Alternatives to the Peace Corps : A Directory of Third World & U.S. Volunteer Opportunities: Comment - As one who served two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Iran, 1970-72; I wonder why anyone would choose an alternative to the Peace Corps.

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Iran: Peace Corps Iran : Web Sites for Iran RPCVs: Alternatives to the Peace Corps : A Directory of Third World & U.S. Volunteer Opportunities: Comment - As one who served two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Iran, 1970-72; I wonder why anyone would choose an alternative to the Peace Corps.

By Admin1 (admin) on Saturday, July 07, 2001 - 3:40 pm: Edit Post

Recommended Reading List from an RPCV who served in Iran



Recommended Reading List from an RPCV who served in Iran

Recommended Reading List from an RPCV who served in Iran



Ultimate Journey: Retracing the Path of an Ancient Buddhist Monk Who Crossed Asia in Search of Enlightenment by Richard Bernstein List Price: $26.00 Our Price: $18.20 You Save: $7.80 (30%)

Usually ships in 24 hours Knopf Hardcover - 352 pages 1 Ed edition (March 13, 2001)

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful: More on Aurel Stein would have added to the authenticity August 20, 2001

It is unfortunate that the author did not have the opportunity to visit Bamiyan in Afghanistan. As you know, Sir Aurel Stein is buried in Kabul. I found Wilfrid Blunt's THE GOLDEN ROAD TO SAMARKAND to be more informative as it included the travels of many Europeans and Asians that ventured into Central Asia. I had the opportunity to visit Herat, Qandahar and Kabul in 1972 when I was serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Iran, 70-72. I travelled overland, crossing the frontier at Islam Qala. Qandahar represented the western most city of Ashokan influence. To the West was the Zoroastrian realm of influence. How did Zoroastrianism and Buddhism interact?

North to Canada by James Dickerson List Price: $40.00 Our Price: $40.00 Usually ships in 2 to 3 days Praeger Pub Text Hardcover - 232 pages (January 1999)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful: This is a good read for 'Boomers' that remember this era August 8, 2001

I was intrigued by the number of Americans that sought refuge in Canada during the late 60s and early 70s in response to recission of the '2S' deferment. The case studies were particularly interesting with respect to how this disruption of family and career was met with differing degrees of adjustment. I wish that the author had devoted a comparison with American Peace Corps Volunteers who served in places like Atar, Mauritania; Sarh, Tchad; Farah, Afghanistan; Zabol, Iran, or Zinder. Their lives were also disrupted without the comfort of a first world nation like Canada.

The Siege of Isfahan by Jean-Christophe Rufin, Willard Wood (Translator) List Price: $26.95 Our Price: $18.86 You Save: $8.09 (30%)

Usually ships in 2 to 3 days W.W. Norton & Company Hardcover - 416 pages (March 2001)

Exotic location, intrigue, reminiscent of G.A. Henty July 24, 2001

Rufin has given us an excellent piece of historical fiction reminiscent of the works of G.A. Henty and James Mitchner. As one who travelled overland from Mashad, Iran to Herat, Afghanistan in March 1971 and April 1972, while an American Peace Corps volunteer in Iran, (6/70-6/72), I can relate to the setting. Shah Tahmasp II was ruling as the last of the Safavid Shahs of Persia, when two Afghan 'sardars', Mahmud and Ashraf conquered Isfahan, the Safavid capital, as well as the earlier capital Qazvin. Mahmud and Ashraf were from the Hotaki (Ghilzai) dynasty. They imposed Sunni rule briefly on Shi'ia Persia. The book has much suspense and is historically accurate. An excellent read.

Stopping Valium : And Ativan, Centrax, Dalmane, Librium, Paxipam, Restoril, Serax, Tranxene, Xanax by Eve and Bargmann Out of Print--Limited Availability

Prodigious Empirical Evidence is cited. July 16, 2001

The book makes an excellent case. It is thoroughly documented. The thesis is predicated on acutal studies.

The Minaret of Djam : An Excursion in Afghanistan. by Freya. Stark Out of Print--Limited Availability

The most poignant travel account that I have read July 10, 2001

Freya Stark had an opportunity to visit this remote archaeological site when it was still possible to travel there. This book is the zenith of her prodigious work in that Afghanistan has always been associated with a remoteness that is difficult to describe. The difficulty of her travel to Ghor Province is a story that she could recount in last years.

