The ayatollah begs to differ profiles iran as a nation of paradox a place in not because it is currently dcs designated enemy but because iran is different its people are not arabs the state religion is a markedly different of islam than that practiced and promoted by its sunni neighbors and its political constitution is its own a curious fusion of theocracy and democracy which was self invented. The ayatollah begs to differ is both a social and political commentary on modern iran the book reads both like a travel memoir and a political commentary hooman majd has a very readable way of writing and as such this book is accessible to all and unlikely to be put down. The ayatollah begs to differ the paradox of modern iran item preview remove circle the ayatollah begs to differ the paradox of modern iran by majd hooman publication date 2009 majds reports on his travels throughout iran try to explain the economic political and social forces that lie at its heart and to show the paradoxes of . Born in tehran iran in 1957 but educated in the west hooman majd is the author of the ayatollah begs to differ an economist and los angeles times best book of 2008 and the ayatollahs democracy an iranian challenge he lives in new york city