dust Jackets are not guaranteed and when still present, they will have various degrees of tear and damage. All images are Stock Photos, not of the actual item. book. Seller Inventory # 0933782136-R
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Occidentosis: A Plague From the West
Seller: Reifsnyder Books, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Soft cover. Condition: Good. minimal underlining. Seller Inventory # 459587
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Occidentosis: A Plague From the West
Published by
Brand: Islamic Pubns Intl, 1984
ISBN 10: 0933782136
ISBN 13: 9780933782136
Used
Softcover
Seller: Ergodebooks, Houston, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Softcover. Condition: Good. Suppressed in Iran during the reign of the Shah, this book for the first time in a careful, annotated translation was published after the Islamic Revolution. It is a strong and emotional statement by an Iranian intellectual deeply concerned with what he saw as his countrys succumbing to "A plague from the West" or "occidentosis." Offering observations, insights, reasons for pride in Irans past and culture, and critical analyses of the Western role in th world. Jalal Al-i Ahmad expresses many of the concerns that agitated the intelligentsia during the two decades before the Islamic Revolution.The author begins by explaining his term "occidentosis: and describing how he sees the world: as divided between the poles of East and West. The division is not so much a geographical or an ideological schism, as a division between the produces and the consumers of machines. A brief review of history helps explain how and why Iran grew occidentotic. He cannot and does not ignore the role of oil.The many contradictions that result from the forced consumption of Western machines and goods in Iran are the subject of the longest and most carefully considered chapters in the book. Westerners, who industrailized step by step over hundreds of years, never saw such sharp contrasts as "a man grading Kharg Island with a monstrous bulldozer with blue bead hanging from the steering wheel."Breaking the spell of occidentosis is the subject of another chapter. The author rejects both the options of remaining passive consumers of the machine and eschewing the machine and reverting to pre-industrial modes of existence. Rather, he advocates gaining control of the machine so Iranians can use it as a means, not an end, "to abolish poverty and put material and spiritual welfare with the reach of all."As an educator Jalal Al-i Ahmad was particularly concerned with ow Iran's schools preserve its occidentotic society. He points out in this book how leaders whose first interest was not the welfare of the Iranian people or the preservation of its cultural traditions were turned out year after year by Iranian universities or returned to their country from American and European educational institutions.The book closes with a plea for everyone not just Iranians or Easterners, to awaken to the dangers of mechanosis, the ultimate end of which will be destruction of the world with a nuclear bomb. Seller Inventory # SONG0933782136
Quantity: 1 available