Sylloge of Islamic Coins in the Ashmolean : Arabia and East Africa by Stephen Album (Editor), Luke Treadwell (Editor) List Price: $65.00 Our Price: $65.00 Special Order Ashmolean Museum Hardcover Vol 10 (August 2000)

Most Erudite and Complete April 20, 2001

This compilation should assist Oriental numismatists in identifying abstruse pieces. This reference tool is valuable to both the scholar and layman. This work will give this important collection much more visibility.

From Concept to Context : Approaches to Asian and Islamic Calligraphy by Shen Fu Out of Print--Limited Availability

Detailed explanation of an esoteric subject November 15, 2000

Glenn Lowry wrote an excellent section on Islamic calligraphy. The Samanid coin depicted on page 105 demonstrates the ability of dye cutters to embellish Kufic calligraphy.

Persian Mirrors : The Elusive Face of Iran by Elaine Sciolino List Price: $26.00 Our Price: $18.20 You Save: $7.80 (30%)

Usually ships in 24 hours Free Press Hardcover - 402 pages (October 2000)

3 of 12 people found the following review helpful: Social - political analysis of Iran October 27, 2000

I read this book with more than passing interest. I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Iran, 1970-72. There is one reference to the Peace Corps on page 357. However, the index makes no mention of the Peace Corps. The bibliography is extensive; however, those books by American Peace Corps authors that served in Iran during the time that the Peace Corps was active in Iran, 1962-1976, are excluded, viz., Stephen Grummon, Michael Hillmann, Eric Hooglund, John Limbert, John Lorenz and Thomas Ricks. All of these books were authored during the last twenty years. Each of these authors had a unique cross cultural experience that resulted in their expressed opinons having a great deal of credence. It is a pity that in her twenty years of visiting Iran, Ms. Sciolino has not visited some of the towns and villages where Peace Corps Volunteers lived, e.g., Ahar, Aliabad, Boojnoord, Khoy, Tayebad, or Zabol.

A Checklist of Islamic Coins by Stephen Album List Price: $20.00 Our Price: $20.00 Special Order Stephen Album Paperback - 151 pages 2nd edition (May 1, 1998)

Most comprehensive October 24, 2000

This book is designed for the oriental numismatist that has accomplished a basic understanding of kufic, naskh, and nastaliq. The price references are most valuable. Novice Islamic coin collectors should master Plant, ARABIC COINS AND HOW TO READ THEM or Ballantyne, PERSIAN CALLIGRAPHY.

Caviar Coast by Peter Somerville-Large Out of Print--Limited Availability

Poignant account of the Iranian Caspian littoral provinces October 22, 2000

The book is a most detailed account of the Iranian Caspian littoral provinces of Gilan and Mazenderan. Chapter 5 - Peace Corps - is a most compelling and poignant account of the American Peace Corps who served in this area in the late 1960s. The author is Irish and has a superb knowledge of Iran. Much humor is interjected throughout.

Alternatives to the Peace Corps : A Directory of Third World & U.S. Volunteer Opportunities by Filomena Giese (Editor), et al Out of Print--Limited Availability

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful: Okay - but old content October 22, 2000

As one who served two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Iran, 1970-72; I wonder why anyone would choose an alternative to the Peace Corps. Peace Corps language training is superlative. The Peace Corps has always manifested altruism. It took two years to learn both spoken colloquial and spoken literary Persian. I was just beginning to learn Classical Persian when the two years were came to an end. I also learned written Persian in the form of Naskh, Nastaliq, and Shekastay, (the last being highly cursive).

Donor Recruitment : Strategies for Success by Carolyn P. Mihalko (Editor), Leslie Botos (Editor) Out of Print--Limited Availability

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Well documented with empirical data October 22, 2000

The author uses more than adequate empirical data to demonstrate her thesis. In July 1998, I received my 10 gallon donor certificate from the American Red Cross. I believe that this is 1:10,000 of the eligible donor population, i.e., age 18-65, weight >110 lbs. I began donating in Aug 1976 to corroborate my altruism as a Peace Corps volunteer, 1970-72. This book is highly recommended.

When China Ruled the Seas : The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433 by Louise Levathes List Price: $16.95 Our Price: $13.56 You Save: $3.39 (20%) Usually ships in 24 hours Oxford Univ Pr (Trade) Paperback Reprint edition (December 1996)

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful: Numismatic evidence was lacking October 17, 2000

This is an entertaining book for the layman. As one who worked in a nautical library, I was wondering why Chinese numismatic evidence from the Persian Gulf was omitted. Otherwise, it is a well documented book.

