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Editorial Review:
Akbar Ganji, called by some "Iran's most famous dissident," was a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. But, troubled by the regime's repressive nature, he became an investigative journalist in the 1990s, writing for Iran's pro-democracy newspapers. Most notably, he traced the murders of dissident intellectuals to Iran's secret service. In 2000 Ganji was arrested, sentenced to six years in prison, and banned from working as a journalist. His eighty-day hunger strike during his last year in prison mobilized the international human rights community.
The Road to Democracy in Iran, Ganji's first book in English, demonstrates his lifelong commitment to human rights and democracy. A passionate call for universal human rights and the right to democracy from a Muslim perspective, it lays out the goals and means of Iran's democracy movement, why women's rights trump some interpretations of Islamic law, and how the West can help promote democracy in Iran (he strongly opposes U.S. intervention) and other Islamic countries.
Throughout the book Ganji argues consistently for universal rights based on our common humanity (and he believes the world's religions support that idea). But his arguments never veer into abstraction; they are rooted deeply in the realities of life in Islamic countries, and offer a clear picture of the possibilities for and obstacles to improving human rights and promoting democracy in the Muslim world.
The Road to Democracy in Iran (Boston Review Books) Reviews:
informative and concise 
2009-08-14 - As Iran was going through post election turmoil, I purchased this book. The amazing part was that Ganji had predicted all that was going on in Iran in 2005 whereas the turmoil was happening in 2009. He knows Iran and Iranian people so well and comes the core of people.
Iranian dissident has a better idea
2009-07-14 - The author of this collection of short essays was imprisoned in his native Iran for advocating universal human rights based on freedom from pain, fear and intimidation. Akbar Ganji, dubbed Iran's "most famous dissident," distills his arguments into a few pivotal points that are openly, clearly idealistic - even more so in light of the policies of Iran's rulers. Ganji's essays are not practical, but philosophical, although he is very down-to-earth when he describes the plight of Iranian women. getAbstract recommends them to those who are interested in finding out more about Ganji and, to a much lesser degree, learning more about Iran's political environment.
Short and hopeful
2008-12-23 - A telling description of the terrible lack of human rights for women in Iran. And a concise account of the impact of western civilization and modernity on Islam. Mr. Ganji outlines reasons why he thinks Islam can be reformed. He ends by expressing his belief that "liberal democratic humanism" and "global love" can lead to peace.
Insightful 
2008-05-10 - The Road to Democracy in Iran is a very short but well written book. Akbar Ganji proves to be a clever man as he easily highlights the situation in Iran. The book is written very objective and impartial.
I highly recommend this book!
