In August 1953, the CIA orchestrated the swift overthrow of Iran's democratically elected leader and installed Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi in his place. Over the next twenty-six years, the United States backed the unpopular, authoritarian shah and his secret police; in exchange, it reaped a huge share of Iran's oil wealth. The blowback was inevitable, as this "relevant, readable" (Kirkus Reviews) history by noted Iran scholar Ervand Abrahamian...