In the Footsteps of Alexander The Great: A Journey from Greece to Asia by Michael Wood List Price: $29.95 Our Price: $20.96 You Save: $8.99 (30%)

Usually ships in 24 hours University of California Press Hardcover - 256 pages (November 1, 1997)

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Good for the layman October 14, 2000

I wish that there was a more complete discussion of Alexander the Great in Herat, Afghanistan. The 'Arg', fortress, that stands in Herat today could have been the one that Alexander built subsequent to his conquest. I had the opportunity to visit Herat in March 1971 and April 1972 during my Peace Corps service in Iran. As a city, it remains in splendid isolation.

Hostage to Fortune by Ted Mason List Price: $12.95 Our Price: $12.95 Special Order Bartleby Pr Paperback - 266 pages (September 1999)

Average October 14, 2000

The book's plot was not original; character development could have been better. Suspense was lacking all the way through. Books by former Peace Corps volunteers tend to be more insightful than books by former Foreign Service Officers since Peace Corps volunteers were closer to the mainstream population as oppposed to the 'power elite'. The setting of the book is apropos of current events in this region.

Just Here Trying to Save a Few Lives : Tales of Life and Death from the Er by Pamela Grim List Price: $23.95 Our Price: $16.76 You Save: $7.19 (30%)

Usually ships in 24 hours Warner Books Hardcover - 306 pages (July 2000)

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful: Excellent October 13, 2000

I read this book with more than passing interest. As one has received a 10 gallon donor certificate from the American Red Cross in 1998, I know the importance of keeping an adequate blood supply in the USA. From an international viewpoint, I served as an American Peace Corps volunteer in Iran, 6/70-6/72 and travelled overland to Herat, Afghanistan in 3/71 and 4/72. This is an outstanding narrative of work that often goes unrecognized.

Atlas Of Holy Places & Sacred Sites by Colin Wilson List Price: $29.95 Our Price: $20.96 You Save: $8.99 (30%)

Usually ships in 5 to 8 days DK Publishing Hardcover - 192 pages (October 1996)

0 of 7 people found the following review helpful: Minaret of Djam was omitted July 2, 2000

I wish that the author had included a discussion of the Minaret of Djam, located in Ghor Province, Afghanistan.

The Big Test : The Secret History of the American Meritocracy by Nicholas Lemann List Price: $15.00 Our Price: $12.00 You Save: $3.00 (20%) Usually ships in 24 hours Farrar Straus & Giroux (Pap) Paperback - 416 pages (October 2000)

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful: The 1967 Selective Service Qualifications Exam was omitted June 9, 2000

The book covered the 1951 'Draft Deferment Test' used during the Korean War, but I could find no discussion of the 1967 (April-July) Selective Service Qualifications Exam, which was used to determine if undergraduates and graduate students would maintain a '2S' deferment. I believe a score of 80 was needed for graduate study and a 75 for undergraduate study. It was a much more important exam than the SAT, GRE, ATGSB (GMAT), all of which I took.

Passionate Nomad : The Life of Freya Stark by Jane Fletcher Geniesse List Price: $14.95 Our Price: $11.96 You Save: $2.99 (20%) Usually ships in 24 hours Random House (Paper) Paperback - 432 pages Modern lib edition (July 24, 2001)

2 of 28 people found the following review helpful: 'Minaret of Djam' December 9, 1999

I only wish that the author had devoted more to Freya Stark's, MINARET OF DJAM: AN EXCURSION IN AFGHANISTAN. It merits one page in the index. During my Peace Corps service in Iran, 1970-72; I had the opportunity, in 3/71 and 4/72, to travel overland across the Iran/Afghan border via Islam Qala to Herat, the medieval Timurid capital. When Andre Maricq became the first European to visit the Minaret of Djam in 1957, he immediately aroused the interest of islamic archaelogists. From Herat I could have reached the Minaret of Djam, located in Ghor Province (Velayet_ Ghor) in two days of difficlut overland travel. Alas, I did not. Christopher Sykes was within proximity to this minaret in the early 1930s, but did not see it. Your readers may also find this URL of interest http://www.isjm.org/country/herat.htm



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